Gap of Dunloe & Lakes tour from Killarney: walk or cart

Choose your pace through the Black Valley, then float back across the lakes

The Gap of Dunloe tour from Killarney combines a 7-mile walk (or optional jaunting cart ride) through the mountain pass with a boat journey across the Lakes of Killarney, ending at Ross Castle. The day starts with a bus pickup in Killarney town or from your accommodation, includes a live English-speaking guide, and takes around 6 hours total. You can walk the Gap, hire a cart to ride it, or reverse the route by starting at Ross Castle and walking back.

Step-by-step itinerary

Gap of Dunloe bus and boat tour

• Check in at O’Connor’s Pub
• Bus trip to Kate Kearney’s Cottage or Ross Castle
• Walk 7 miles through Gap of Dunloe or hire Jaunting cart
• Refreshments at Lord Brandon’s Cottage cafe
• Boat trip through Lakes of Killarney to Ross Castle
• Bus return to Killarney

The Experience

The tour starts with a bus ride from O'Connor's Pub on High Street in Killarney at 10:00am, or the driver can collect you from accommodation in the Killarney area. You head to either Kate Kearney's Cottage or Ross Castle — the castle is the recommended starting point if you want more time to walk. From there, the 7-mile journey through the Gap of Dunloe unfolds on foot, taking 2.5 to 3 hours. The pass cuts through the Black Valley, a landscape of mountain walls and open moorland that walkers cross at their own rhythm.

If walking the full distance isn't the plan, jaunting carts (traditional horse-drawn vehicles) are available for €25 per person and take you through the same route. Either way, you reach Lord Brandon's Cottage at the far end, where there's time to stop at the cafe for food and drink (not included in the tour price). Then comes the boat leg: you board at Reen Pier and travel across the Lakes of Killarney back to Ross Castle, watching the water and mountains from the deck. The bus meets you at the castle to drive back into Killarney town.

The route can run in reverse if you prefer — starting with the boat journey and walking or riding the Gap on the way back. A live guide in English leads the group throughout, handling the logistics so you move between each leg without arranging transport yourself.

What’s included

• Bus pickup from Killarney town or your accommodation.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full day.
• bus transfers to and from the Gap.
• the boat crossing across the Lakes of Killarney.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gap of Dunloe Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to walk the Gap of Dunloe at your own pace with a guide managing the route and transport — the bus and boat bookends mean you don't arrange the logistics between each leg. If the walk is too long, the jaunting cart option lets you ride the same mountain pass instead.

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Top questions

What's the actual walk like on the Gap of Dunloe?

The 7-mile walk through the Gap of Dunloe takes 2.5 to 3 hours and follows a mountain pass through the Black Valley. It's a moorland route between steep hillsides, and you set your own walking pace; the guide stays with the group. If the walk is too long or steep, jaunting carts (horse-drawn carts) run the same route for an extra €25 per person.

Can I start the tour at Ross Castle instead of Kate Kearney's Cottage?

Yes. Ross Castle is the recommended starting point because it gives you more time for the walk. You can also run the whole tour in reverse — boat first, then the Gap walk or cart ride — depending on which direction suits you better.

Is food included, or do I need to bring my own?

Food and drink are not included. At the end of the Gap walk, there's a cafe at Lord Brandon's Cottage where you can buy refreshments before the boat journey back to Ross Castle.

How long is the whole day from start to finish?

The tour runs around 6 hours total, including the bus ride to the start, the 2.5 to 3 hour walk (or cart ride) through the Gap, time at the cafe, and the boat crossing back to Ross Castle.

Where does the bus pick me up?

The tour checks in at O'Connor's Pub on High Street in Killarney at 10:00am, or the driver can collect you from your accommodation anywhere in the Killarney area.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended, mainly because of the 7-mile walk through the Gap (2.5 to 3 hours). The jaunting cart option removes the walking if that doesn't suit you, and the boat section is fully seated.