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Gap of Dunloe Tour: Explore Killarney's Beauty
4.5
70 Ratings
Killarney
Embark on the Gap of Dunloe Tour and explore the stunning Killarney National Park by boat and bus. Discover the iconic sights of the Gap of Dunloe, Old Weir Bridge, and Ross Castle on this unforgettable journey.
Embark on the Gap of Dunloe Tour and explore the stunning Killarney National Park by boat and bus. Discover the iconic sights of the Gap of Dunloe, Old Weir Bridge, and Ross Castle on this unforgettable journey.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Kate Kearney’s Cottage - The bus departing from the Old Weir Lodge transports visitors to the renowned ‘Kate Kearney’s Cottage’. Here, guests will meet the Horse and Carriage drivers. Note: Payment for the Horse and Carriage portion of the tour is made directly to the drivers, and due to the area’s mountainous terrain, cash is necessary….
- Kate Kearney’s Cottage - The bus departing from the Old Weir Lodge transports visitors to the renowned ‘Kate Kearney’s Cottage’. Here, guests will meet the Horse and Carriage drivers. Note: Payment for the Horse and Carriage portion of the tour is made directly to the drivers, and due to the area’s mountainous terrain, cash is necessary. Unfortunately, the carriage drivers do not offer a children’s rate due to limited seating.
- Gap of Dunloe - The Carriage ride lasts approximately 1.5 hours through the Glacial Valley known as The Gap of Dunloe, covering a distance of 11 kilometers. Passengers will then reach Lord Brandon’s Cottage.
- Lord Brandon’s Cottage - This former hunting lodge has been converted into a cafe for hikers and cyclists in the area. After the walk or carriage ride through the Gap of Dunloe, guests have up to 1 hour to enjoy lunch and the tranquil surroundings. Boats depart from here daily at 2pm.
- Killarney National Park - The boat tour, led by our knowledgeable guides, takes you through the three lakes and two rivers of Killarney National Park. The journey lasts about 1.5 hours, depending on water levels and weather conditions. Guests will see The Meeting of the Waters, Dinis Cottage, the Old Weir Bridge, Brickeen Bridge, and Innisfallen Island. Our experienced local guides provide a comprehensive commentary throughout the tour and are happy to answer any questions.
- Ross Castle - The boat tour concludes at the historic Ross Castle. Constructed in the 15th century, Ross Castle was the stronghold of Chieftain O’Donoghue. The bus will collect guests at the castle immediately after the boat tour, so unfortunately, the Castle itself is not included in the tour. As the castle is less than 2km from Killarney, some guests choose to explore the area and walk to the town through the National Park afterward. Please inform the bus driver if this is your preference.
What's Included
- Bus Transport
- Parking
- Boat Transport
- Bus Transport
- Parking
- Boat Transport
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Horse and Carriage transport payable on the day in cash
- Lunch
- Horse and Carriage transport payable on the day in cash
Additional Information
The Gap of Dunloe full-day excursion offers a comprehensive exploration of Killarney’s National Park. Participants will witness attractions such as the Gap of Dunloe, the Old Weir Bridge, and Ross Castle. The excursion consists of 3 main segments:
- Bus conveyance from our base at Old Weir Lodge on Muckross Road, Killarney, to Kate Kearney’s Cottage -…
The Gap of Dunloe full-day excursion offers a comprehensive exploration of Killarney’s National Park. Participants will witness attractions such as the Gap of Dunloe, the Old Weir Bridge, and Ross Castle. The excursion consists of 3 main segments:
-
Bus conveyance from our base at Old Weir Lodge on Muckross Road, Killarney, to Kate Kearney’s Cottage - the entrance of the Gap of Dunloe.
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Traverse through the globally recognized glacial valley known as the Gap of Dunloe. On further arrival at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, horse-drawn carriage transport can be rented (additional charges apply, payable directly to the ponyman). Alternatively, guests can choose to journey on foot through the ‘Gap’.
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Experience a scenic boat ride through the National Park guided by our proficient Drivers. The boat trip navigates the park’s lakes and rivers. With tales full of folklore and legends shared by the driver, it promises to be a memorable experience for everyone, regardless of age.
Note: Subjected to water conditions, a moderate hike through uneven forest terrain may be necessary.
Location
Old Weir Lodge
Muckross Road
The Old Weir Lodge is 1 Kilometer from the centre of Killarney town. We offer free parking, Tea/Coffee is also available for purchase here prior to departure.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(70 Ratings)
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J583dhkellyb
Mar 26, 2026
Fantastic Experience with a Long Walk - This was a fantastic experience! Meeting the bus was easy, and the Gap of Dunloe/lake and river boat tour was incredible. Cathal ran our boat tour and he was excellent, very kind and knowledgable! He really did an outstanding job. I can't recommend this experience enough, it was the highlight of our trip.
🚨READ BEFORE YOU BOOK🚨
It's important to note that the bus drops you off at the start of the Gap, and picks you up after the boat tour. You are responsible for getting yourself from Kate Kearney's cottage to Lord Brandon's Cottage. If you do not pay for the carriage ride, you must walk the entire Gap of Dunloe (11km/7mi) to get to the boat.
The walk was beautiful and the path was paved and very clear! You don't have to worry about getting lost on this walk, you just follow a paved road the whole way. We found that we had plenty of time to walk slowly, take pictures, and look around without worrying about missing our boat. The scenery is absolutely stunning, and if you are comfortable walking a long distance with hills, I recommend opting to walk the Gap rather than taking the carriage.
Here's a play-by-play of this experience:
Picked up at Old Weir Lodge by bus, dropped off at Kate Kearney's Cottage. Walked from Gap of Dunloe into Killarney National Park, where we met our boat at Lord Brandon's cottage. Boated through multiple lakes/rivers, dropped off at Ross Castle, where the bus met us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Happytravel189
Sep 29, 2025
Great Experience - This was the best tour we went on during our 3 weeks visiting Ireland, Denmark and Sweden. The horse and carriage ride through the gap, as well as the boat ride, was wonderful. Just beware that there is an extra charge for the horse and carriage ride not included in the tour price. Otherwise you have to walk the 7 miles in 2 hours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Donnasj9882gx
Sep 15, 2025
Perfect day with kind hosts and amazing views - Beautiful trip!!! The host of the jaunty cart was extremely nice!! She made the experience so much more fun. Very knowledgeable. Answered my nine million questions. The scenery is incredible both via cart and on the boat. Couldn’t rate this high enough! Everyone who comes to this area should not miss this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karenkl46
Sep 10, 2025
Excellent beautiful tour - Excellent tour. Rory did a terrific job sharing history and information on the wildlife in the area. Super gracious and positive person! Lovely boat ride.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pat_g
Sep 8, 2025
Scenic wonder! - Really a fantastic tour. But be aware it’s a small boat also the trek back from the end of the boat ride is 7 mile trip. You can have the option of a walk of 7 miles that is up and down Hill areas and you’re only given about three hours to make that walk or you can opt for a horse and buggy ride, which is really fun. however it has to be paid in cash and they don’t tell you the price when you book . It’s thirty-five euros a person. it’s worth it believe me. All in all it was just a wonderful scenic experience that was fabulous.
Review provided by Viator
Rebeccak283
Sep 7, 2025
Nice views! - It was a wonderful excursion. I just the weather had cooperated. The boat ride was nice and the guide was very informative. We took the jaunty cart through the gap and Liam and his horse Rosie were great. The views were beautiful!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ricarrie
Sep 3, 2025
Exercise, natural beauty and some laughs! - My husband and I started with a bus ride which picked folks up at a couple locations. We opted to do the walk over the gap of Dunloe. It was a 7 mile walk ( my watch recorded 6.87) and 3 hours. It’s all road walking with about 715 ft elevation gain. So if that’s not a comfortable pace take the horse ride. They stop plenty and you’ll get information and photos. I walked because I like the exercise. It wasn’t strenuous for me despite us being 59 and 66 we do walks and this was very pretty. Now the boar ride, soooooo cool. Our boat man was an older gent who’d been rowing and motoring on these lakes for a along time. Took a minute to get the accent down and he was both informative and funny. He was refreshing we thoroughly enjoyed this. Would do again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Patty_h
Aug 31, 2025
The horse and buggy ride... - The horse and buggy ride through the gap was great. The boat ride was wonderful. Both tour guides were friendly and very knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
Jukrech6
Aug 28, 2025
Boat Tour and Hike were both great! - Rory was a great tour guide for the boat portion. I highly recommend doing the hike, if you’re able, instead of the jaunting car. The views are incredible, so walking is a nice option to take it all in.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jackie_r
Aug 26, 2025
Get experience, best bang for your buck! - You need to be able to do some incline walking, and be able to navigate some slippery stones and even terrain, going back down to the boat. Great tour saw alot!
Review provided by Viator
