You don’t need to rent a car to appreciate the beauty of the Ring of Kerry! This bike route begins in Killarney and takes you past the ancient Muckross Abbey, the period-style Muckross House and finishes at Torc Waterfall.
Killarney National Park is Ireland’s oldest National Park! I was truly amazing at the incredible beauty of the lakes, mountains, gardens and historic building found in just the area surrounding Killarney.
Although there are not great public transport options around the Ring of Kerry, here’s how to enjoy Killarney National Park if you are on a budget and if don’t have a rental car.
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Ring of Kerry Cycling Route: Muckross Lake
Where to hire a bike in Killarney
O’Sullivan’s Killarney Rent a Bike
Beech Road, Scrahane, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland
9am-6pm
Book
I hired my bike at O’Sullivan’s Killarney Rent a Bike and I would recommend them. Prices were pretty decent and they were helpful with telling me where I should go visit around Muckross.
It cost me €21 to rent a regular bike for a day.
I think that this bike hire company has other stores around town, but the one I went to was a little out of town along Muckross Road. I chose this one because I didn’t want to have to ride through town with the traffic.
Muckross Abbey
The first most iconic stop on this cycling tour is Muckross Abbey.
Muckross Abbey is the ruins of a monastery that was active from about 1448 to 1650.
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The monastery has been rebuilt many times, and it is thought that some form of monastery has existed on this spot since the beginning of Christianity in Ireland.
The building is fairly well-preserved (except lacking a roof) and there is also a surrounding cemetery that has fallen into disrepair.
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The most notable feature of Muckross Abbey is the great Yew tree growing in the courtyard of one of the buildings.
Muckross Abbey is free to visit and explore!
Muckross House
9.15am-6pm (varies throughout the year)
Farm is open 10am-6pm in summer, varies for other months.
Website
The grounds consist of Muckross House and the nearby Muckross Traditional Farms. Entry to Muckross House is €9 for adults and €6 for children. Entry to the Traditional Farm costs €9 for adults and €6 for children.
This nineteenth century Victorian mansion was built over 4 years from 1839 to 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, Mary Balfour Herbert.
The rooms are furnished in period style to portray what life would have been like for elegant upper-class.
The surrounding grounds are worth a visit too, a little creek flows through the woodland and there are these fairy trails weaving through the trees.
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The Traditional Farms shows what daily life would have been like in the Ring of Kerry around the 1930s and 1940s.
You can visit the various cottages furnished with traditional items, the old schoolhouse and the petting zoo.
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Brickeen Bridge
Continue cycling around Muckross Lake. The trail is tarred and smooth, but be careful of the tight twists and little hills.
Try to slow down and enjoy the ride; I spotted a huge buck drinking from the stream.
From Muckross House, it is about 4km to Brickeen Bridge, which should take about 15 minutes to cycle.
Brickeen Bridge marks the point where Muckross Lake and the bigger Lough Leane connect.
Dinis Cottage
If you continue just around the tip of Muckross Lake you’ll reach Dinis Cottage and rest area.
This traditional cottage turned cafe serves hot drinks and snack foods. There are outdoor tables and public restrooms available if needed.
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Torc Waterfall
Continue cycling around Muckross Lake. There will be a small part (about 5 minutes worth of cycling) where the trail ends and you have to ride on the road.
Park and lock your bike up at the parking lot on the right-hand side of the road. From here, you’ll see a well-maintained path leading just 200 metres to Torc Waterfall.
The path is mostly tarred, but there are a lot of steps and stones, so be careful if it’s raining.
Torc means ‘wild boar’ in Irish because there are multiple boar-related legends associated with this waterfall.
Cycle back to Killarney, return your bike and grab a hard-earned pint … you deserve it!
I hope this post gave you some insight into what there is to see around Muckross Lake!
Where to Stay in Killarney
$ Hostel $
Black Sheep Hostel
68 New Street, Killarney, Ireland.
This is hands-down the best hostel I’ve ever stayed in. The beds are so comfy, and they have curtains and big lockers. You get a free breakfast and the hostel owners have two cute little dachshunds. Check availability or see other options.
$$ Hotel $$
Foley’s Townhouse Killarney
This guesthouse is perfectly located right on High Street. The rooms are simple but elegant, and you get free breakfast which guests confirm is delicious. Check availability or see other options.
How to Get to/from Killarney
From Dublin
To get to Killarney from abroad you first need to fly to Dublin.
Catch the train from Dublin Heuston to Killarney, stopping at Mallow.
From Galway
Take the train to Limerick (2 hours). Catch the bus from Arthurs Quay bus stop (in front of Arthurs Quay Park) to Killarney (1 hour 40 mins).
How to get around Killarney
Public transport in Killarney and around the Ring of Kerry is not great. Killarney itself is easy enough to walk around, but if you are wanting to get out of town, then you will need a car or bike.
- Renting a car is expensive, and as a budget traveller, it’s not something I can provide a lot of detail about.
- Rent a bike from O’Sullivans Rent a Bike. They have pretty reasonable prices and are helping in showing what route you should take and what sights there are to see.
Killarney/Ireland Basics
Currency: The Euro.
Cash or Card: Either is perfectly fine, I never had an issue with not carrying cash.
Visas: Ireland provides 90 day tourist visas to most passport holders.
Although the Republic of Ireland is part of the European Union (EU), it is not part on the Schengen Zone.
If you haven’t heard about the Schengen Zone, read about it here before visiting Europe. It is a group of countries in Europe that allow visitors to apply for one encompassing tourist visa that covers all the countries in the Zone. With a Schengen Visa you can enter and move between any country in the agreement freely for up to 90 days in every 180 days.
Basically, this means that most tourists can visit Ireland for up to 90 days in addition to 90 days in Schengen countries.
Check on the Irish Immigration page whether you need to apply for a visa before arriving. Travellers from many countries can get a visa on arrival.
What to Bring to Killarney
Read my UK carry-on packing list to get an idea of what things you need to bring for Ireland’s climate.
You absolutely need a rain-jacket or umbrella. It WILL rain, so be prepared!
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