Killarney National Park — Ireland's first and largest national park — covers over 26,000 acres of mountain, lake and ancient woodland right on the doorstep of the town. It is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful places in Europe.
The National Park
Killarney National Park was established in 1932 when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish state — making it the country's first national park. It was later designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981, recognising the exceptional quality and diversity of its habitats.
The park is free to enter and open year-round. Cars are not permitted on most of the park roads, which makes it genuinely peaceful. Jaunting cars (horse-drawn carriages) operate traditional routes through the park, and cycling is one of the best ways to cover ground.
Where to go
- Muckross Lake circuit — A 10km loop around the lake through ancient woodland. Flat, accessible, spectacular. Allow 2.5–3 hours.
- Torc Waterfall — 10-minute walk from the car park on the N71. Continue past the waterfall to the ridge for panoramic views over all three lakes.
- Ross Castle — 15th-century castle on the shores of Lough Leane. Boats leave from the pier for lake tours.
- Ladies View — A scenic viewpoint on the N71 overlooking Upper Lake and the MacGillycuddy's Reeks. Named after Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting who admired it in 1861.
- Innisfallen Island — A small island on Lough Leane reached by rowing boat from Ross Castle. Home to ruins of a monastery founded in 640 AD.
- Gap of Dunloe — A dramatic glacial valley between the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and Purple Mountain. Walk, cycle or take a horse-drawn jaunting car through.
Wildlife to look for
Beyond the famous red deer and white-tailed eagles, the park supports an extraordinary range of species. Otters are common along the lakeshore, particularly at dawn and dusk. Peregrine falcons nest on the mountain cliffs. The park's ancient yew woodlands on Muckross Peninsula are home to some of the oldest trees in Ireland and support rare woodland bird species including the chough, a red-billed crow that is locally common but scarce elsewhere.
The lakes themselves hold salmon, trout and the rare Arctic char — a cold-water fish that has been in the lakes since the last ice age.