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SMART Coast Summer Shuttle Bus for Maharees

We are delighted to be part of a new pilot initiative aimed at improving transport access to the Maharees peninsula and reducing seasonal traffic congestion - as part of the international SMART Coast project. The SMART Coast summer shuttle bus will operate over four peak-season weekends, providing a convenient and sustainable transport option for visitors and locals alike. The subsidised service will run on:
  • July 18–19
  • July 25–26
  • August 1–3
  • August 8–9

Local Shuttle Timetable

Route 273 Bus Connections

Bus Arrival from Tralee

09:37 13:22 15:22 18:11

Bus Arrival from Brandon

10:43 16:28

Castlegregory to Kilshannig

Castlegregory Lynch’s Spar Car Park
09:45 11:00 12:30 13:30 15:30 17:00 18:30
Béal Geal Blue Flag Beach — Beach Car Park
09:52 11:07 12:37 13:37 15:37 17:07 18:37
Fahamore Spillane’s Bar
09:59 11:14 12:44 13:44 15:44 17:14 18:44
Kilshannig Cross before Graveyard
10:06 11:21 12:51 13:51 15:51 17:21 18:51

Kilshannig to Castlegregory

Kilshannig Cross before Graveyard
10:15 11:30 13:00 14:00 16:00 18:00
Fahamore Spillane’s Bar
10:22 11:37 13:07 14:07 16:07 18:07
Béal Geal Blue Flag Beach — Beach Car Park
10:29 11:44 13:14 14:14 16:14 18:14
Castlegregory Lynch’s Spar Car Park
10:36 11:51 13:21 14:21 16:21 18:21

Onward Route 273 Departures from Castlegregory

To Tralee

10:43 13:30 16:28 18:30

To Brandon

15:21

The shuttle will serve key locations including

  • Fahamore (Spillane’s Carpark),
  • Kilshannig (near the graveyard), and
  • Béal Geal (Blue Flag beach car park).
  • It will also connect with the Local Link Route 273 service at Castlegregory, improving regional public transport connectivity.

The initiative is expected to significantly reduce the volume of traffic on the Maharees road during busy summer periods, contributing to safer roads and a more sustainable visitor experience. It also offers day visitors from nearby towns an alternative to driving to Maharees. We are asking our resident and visiting communities to use the bus service if you would like a service like this in the future – we can’t show evidence for demand if there is none!

We are asking passengers to complete this short eight-question survey to help us to learn from the pilot project – this will inform future initiatives. The survey is accessible here: 

Complete the survey

What is the Maharees Shuttle Bus fare?

A small suggested donation is invited: €2 per adult, €1 for Under 18s - (cash only to the honesty box on the bus) – all donations will go to the work of Maharees Conservation Association CLG (RCN: 20108571).

The shuttle pilot forms part of the SMART Coast project, an Interreg Atlantic Area-funded initiative focused on promoting sustainable tourism in coastal regions. The project brings together partners from Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and France, including local authorities, higher education institutions, tourism bodies, and community organisations.

By using data-driven approaches and collaborative planning, SMART Coast seeks to develop practical, replicable solutions for managing visitor flows while protecting natural heritage and addressing climate-related pressures. Maharees has been selected as the Irish pilot site, with project partners including Munster Technological University (MTU), Fáilte Ireland, Kerry County Council, and the Maharees Conservation Association working together to design and test innovative approaches such as the summer shuttle service. For further information on the pilot or the survey, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For further information on SMART Coast access: https://smartcoast.eu/information/ 

Complete the survey