Healy Pass
Bealach Scairte
A mountain pass on the R574 road over the Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula, with hairpin bends and mountain views over the bays on both sides as the highlights.
Healy Pass sits on the Caha Mountains on the border between County Cork and County Kerry. The R574 road runs about 12 km from Adrigole on the south side to Lauragh on the north, with the pass at roughly 300 m. The road was first built in 1847 during the Great Famine as a relief project, was improved around 1930, and was named after Tim Healy, the first Governor-General of the Irish Free State. Its Irish name is Bealach Scairte. At the summit is a small parking area: looking south you see Bantry Bay, and looking north you see Kenmare Bay and Glanmore Lake. The consecutive hairpin bends on the northern slope are the highlight for photographers. Most drivers head from Adrigole towards Lauragh, as the views are better going uphill. The road is narrow and winding, so give way when passing, and large motorhomes are not suitable. It is free and open all day, though visibility is poor in fog and strong winds. It is often visited together with the Ring of Beara and Glengarriff.
Opening hours
All day