"The Gap of Dunloe is the best day trip from Killarney, Ireland," said Frank Walsh, our Go Ireland Ring of Kerry tour guide.
 |
 |
 |
| Signs for Kerry Way to Black Valley, Gap of Dunloe, Kerry Way to Killarney, Kenmare and N71, Lord Brandon's Cottage and Boats to Killarney. County Kerry, Ireland. |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
Where is the Gap of Dunloe? Located west of the Lakes of Killarney, the glacial valley runs north to south between the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountains, on the west, and Purple Mountain and Tomies Mountain, on the east.
Gap of Dunloe tours
How can you travel through the Gap of Dunloe? Some people rent bikes from O'Sullivan's Cycles, in Killarney, to bicycle through the Gap.
Other visitors jog, walk or hire a jaunting car (horse-drawn cart or pony trap) with a jarvey (driver/guide), who provides a colorful commentary. Jaunting car trips begin and end at Lord Brandon's Cottage, at the south entrance to the Gap of Dunloe, and Kate Kearney's Cottage, at the north end.
You can travel through the Gap of Dunloe in either direction. Our Go Ireland tour included a vintage bus ride from Killarney to Ross Castle, followed by a Killarney Lakes cruise to Lord Brandon's Cottage.
Hiking the Gap of Dunloe
It takes about 2.5 hours to walk through the Gap of Dunloe. How long is the Gap? It's about seven miles (11 kilometers) in length.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Hikers on Gap of Dunloe path. Ring of Kerry. Killarney. County Kerry, Ireland. |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
The road through the Gap of Dunloe is paved and winding, with many ascents and descents. Hikers have to be careful to avoid the many jaunting cars and the droppings left behind by the horses.
The head of the Gap reaches an elevation of 2,625 feet (800 meters). Five lakes line the route. South to north, they are Black Lough, Auger Lake, Cushnavally Lake, Black Lake and Coosaun Lough.
Lord Brandon's Cottage
A short walk from Lord Brandon's Cottage led us to an arched stone bridge over the Gearhameen River. Bilingual signs direct Kerry Way walkers to the Gap of Dunloe and Black Valley.
The Irish/Gaelic name for Gap of Dunloe is Bearna an Choimin, which means "gap of the common land." Anyone in reasonable shape can walk through the Gap. One of our Go Ireland tour hikers was Isabella Barrass, a spry 84-year-old from New Zealand.
 |
 |
 |
| Gap of Dunloe hikers on path and stone bridge. Ring of Kerry. Killarney. County Kerry, Ireland. |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
Gap of Dunloe walk
From the head of the Gap, we overlooked farms, homes, a white church and Upper Lake. We would have made faster progress, if we hadn't stopped to snack on luscious wild blackberries, lining the road near the entrance to the Black Valley.
Bypassing the Black Valley, we followed the serpentine road up and down between craggy peaks overlooking green grass landscapes, strewn with boulders and wildflowers. Several arched stone bridges crossed the Loe River, which joins the lakes in the Gap.
We were happy that we had dressed in layers. As we climbed up the Gap of Dunloe, we removed our jackets and sweaters. Whenever gusts of wind buffeted us, we put them back on again.
 |
 |
 |
| Drinks at Kate Kearney's Cottage after Gap of Dunloe hike. Ring of Kerry. Killarney. County Kerry, Ireland. |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
Kate Kearney's Cottage
The end of our hike (and the beginning of the Gap of Dunloe walk for hikers going north to south) was Kate Kearney's Cottage. Dating back to the mid-1800s, the white pub became famous for Kate's potent, and illegal, poteen (moonshine).
Nowadays, hikers quench their thirst with Guinness and Irish coffee. Our Go Ireland walking group relaxed with drinks at picnic tables in front of the pub.
Where is Kate Kearney's Cottage? It's located 12 miles (19 kilometers) west of Killarney. The O'Connor's Pub vintage bus, which Go Ireland hired to bring us to Ross Castle, brought us back to our Killarney B&B.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Gap of Dunloe Tours: www.gapofdunloetours.com
Go Ireland: www.govisitireland.com
Tourism Ireland: www.discoverireland.com
