Gap of Dunloe & Killarney Lakes Coach Tour from Killarney
This half day is a relay, not a drive. Your group leaves the minibus at Kate Kearney's Cottage, crosses the Gap of Dunloe on foot or by jaunting car, and comes back to Killarney by boat through the lakes. The vehicle drives round and meets the boat at Ross Castle.
What the day covers
- Kate Kearney's Cottage
- Gap of Dunloe
- Lough Leane and Ross Castle
- Torc Waterfall
When it runs
- April to October for boat connections
Why the vehicle does not go through
The road through the Gap runs about 11 km from Kate Kearney's Cottage in the north to Lord Brandon's Cottage in the Black Valley. It is single-track, narrows and winds towards the Head of the Gap, and in summer it carries walkers, cyclists and horse-drawn jaunting cars. A coach does not drive it. That is why the day is planned in a 7-seat executive van or a 16-seat minibus: the vehicle's job is the two road legs, Killarney to the start and Ross Castle back to your hotel. A party larger than sixteen needs more than one vehicle.
How the day runs
Kate Kearney's is roughly a quarter of an hour from Killarney town. From there the group walks, rides a jaunting car or cycles through the pass. On foot, Kate Kearney's to Lord Brandon's takes about two to two and a half hours; a jaunting car is quicker, and the jarvey agrees how far the car goes. At Lord Brandon's the boat leaves for the Upper Lake, Muckross Lake and Lough Leane, landing near Ross Castle, which has two car parks. Allow up to about an hour and a half on the water. A short stop at Torc Waterfall, off the N71, can be added before or after.
What to arrange ahead
Book the boat seats before the day, because the coach pickup at Ross Castle is timed to the landing. Jaunting cars are hired at Kate Kearney's or at the Head of the Gap; for a group, agree numbers in advance. Boats run from about April to October, and that season is when this tour runs. Bad weather can stop the boats, so ask the operator what the fallback is.
How much walking is there on the Gap of Dunloe tour?
It depends on the choice your group makes. Walking the whole pass is about 11 km on a tarred road with a climb to the Head of the Gap. A jaunting car cuts most of that out.
What should people wear for the Gap and the boat?
Walking shoes, layers and a waterproof jacket. The lakes are open boats and exposed, and the weather in the Black Valley changes quickly, even on a bright morning in Killarney.
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Send the date, the passenger count and any timed entries you already hold. We come back with a fixed price for Gap of Dunloe & Killarney Lakes.