There are lots of fun and free things to do with kids around Kerry, from family walks to cycling to visiting the library.

Image courtesy Cahir Davitt Photography

Kerry is literally packed full of spectacular walks from the casual strolls through Killarney National Park to one of the many Blue Flag beaches which offer truly spectacular ocean views.

Or if you are feeling adventerous you can tackle some of  the mighty Kerry Way trail a spectacular 230 km walk taking in the best of what the Ring of Kerry has to offer.

Or just simply wander around Killarney, Dingle, Tralee, Kenmare and take in the wonderful personality of each town and see what they have to offer.

Image courtesy Don MacMonagle

Take out your bicycles and get active. Follow an established cycle trail or find an off-road route. We like to bring our bikes to Killarney National Park in Killarney as it is literally packed full of trails that are not on any main road.

Find more cycling route ideas on the Destinational Killarney website.

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There are 9 branch libraries across County Kerry, they are a wonderful, free, resource for families.

All Kerry libraries host a very popular, annual summer reading programme for kids while many of the branches run or host parent and toddler groups, storytelling sessions, arts and crafts classes, book clubs, games and activities sessions, exhibitions and so on.

Not to mention the fact that there is free computer access and the option to borrow books and DVDs!  For a change of scenery, why not visit a different library to your local branch?

There are some great playgrounds throughout the county. It’s an activity that is both free and good fun! Make sure to bring some snacks and drinks or a picnic lunch.

Our current favourite is Tralee Town Park and Playground which is situated in the middle of the town and covers some 80 acres!

That’s sure to tire out even the most active kids. Don’t forget to check out their Rose Garden too.

Staigue Fort, just off the Sneem Waterville road, is one of the largest and finest ring forts you are likely to see in Ireland. It consists of a massive circular rampart surrounded by a bank, standing on a low hill with great views of Kenmare Bay. There are ten flights of steps built in an X shape, giving you access to the top of the rampart.

You’ll also find further forts at Leacanabuaile in Cahersiveen, Lohar and Caherdaniel.

Muckross House & Gardens in Killarney is open all year around, the House has been there since 1843 and even Queen Victoria herself stayed there in 1861, which was the year that the owners of the house started work on their now famous gardens.

There’s a fee to visit the House but you can enjoy the Gardens and Killarney National Park for free.

Did you know you can see prehistoric tetrapod footprints predating dinosaurs at the Tetrapod Trackway on Valentia Island? Here you will find one of only 4 sets of prehistoric footprints in the world! The footprints give an invaluable view of the transition of life from water onto land.

Access to the track way is by a steep pathway down to the rocks. NB this is quite rocky as well as steep and won’t be suitable for buggies but kids will enjoy climbing down. At the bottom of the hill is an information plaque where you can read about the Trackway before you make the final descent towards the rocks at the beach where the footprints themselves can be seen.

Did you know that Charlie Chaplin brought his family on holiday to Waterville in County Kerry every year for ten years starting in 1959? The actor became so beloved by the community during his brief stays, that they erected a permanent bronze statue of Charlie Chaplin and there’s an annual Chaplin film festival each year in the town.

There are 3 fantastic fairy trails in Kerry to discover:

• Glenbeigh Fairy Forest, Glenbeigh, 1km from Glenbeigh Village towards Rossbeigh beach, you will find the Glenbeigh Fairy Forest. At the Picnic area follow the path leading upwards into Faha Wood. There are approximately 50 fairy houses along the way to spot.
• Fairy Trails at Derrynane House, Derrynane. Collect your fairy trail map at the tearooms and explore the gardens to find them all, can you spot the one shaped like a boot? Afterwards take a walk to the nearby sandy beach to play and paddle.
• Bonane Fairy Trail, Kenmare. This is a short fairy walk with lots of fairies hidden in the trees and a very old ring fort at the park which is apparently where the fairies like to come and dance under the stars.