Day trip from Killarney - Walking the Gap of Dunloe

Being on the edge of Killarney National Park makes the famous Gap of Dunloe an easy day trip. Buses (private companies, no public buses) leave the city centre between 9 and 10 a.m. The cost is 5 euros (pay the driver). You will be dropped off at Kate Kearney's Cottage (see map below, the start of the trail).

1. Walk (approximately 11 km/ 2 - 2.5 hours, depending on photo/rest stops) to Lord Brandon Cottage (on Upper Lake).
2. Take tourist boat to Ross Castle (around 2 hours, depending on the depth of the lake in the narrow section).
3. Walk back to Killarney (40 minutes, see map below). Keep your eyes peeled for native Red Deer in the woods.

Killarney Discover Ireland Centre (across Beech St from Tesco) can book the boat trip (adult 17.50 euros) across Killarney Lakes. O'Donoghue's Boat Tours have been working the lakes for generations. Highly recommended, Dermot (and his dog, Sam) is a delight.

The morning bus leaves from outside the tourist office.

Summer can get crowded. We did this in mid May (only a handful of walkers).

Total cost for the day: 22.50 euros.

This day was probably the highlight of our trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland (followed by the Cliffs and Moher and the Causeway Coast).

We had plastic raincoats in our backpack, but we didn't need them.

The walk downhill

Approaching Ross Castle

A pleasant walk from Ross Castle back to Killarney. A popular route for "jaunting cars"