The charm of Killarney is undeniable.
Here, you’ll find yourself in the Irish countryside. The small town of Killarney is littered with small pubs, treat shoppes and, above all, it’s picturesque and charming.
Then, after exploring all of the wonderful little town has been completed — there are plenty of options for outside activities.
With Killarney National Park situated spectacularly close to the town, exploring the beauty of County Kerry is easy! There is plenty to explore just in the National Park. But, a great way to immerse yourself in this natural beauty is the nearly 7 mile walk through the Gap of Dunloe winds through Killarney National Park. Passing along the way; small lakes, crumbling stone houses, and friendly sheep — always, lots of sheep. There are several ways to make this trek, by horse drawn carriage, by bike or on foot. Each of these ways provides for a different experience. Walking through The Gap is not particularly challenging, there is a paved road to walk for the majority of the walk and is gently winds through the landscape.
A few tips for the walk — bring some snacks if you plan on moseying through. There is a small restaurant at the very end of the hike to grab a snack before your ferry comes, as well as bathrooms — these are the only bathrooms for the whole hike!
The end of the hike wraps up with a ferry ride across Lough Leane.
The ferry ride is led by an Irishman providing the history of the area. This is certainly one of the highlights of the whole experience — gently making way across the glassy surface of Lough Leane, gliding under old stone bridges and ending at beautiful Ross Castle to continue exploring. The simplicity of gliding through this nearly other-worldly landscape in the still silence is something that you won’t soon forget.
The Gap of Dunloe is definitely a must!