How to Visit the Gap of Dunloe from Killarney (no car)

Walking the Gap of Dunloe is one of Ireland’s most magical experiences.

Located in the Ring of Kerry, near Killarney, a day trip can easily be planned and done without needing a car. Read on to find out what transport I used, what the Gap of Dunloe is really like, and why I’d recommend YOU to visit the Gap of Dunloe.

Spoiler: I highly recommend that you put the Gap of Dunloe on your Ireland bucket list, you won’t regret it!

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How to Get to the Gap of Dunloe

The Gap of Dunloe is about 12 kilometres from Killarney.

To get there, I took the Gap of Dunloe Outdoor Day Tour with Wild Kerry Tours (not sponsored).

I chose this tour because it was the cheapest at €36 for adults and €27 for students (July 2024). There are other ones around town such as the Gap of Dunloe Tours, but the Wild Kerry Tours office is located a little out of town, just beyond Killarney House, which might explain why it’s slightly cheaper.

It includes:

• Bus ride from Killarney to Kate Kearney’s Cottage at the entrance of the Gap of Dunloe
• Boat ride from Lord Brandon’s Cottage (the end of the walk) across to Ross Castle
• Bus from Ross Castle to Killarney

This is by far the easiest and most enjoyable way to get there and back. It’s not really a ‘tour’ in the normal sense because they aren’t going to stay with you and give you any information, it’s really just a transport route. Honestly, I prefer it that way. It gives you space to soak up the peaceful atmosphere of the Gap of Dunloe.

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Walking the Gap of Dunloe

Kate Kearney’s Cottage

The bus to Kate Kearney’s cottage departs at 10:30am from outside their office on Ross Road. It’s about a 15 minute drive to Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

Here there is a cafe and toilets for you to refresh before you head off.

There will be people hanging around advertising jaunting cars (quite aggressively, I might add). When I was there they cost €140 for a jaunting car that can hold 4 people. If you’re travelling by yourself you might be able to join another group and split the cost.

A surprising number of people opted to take a jaunting car; I was one of very few who set off on foot. I didn’t want to rush myself and be bothered by other people, so I was happy to walk it by myself.

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Black Lake

There are really no specific sights to see (although I couldn’t take my eyes of the mesmerising Black Lake, pictured above), the beauty of the Gap of Dunloe is simply that, it’s incredibly magical beauty and isolation. I truly felt like I was the only person in the world.

I felt like a character from a historical fantasy novel, hiking across Ireland to break some magical curse that had been haunting my family for generations (I read too much).

The beauty of the Gap of Dunloe invoked something emotional, something spiritual in me. It is hard to convey how truly gorgeous the landscape is. It’s simply not possible to take a bad photo of the Gap of Dunloe; every photo I took was breathtaking, which is why I tried to cram so many in this post lol.

The walk from Kate Kearney’s Cottage to Lord Brandon’s Cottage is 11km and took me about 3 hours. For the most part, the trail is fairly flat and easy-going. Towards the end, around the Head of Dunloe it does get a little steep, to the point where people on bikes were struggling.

Travel Essentials 

SIM cards: Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries which you can install BEFORE travelling, saving you the stress of running around to find a store or from being ripped off by local vendors. This is perfect for backpackers who are travelling to multiple destinations in a short period of time.

Insurance: You should NOT go overseas without getting travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you in case you get injured or your plans change or are cancelled. I always use Covermore, because the cover is comprehensive and they were easy to work with when I needed to make a claim.

Banking: When travelling and saving for travel I use Up Bank, an online Australian bank, that allows fee-free overseas transactions, unlimited savings ‘pools’ and easy transfers. If you join Up with my invite code we both get $13!

Head of the Gap of Dunloe

The road gets a little steep around this area, but its worth it for the amazing view across the valley. The photo above is looking down on the little village in the Black Valley. The road twists down and through this village.

After the village, the road forks. Both trails lead to Lord Brandon’s Cottage, but I took the right-hand road. You will arrive at a stone bridge and a small parking lot where the jaunting cars stop.

Cross the bridge and you’ll be at Lord Brandon’s Cottage!

There’s a cafe here, but because of it’s isolation, the prices are pretty steep. I brought a packed lunch and ate it on the grass.

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Boat across Lough Leane

Boats start departing Lord Brandon’s Cottage at 2:15pm.

Follow the signs down to the lake. There will be a few small boats floating there. Show the man your ticket and he will help you get on the boat. Put on your lifejacket and away you go! Each boat holds about 10 people.

As we floated across the lake, the driver pointed out things of interest, and shared stories, legends and jokes, which were made all the more funnier by his thick Irish accent.

I recommend putting your jumper on under your lifejacket because the water spraying up from the boat combined with the crisp air will make you a bit chilly.

You will arrive at Ross Castle and disembark the boat. Follow the group out to the parking area where your bus will soon arrive to take you back to Killarney, arriving around 4pm.

The day before I had thought that it might be nice to walk back to town from Ross Castle, but in the moment I was exhausted and so glad that I had booked the bus! I had just walked 12 kilometres after all.

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Final Thoughts on the Gap of Dunloe

Is walking the Gap of Dunloe worth it? ABSOLUTELY. I highly recommend that you put this on your Ireland bucket list, you won’t regret it.

Walking the Gap of Dunloe was one of the most magical experiences from my trip to Ireland.

A little note to those who might be put off by the 12 kilometre distance:

I felt the same way when I was planning this day trip. I’m not really a big hiker and I would never normally sign up for a 12km hike.

But when I arrived, I set off down the road and not once did I even think about how far I had walked, or how far I still had to walk. For the whole 12 kilometres, I was just in awe of the beauty scenery and didn’t want it to be over.

I found this walk much easier than a traditional hike, probably because the road is smooth and mostly flat. The path gently rises over the hills and you barely even notice.

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!

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).

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
22-24, High Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry, V93 X721, Ireland.
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 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.

Walking the Gap of Dunloe is one the best things to do in the Ring of Kerry and one of Ireland’s bucket list activities!

Let me know if you have done walked or planning to walk the Gap of Dunloe. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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