The Gap of Dunloe Full-Day Tour from Killarney

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Gap of Dunloe

   Considering a walking, rambling or hiking tour along with a fantastic boat ride through the Lakes of Killarney among spectacular scenery? Look no further than a Deros tour to the Gap of Dunloe (from Irish: Dún Lóich, meaning “Lóich’s stronghold”, otherwise known as Bearna an Choimín meaning “gap of the common-land”). The Gap is a narrow mountain pass between Macgillycuddy’s Reeks (west) and Purple Mountain (east) of just under seven miles long and your hike takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. There are daily tours to this magnificent landscape leaving from our office in the centre of Killarney daily at 10.30am

   90 minutes here · Admission included

2. Kate Kearney's Cottage

   Nestled at the entrance to the world famous Gap of Dunloe lies Kate Kearney's Cottage, a 150 year old family-run establishment. The Cottage is now a Restaurant and a typical traditional Pub. Kate's as is know locally is the starting point for the walk or horse carriages to go through the Gap of Dunloe.

   20 minutes here · Admission not included

3. Located at the ‘end’ of the gap, if you walk from the Kate Kearny side, Lord Brandon’s Cottage is a welcome site for those that have conquered the first leg of the walk. Once a grand hunting lodge, the cottage has a tale of love and betrayal tide to it, which you’ll discover shortly. Lord Brandon's Cottage, a 19th-century hunting lodge surrounded by lush, green water meadows. There’s a cafe at Lord Brandon’s Cottage now, where you can nip into for a coffee or a small snack. They only take cash, so make sure to hit up an ATM if you plan on visiting. In the summer months there is plenty of space to have a picnic and relax before the boat trip through the Lakes of Killarney. The boatman will meet you at the Cottage and show you the boats that will be waiting to take you through the famous Lakes of Killarney to Ross Castle.

   30 minutes here

4. Lakes of Killarney

   The 3 Lakes of Killarney occupy a broad valley stretching south between the mountains that surround them and are all in the National Park Lough Leane (Lower Lake), Muckross Lake ( Middle Lake) and the Upper Lake are threaded together across a quarter of National Park's 25,000 acres The boat trip offers stunning and picturesque views over the MacGillcuddy’s Reeks mountain range At the tip of the Muckross Peninsula is the quaint Brickeen Bridge and Dinis Island further on with its sub-tropical vegetation and views of the 'Meeting of the Waters’. A narrow straight called the Long Range leads to the island-studded Upper Lake The Middle Lake or Muckross Lake holds an excellent stock of spring salmon. Lough Leane is the largest of the 3 lakes. The River Laune flows from the lake into the Dingle Bay to the northwest. Innisfallen is an island in Lough Leane and is home to the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey, one of the most impressive archaeological remains dating from the early Christian period

   Pass by without stopping

5. Ross Castle

   Ross Castle is a 15th-century tower house and keep on the edge of Lough Leane, in Killarney National Park It is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of the Clan O'Donoghue, later associated with the Brownes of Killarney In the early 16th century the English Crown granted the extensive sum of 10 Pounds Sterling for every fortification or tower house erected by their subjects. Accordingly in 1533 Richard Nugent, the 12th Baron of Delvin commenced the construction of a stronghold, which was to become known as the Castle of Ross. Ross Castle was built in the late 15th century by local ruling clan the O'Donoghues Mór (Ross), though ownership changed hands during the Second Desmond Rebellion of the 1580s to the MacCarthy Mór. ... The Irish had a prophecy that Ross could never be taken until a warship could swim on the lake, an unbelievable prospect. The castle is a typical example of the stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages.

   Pass by without stopping

Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

Deros Coach Tours

Know before you go

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Please check in at the Deros Tours office (22 Main Street) before 10:00 AM, as our coach departs promptly at 10:15 AM. Due to ongoing construction on Main Street, please allow extra time for parking to ensure you arrive on schedule.
• Carriages may be hired privately and the total cost would be E 140 per carriage.There is no pre booking for carriages as the booking may be made on arrival at Kate Kearneys Cottage.
• There is not enough time to visit Ross Castle before returning to Killarney but visitors may stay at Ross Castle and enjoy a lesisurely walk to Killarney through the National Park (30 to 40 minutes).
• Tours of the Castle takes 1 hour.Pre booking is advisable and can be done by phoning 353 64 6635851 or visit rosscastle@opw.ie
• There is free car parking at Ross Castle where the tour terminates and we can certainly collect customers at Ross Castle at 10am but prior notice has to be given by telephoning 00353 64 6631251 the previous evening.
• Pease advise at the time of booking if you are walking or wish to hire the Horse Carriages at E 35 per person-4 pax per carriage.
• If the tour operates despite bad weather, cancellations are permitted until 10:00 AM on the day of the tour. No refunds will be given once this deadline has passed or the tour has begun.
• Deros Tours reserves the right to cancel tours if insufficient numbers book.
• Restroom Facilities: Restrooms are available at the Kate Kearney's Cottage parking lot before you begin the Gap of Dunloe walk or carriage ride. The next available facilities are at Lord Brandon's Cottage, located at the end of the 7-mile trek. Hydration: It is highly recommended to bring an adequate supply of water for the journey across the Gap. Navigation: We advise picking up a complimentary route map before you set off; it is a useful resource for tracking your progress along the trail
• Jaunting Carriages are paid directly at Kate Kearneys Cottage at a cost of E 35 pp (cash only).There are 4 passengers in each carriage
• Please make sure to advise the Jaunting Carriages driver that you are going to Brandon's Cottage to meet the Boats.
• Depending on the daily water levels, there may be a brief woodland walk. The walk is very short, taking a maximum of 10 minutes. This brief detour allows the boat to safely navigate and traverse a particularly shallow area of the water.
• Estimated Return Time to Killarney Please note that the advertised return time to Killarney is an estimated time of arrival (ETA) only and is not guaranteed. Our tour return time may vary due to factors beyond our control, including traffic conditions, roadworks, weather, and other unforeseen delays. .If you have a flight, train, or other important connection, please allow sufficient time to accommodate possible delays. Thank you for your understanding.
• This tour is self-guided and does not include a tour guide. Your driver will escort the group to the tour starting point and return in the afternoon to collect the group."
• Viator is showing the following information -your guide leads the way and adds context to what you see with commentary. This information is incorrect and Viator has not deleted this information despite several attempts to ask this to remove this information. Please be advised that this tour is Self Guided.

Photos

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294 verified traveler reviews for The Gap of Dunloe Full-Day Tour from Killarney. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.