Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Killarney National Park is a stunning mountain region in southwestern Ireland complete with a series of lakes, incredible hiking trails and sweeping views. While I truly suggest that you plan some time to hike in the park, there is an even better way to make the most of a day in Killarney National Park: rent a bike, take a boat through the lakes, and cycle back over the Gap of Dunloe. We spent a full day on this adventure and I’m sharing exactly how to plan a trip to boat and bike Killarney National Park and make the most of the day.
There are a few things I didn’t know in advance that would have made planning much easier.
Looking for more adventures in Ireland, check out our guide to the nearby Skellig Ring or see all our guides to Ireland.
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The Route at a Glance
Before I get into the details, here’s the basic loop so you can picture it: you pick up bikes in the town of Killarney, ride out to the boat landing, cruise through the famous Lakes of Killarney, and then ride back up and over the dramatic Gap of Dunloe pass. It’s mostly self-guided, totally doable, and absolutely stunning.
Pick up your bike in Killarney (we used Killarney Rent-a-bike) and bike an easy 2 miles to Ross Castle to get on the boat. Book a boat and bike ticket.
The boat ride takes about 2-2.5 hours (not 1.5 hours which is what we were told) and goes through a series of lake.
At the end of the boat ride you can grab some food at the restaurant and bike back over the gap of Dunloe. The bike ride from the end of the boat ride to Kate Kearny’s Cottage is about 7 miles with a challenging ascent of about 850 feet. You can also take a horse drawn carriage or hike this route if you don’t want to bike.
From Kate Kearney’s Cottage you can bike back into town to return your bike.
The route can also be done in reverse by biking to Lord Brandon’s Lodge and picking up a boat here ( you will need a ticket and to plan your timing so you catch the boat!). I recommend doing the boating first.
To use the map below, you can click on it or even save it/make a copy in your own account.
Renting Bikes in Killarney Town
Renting bikes in Killarney is easy, there are a handful of rental shops right in town. BUT there are a few things to know.
First off – google maps kept sending us to the wrong bike shop over and over again since all the bike rental shops have similar names – make sure to put in the address!!!
Second – some shops will ONLY rent electric bikes for the gap of Dunloe – this is a great choice, but if this isn’t what you want, confirm that you can take the bikes you are renting over the gap (some limit biking to other parts of the park).
Finally – from town you will still need to bike into the park itself – this is flat and about 2 miles from town, but keep the timing in mind when you are getting your bike. We were worried about the 10 am boat departure and getting our bikes in the morning. We didn’t end up getting our bikes until almost 9:30 and we had plenty of time (the 10 am departure is a bit loose).
We rented from Killarney Rent a Bike specifically from their shop on College Street, Killarney (Opposite Murphy’s Bar)after accidently renting bikings from another place that wouldn’t allow us to bike over the gap. You will need to park in town – there is a lot with plenty of spots in April but is likely crowded in the summer.
If you are travelling during the busy summer months, make sure to reserve your bike in advance.
Do you need an Electric Bike: This is a preference – the ride up over the Gap of Dunloe is challenging but for most people in good shape, you will be fine with a standard bike. If you haven’t biked in a while or just want an easier day, just get an electric bike.
The Ride Out to the Boat
The first part of the ride from town to Ross Castle is on busy roads – and from town is about 2 miles. If you rented bikes from somewhere else make sure to just make note of how long it will take to get to the start of the boat ride.
Getting on the Boat
Our boat was scheduled to leave at 10 am. We were worried that we were running late since we arrived right at 10. Turns out we still had time to grab a coffee, walk around the castle and use the bathroom.
We had a group of 11 people so ended up with our own boat, but they will load the boats as people arrive. Make sure that you get on the right boat as there are a few family run companies operating here – make sur eyou ask your driver about how long the boat companies been operating on these lakes and how the license works – talk about a fmaily run business!)
The boats themselves are open boats with bench seating. Since they are open, if it is raining, you will get wet! The operators will load your bikes onto the boat before leaving.
The Lakes: What You’re Actually Seeing
The three lakes that make up Killarney’s famous waterway are genuinely spectacular. You’re threading through a landscape that looks like it was designed for a movie. Ross Castle, wooded islands, the Reeks in the background, it all stacks up.
The first lake is the largest and your boat will make a short stop at Innisfallen Island where you can check out Innisfallen Island (that was once overtaken by the Vikings). We also stopped to look for eagles.
After crossing the larger lakes, the water narrows and it feels more like you are going through a slow moving river. The views are still spectacular and you will cross some bridges. Depending on the depth of the water, you may need to disembark to pass a few shallow sections and bridges. In the early section you will see lots of hikes, but after the bridge, you will enter a more remote area.
The entire boat ride took about 2-2.5 hours.
Lunch at Lord Brandon’s Lodge
At the end of the boat ride, you will unload your bike and you can visit Lord Brandon’s Lodge for some food and a bathroom. It’s a beatiful little spot and sites right at the base of the Gap of Dunloe. We stopped in for some soup and sandwiches and got some more water. We were here in late April and were lucky with a hot day.
Cycling the Gap of Dunloe
From Lord Brandon’s cross the bridge and follow the route for bikers. You will also pass hikers along this route. The first section is flat but quickly the route begins ascending to the Head of the Gap of Dunloe. The road goes through some switchbacks but you will climb about 850 feet. Take your time – the views are stunning.
The road is narrow, it winds through a wild glacial valley, and there are a few spots where most people are walking their bikes. That’s totally fine. The scenery is so good you want to be going slow anyway. There are also cars on this route. In April it was just a few locals.
After reaching the pass, the road is all downhill and the narrow road winds through a series of lakes and bridges. It really is gorgeous.
Horse Drawn Carriage and Hiking the Route
For those who don’t want to bike, but still want to see the gap, the best option is to hike or take a horse drawn carriage. Carriages can be booked on site and take 2 people. Hiking is a great way to see this area and we saw many hikers along the route.
Four people in our group took a horse carriage and had a great but bumpy trip.
Returning to Killarney
Kate Kearney’s Cottage is a cute little stop where you can get a snack, ice cream or a full meal. This is as far at the busses go so it tends to have a lot more people and people are hiking into the park from here. We made a brief stop before biking back to the rental shop in Killarney. If you aren’t biking, you can take a bus from here back to Ross Castle to get your car.
The route back to town starts on a busy road and while pretty is not the best part of the route. About halfway back to town, there is a bike path and this is a lovely ride through some forests that ends pretty close to town. This ride is about 7 miles.
Practical Info for Doing This Yourself
- Best time to go: It’s best to do this in the off season if possible but make sure the boats are running and if you can find a non-rainy day!
- Bike or Boat First: it doesn’t matter too much, but boating first makes the ride back more relaxed.
- How long it takes: Plan to start your day at 9 in town and be back by 4. If you plan to linger, give yourself more time.
- Bike rentals: Killarney rent-a-bike in town is a great option – AND they will give you directions and a helmet.
- The boat: Book a boat and bike ticket.
- What to bring: (layers, snacks, rain gear: this is Ireland after all
- Difficulty: we did this with 7 generally fit people ages 14-47. If you are concerned about the difficulty, you can get an ebike, but most people can do this bike ride.
