Gap of Dunloe: Walking, Cycling & the Boat Trip Back
The Gap of Dunloe is an 11 km mountain pass between the MacGillycuddy Reeks and Purple Mountain. It runs from Kate Kearney's Cottage in the north to Lord Brandon's Cottage at the Upper Lake. The classic way to do it is to walk or take a jaunting car through the gap, then boat across the Lakes of Killarney back to Ross Castle.
The road through the gap is single-track, too narrow for coaches, and shared between walkers, cyclists, and the occasional car. It is one of the few places in Kerry that feels genuinely peaceful in summer. The mountains either side rise steeply and five small lakes line the valley floor.
What to Expect
Kate Kearney's Cottage is the northern starting point. There is a large car park, a pub-restaurant, and jaunting car drivers who will offer their services. The first two kilometres to the Wishing Bridge are flat and easy. Most casual visitors turn back here.
Beyond the bridge the valley narrows and the road climbs. The Head of the Gap is the highest and most dramatic point - a narrow V-shaped pass between the mountains with black lakes on either side. The stone walls, the silence, and the scale of the mountains are the point here. There is nothing to do except walk and look.
From the Head of the Gap the road descends to Lord Brandon's Cottage on the Upper Lake. This is where the boat trip starts. The boats take you across the Upper Lake, through the Long Range channel, and down to Ross Castle in Killarney National Park. The full boat trip takes about an hour and passes through scenery you cannot see from any road.
If you cycle, the 11 km takes about an hour with the climbs. You can load your bike onto the boat at Lord Brandon's. Bike rental shops in Killarney include the Gap in their route maps.
The honest negative: jaunting cars and walkers share the same narrow road. In peak season this creates bottlenecks where the horses and carriages take up the full width. The hard sell from jarveys at Kate Kearney's Cottage can be aggressive. Cars are technically allowed through the gap but are strongly discouraged during the day. If someone drives through while you are walking, the passing is tight.
How to Get There
Kate Kearney's Cottage is 12 km west of Killarney on the R563. The drive takes 15 minutes. There is no public transport to the gap. Taxis from Killarney cost about EUR 20-25 one way.
If you are doing the full gap-and-boat circuit, you will end up at Ross Castle on the other side of Killarney. You need to get back to Kate Kearney's for your car. Options: taxi (EUR 20), cycle back (30 minutes via the road), or arrange collection with your accommodation.
Some tour operators run a full-day package: bus from Killarney to Kate Kearney's, jaunting car through the gap, boat across the lakes, arriving back at Ross Castle. This solves the logistics neatly.
Where to Stay Nearby
Killarney town is the base for the Gap of Dunloe. Everything starts and ends within 15 minutes of town. See the Kerry hub for full accommodation coverage.
Literally at the entrance to the gap. Views of the MacGillycuddy Reeks from the gardens. The obvious base if budget allows.
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Frequently Asked Questions
