Killarney National Park tour by jaunting car: Small groups

Travel park routes closed to cars on a jaunting car built for the terrain

A one-hour scenic tour of Killarney National Park by traditional jaunting car, a horse-drawn cart that accesses park routes inaccessible by vehicle. You ride through 25,000 acres with a live guide who shares history and folklore, choose between a direct route to Ross Castle or a lakeside route with photo stops, and can feed the horses carrots or apples along the way. Small groups only; wool blankets provided for warmth.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic Killarney National Park tour

• Start at Deenagh Lodge Tea Cottage
• View Ireland's second tallest cathedral nearby
• Tour Killarney National Park by Jaunting car
• See views of Ireland's tallest mountain
• View picturesque Lakes of Killarney
• See Innishfallon Island from the park
• Choose route to Ross Castle or lakeshore stop
• Stop for walk or photos at Ross Castle
• Return to Deenagh Lodge Tea Cottage

The Experience

The jaunting car leaves from Deenagh Lodge Tea Cottage and enters routes inside the 25,000-acre National Park that no car can reach. A live guide provides commentary and folklore as you travel, and the route itself is the point: these paths run through mountain and lake views across the Lakes of Killarney, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll see Innishfallon Island, views of Ireland's tallest mountain, and the option to stop at Ross Castle — either walk the castle grounds or stay on the cart at the lakeshore for photographs overlooking it.

The tour runs about an hour. Wool blankets are onboard for colder days, and you're welcome to bring carrots or apples to feed the horses if you want to. This operator runs small groups only, which means the cart doesn't fill beyond capacity and the pace stays unhurried. Children from age one ride welcome, and infants sit on an adult's lap; strollers and prams are fine too. The meeting point doubles as a tea cottage, so you can grab coffee or a snack before or after.

What’s included

• One-hour jaunting car tour through Killarney National Park.
• live guide with history and folklore commentary.
• wool blankets for warmth.
• choice of route to Ross Castle (direct walk or lakeside photo stop).
• access to park routes closed to regular vehicles.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by McCarthys Killarney Carriage Rides

Is this one for you?At one hour, the tour fits easily into a morning or afternoon without consuming the whole day, so you can combine it with a visit to Deenagh Lodge for tea or explore other parts of Killarney around it. Small groups keep the pace relaxed and the views unrushed.

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Top questions

Can I walk around Ross Castle on this jaunting car tour, or do we just see it from the water?

You choose at booking. One route takes you directly to Ross Castle for a walk around the grounds; the other keeps you on the cart at the lakeshore overlooking the castle, which works better if you want to stay seated and take photos of the views instead.

What is the Lakes of Killarney like from the jaunting car route?

The Lakes of Killarney are the centerpiece of the tour. You see them across the full hour from the cart, with stops or photo moments depending on which route you pick, and views of Innishfallon Island as you travel the park paths.

Do I need to bring anything warm, or is the jaunting car heated?

Wool blankets are provided onboard for colder days, so you're covered for warmth. The cart itself is open-air, which is why the blankets matter — dress in layers and you'll be comfortable.

Can small children ride on this tour?

Children are welcome from age one. Infants sit on an adult's lap, and if you're traveling with a stroller or pram, you can bring it along — the tour accommodates families.

What does the guide talk about during the tour?

The live guide provides on-board commentary covering the history and folklore of Killarney National Park, so you learn about the landscape and the region as you travel the routes.

Can I feed the horses on the jaunting car tour?

Yes, if you bring them. Carrots and apples are welcome treats, and the horses enjoy them — it's optional, but many travelers do it.