The Gap of Dunloe Full-Day Tour from Killarney
Description
Amazing and best tour to visit the Killarney National Park. Considering a walking, rambling or hiking tour? Look no further as The Gap of Dunloe is 7 miles (11 kilometers) and takes approximately 2 hrs 30 minutes. If visitors are not up for walking or hiking then there is an alternative of the traditional Irish Jaunting Carriage (horse and carriage) to take visitors through the Gap of Dunloe. The extra cost is E 35 per person for the Horse Carriages and payable directly . Boats will be waiting to escort the visitors through the magnificent three Lakes of Killarney to Ross Castle. An amazing adventure tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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
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.
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.
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
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(248)
Easy day out. Coach, jaunting cart, and boat. Everything ran on time. Guides were friendly, gave clear directions. We had two children and one college aged child and everyone enjoyed the day.
I did the jaunty car ride by horse and did have to walk up 2 different steep hills to aid the horse. Not a problem for me, but it was quite a work out.
We enjoyed the transportation provided. We walked the Gap of Dunloe. It is breathtaking! We completed the walk in just under 2.5 hours. The boat ride back was exceptional Our boats man was extremely skilled. He took every opportunity to tell us the history of the area. He pointed out physical features of the lakes. I would highly recommend this experience
My wife and I did the 11 km hike in continuous rain. Enjoyed every bit of it. The experience was beautiful and will cherish it for a very long time. But there were a couple of things one should be wary of. The coach drops the tourists at Kate Kearney's Cottage and from there one can walk or take a horse carriage to Lord Brandon's Cottage 11 km away. From Lord Brandon's Cottage you'll come to Ross Castle by boat negotiating 2 rivers and 3 massive lakes. The boat journey is about an hour. When we were dropped at Kate Kearney's Cottage, the driver said that the boat will start at Lord Brandon's Cottage at 2.15pm. Since it was raining incessantly we did the hike in 2 hours and 45 minutes and reached Lord Brandon's Cottage at 1.45pm. To our surprise, we saw that all the other passengers who came before us have left and the last boat containing 6 tourists was about to leave. We barely managed to catch the last boat which left at 2pm instead of 2.15pm. Six of the bus passengers decided to walk and 4 made it by 2pm. We remember overtaking 2 of the passengers about 15-20 minutes before we reached Lord Brandon's cottage. Those two missed the boat. Similarly, the bus driver said the coach will start from Ross Castle at 3.30 pm. Due to incessant rain, the boat we travelled containing 8 passengers reached Ross Castle at 3.20 pm. One Japanese lady, who did the 11km trek along with us and also travelled with us on the boat, went to the bathroom after disembarking from the boat at Ross Castle. We directly went to the bus and reached it around 3.28pm. The driver counted the passengers at 3.30pm and found one short. We told him that the Japanese lady went to the bathroom. Even then the bus driver didn't wait for the Japanese lady which we felt was not correct.
This tour is a great way to experience the Gap of Dunloe. The bus is a great way to avoid the traffic leading to the Gap at Kate Kearney's Cottage and not have to worry about leaving a car there. My wife and I opted to walk the Gap of Dunloe, which was an easy but fun 7.5 mile walk on paved roads. The Gap itself is very scenic and enjoyable to walk through, with an easy hilly section toward the end of the pass. There is no shade for 99% of the walk, so plan accordingly. After the Gap, there's a long section of downhill and flat walking to Lord Brandon's Cottage, where the Gap of Dunloe Traditional Boats pick you up at a set time. This is all booked for you in the overall booking by I didn't catch the name of our boat guide, but he did an excellent job pointing out the different landmarks, history, and ecology of the Killarney Lakes, rivers, and surrounding mountains. It was a very easy day logistically thanks to the tour.
Our Gap of Dunloe tour was great from start to finish. We opted to be picked up at Ross Castle to better plan the remainder of our day after. The directions were clear and communication was great for the meeting spot in the shuttle lot. Our bus shuttle driver was hilarious with a good sense of humor and information as he took us to Kate Kearney's cottage. Finding a jaunting cart was easy and although separate, they were informative and kind throughout the ride. The boat ride back was very enjoyable and smooth as well. He had a funny sense of humor about him as well with lots of local knowledge and information to share. My mom and I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and were grateful for great weather and sites along the way.
We arrived in Killarney at 10am for a 10.30am tour. We spent the next 20 minutes trying to find a park in the chaotic city centre with lots of road works taking place. We managed to get to the meeting point at 10.27, only to find the bus had left early. The woman at Deros Tours office was completely unapologetic and unsympathetic. When we complained the bus had left early, she responded that it was only a matter of minutes. It may have been, but those minutes were crucial for us. We had to get a cab at our expense to the start of the hike. The cab driver was way more heloful, friendly and informative than the Deros Tours receptionist and bus driver. The Gap of Dunloe was beautiful to walk through, but we unfortunately struck a very wet day. After the 11km hike and the one and a quarter hour trip in an open topped boat back to the bus, much of the time in rain, we were cold and soaked by the time we returned to Killarney.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the beauty of the Gap of Dunloe, despite the challenging weather conditions on the day. We would like to clarify a few points regarding your departure from Killarney. The tour was scheduled to depart at 10:30am, and our booking confirmation and pre-tour information clearly advise guests to allow sufficient time for parking and to arrive at the meeting point before the departure time. On the morning of your tour, you arrived at our office at approximately 10:30am and explained that you had experienced difficulty finding parking. As our tours operate on a fixed schedule and involve multiple passengers, the coach departed as scheduled and did not leave early. While we appreciate that parking difficulties can be frustrating, we are unable to delay departures for late arrivals without impacting other guests. At approximately 10:20am, when you had not yet arrived, a member of our team attempted to contact the telephone number provided with your booking to determine whether the coach should be held for a few additional minutes. Unfortunately, there was no answer and we did not receive any communication advising us that you were delayed. We were disappointed to read your comments regarding our staff member. Our records show that she assisted you by providing complimentary walking maps, reassuring you that there was no need to worry, and advising that the boats could be contacted if necessary to facilitate your joining the tour later along the route. Her intention was to help you continue your day with as little disruption as possible. We are also unclear regarding the comments about the bus driver, as you did not meet the driver before departure that morning. While we regret that the start of your experience did not meet your expectations, we are pleased that you were ultimately able to enjoy the Gap of Dunloe and complete the tour. We wish you all the best in your future travels. Deros Tours. Killarney.
Fantastic day trip to Killarney national park and gap of Dunloe. We had an amazing 11 kilometre walk and then finished with a lovely boat trip.
Thank you so much for this fantastic review! We are delighted to hear you had such an amazing day exploring the Gap of Dunloe and Killarney National Park. Tackling that stunning 11-kilometre walk is a brilliant achievement, and finishing the adventure with a relaxing boat trip across the lakes is the absolute perfect reward. Thank you for choosing to explore with us, and we hope these wonderful memories stay with you for a long time to come! Safe travels!
An unparalleled tour. Batt or Barth (I am not exactly sure of the name) was an exceptional guide, sharing historical knowledge of the region and his life, and he sang very well, making the tour very enjoyable. We stopped many times to take photos, always willing to help.
I have never seen prettier scenery. Such a lovely experience. We took the horse drawn cart but the walk would have been fine. Make sure you bring cash and sunscreen. The boat men were so nice and made sure no one got forgotten about or misdirected. The tour providers were great
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad you loved the breathtaking scenery and felt well looked after by our boatmen and tour guide team. Skipping the walk for the horse-drawn cart is always a fun choice! Appreciate the helpful tips for future guests, too. Hope to see you again!
