Chapeltown between road and coast

Chapeltown lies on the R565 between Portmagee and Knightstown; the Caol River flows through the village. The Shore Road runs from Chapeltown along the coast back to Knightstown. These are different reference points when choosing a location: the R565 places Chapeltown between two named places, while the Shore Road follows the coast towards Knightstown. Traffic and road conditions, as well as signage, can change; check them before travelling.

Coastal path, summer blooms and places to stop

In July and August, wildflowers such as montbretia and fuchsias bloom along the Shore Road in vivid shades of orange and red. The flowers vary from year to year. If you plan to travel this route for the summer flowers, expect the blooms to change.

A coastal road walk described as easy also runs between Chapeltown and Knightstown. It is 5 km long, and takes about 1.5 hours to walk. This distinguishes the walk from the Shore Road as a coastal road, even though both connect Chapeltown and Knightstown. The walking time refers to the route. Check its conditions locally.

The main road from Chapeltown to Knightstown passes Valentia Island Dairy and an ice cream shop. Check opening hours before planning a stop. In Chapeltown, Ring Lyne is one of the pubs on Valentia Island that offers visitors food and a friendly atmosphere. It is a good place to stop for a pint, a meal or a chat; accommodation is also available there. Check opening hours and the food offering before visiting, and current accommodation availability before staying overnight.

Church services in Chapeltown

The Valentia parish Sunday Mass is held at 11:30 a.m., alternating every two weeks between the church in Chapeltown and the church in Knightstown. It is therefore not held in the same church every week. As the Mass schedule can change seasonally, confirm the time before travelling. The Church of St Dorarca and St Teresa in Chapeltown also holds services and publishes upcoming service times. Check the current parish calendar before visiting.

County Kerry on a broader scale

As a wider travel destination, County Kerry offers another perspective: the Iveragh Peninsula is the largest of Kerry’s Atlantic peninsulas. It stretches 60 kilometres from the mainland into the ocean and is 32 kilometres wide. The Ring of Kerry is a scenic circular drive around the peninsula. The regional drive and the 5 km coastal road walk between Chapeltown and Knightstown therefore offer different kinds of travel.

The cultural themes also differ. The Blasket Centre in Dunquin is a heritage centre and museum that tells the story of the Blasket Islands and the Irish-speaking community that lived there until the mid-20th century. This regional museum perspective complements the local church services in Chapeltown with a different cultural focus within County Kerry.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ballybunion, Feohanagh, Dromod, Sneem, Farranfore, Fenit, Anascaul, Caherdaniel.

For the broader travel overview: County Kerry.