The world famous Ring of Kerry is one of the highlights of any vacation in Ireland. It is a 180km (110 miles) circuit of the Iveragh Peninsula, passing through the intimate towns of Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen and Killorglin. The winding, twisting, secondary route is littered with panoramic views, breath-taking scenery and heaps of major attractions. Popular stop-offs include the Gap of Dunloe, Cahersiveen Heritage Centre, Derrynane House, Skellig Experience, Staigue Fort, Moll’s Gap, Ladies View, Torc Waterfall, Muckross House and Ross Castle. Strewn around these sights are pristine beaches, rugged promontories, medieval ruins and cosy, little pubs.

The route can be easily done in a day but you could also drift around in a number of days or even lose yourself for a week amongst the magnificent mountains and gushing glens. However, most people opt for a comprehensive day trip. Because the roads are so narrow, the tour companies must drive their buses in an anti-clockwise direction, travelling via Killorglin first. If you are in a car you can go either way, though both directions offer challenges, anti-clockwise you can get stuck behind a bus which can be tedious but the other way you may meet one on a blind bend, which can be rather hell-raising! However, having your own car has the added bonus of being able to stop wherever you please (which invariably you will wish to do, again and again and again…) and you get to whisk off the beaten trail onto the tip of the peninsula where the Skellig ring is too narrow for coaches or the Ballaghbeama Gap which cuts across the central highlands.

Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source: http://www.exploringireland.net

One of Britain’s best known banks and mortgage providers is to open three new offices on the Spanish islands of the Canaries plus the Balearic island of Menorca to meet demand for Britons looking to buy a home in Spain.
The decision by the Halifax was taken from data showing a trend towards Britons buying homes overseas, with Spain the most popular choice.
Part of the expansion decision was to open in Menorca, the quietest of the three Balearic Islands. Commenting on the move a local travel guide commented:
‘While Majorca and Ibiza are possibly better known than Menorca, it’s perhaps not so surprising that the bank has decided to open an office on the island. The typical buyer for property in Menorca is often older than that for Majorca and Ibiza, which could mean they are hoping to service their investments and pensions along with a normal account – especially for those moving full time to Menorca.’
Commenting on the new bank branch in Menorca, the company said that the opening of branches away from mainland Spain is an important step in the development of their branch network, and that they will continue to target the Spanish islands in addition to their Spanish mainland business.
Once bought, Menorca villas are often let out to holidaymakers, with the season generally running from May to end September.
As one of the Balearic Islands Menorca is situated close to better known Majorca, which like Menorca has welcomed many visitors back to live full time on the island. Menorca property has proved popular too, for those looking for a gentler pace of life than big sister Majorca.
Property prices in Majorca are similar to Menorca property, with a range of apartments and villas in both rural and town locations, and with twenty golf courses plenty of golf course developments too.
Menorca has just the one golf course, recently extended to eighteen holes, and is located in Son Park, which has a choice of hotels, apartments and villas for holiday makers.
The cost of flying to Menorca and Majorca has come down in recent years from most European countries due to low cost airlines, especially in the island’s core tourist areas of the United Kingdom and Germany, and last year easyJet started direct flights from London’s Gatwick Airport to Menorca, having served Majorca for some years already.
The third island in the Balearics is Ibiza, which in turn attracts a different age group and property buyer compared to Menorca and Majorca.
Clubbers from around Europe, and especially from the UK, descend upon Ibiza in the summer months for a week – and often two – of non stop partying.
Ibiza runs second only to the UK’s main cities of London, Manchester and Liverpool in terms of popularity for clubbers, and some of the Ibiza clubs are as well known as any in the UK, with some clubbers visiting frequently enough to consider buying an apartment on the island.
Demand for flights to Ibiza has been high enough in recent years for a low cost airline to start two new services from the UK to Ibiza, which should see the number of tourists on the island rise this year.
The two new routes are from Edinburgh in Scotland twice weekly, and London’s Luton Airport with both routes offering a daily service. This will be an attraction for those considering buying a property on one of the Spanish islands, and this in time will again attract the British banks to open new offices to cater for those considering buying an apartment or villa.