Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Killarney National Park (Ireland). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Ross Castle, Muckross House, and Lakes of Killarney. Also, be sure to include Torc Mountain in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Killarney National Park (Kerry).
Table of Contents
Ross Castle
Tours of 15th-century tower and gardens. Ross Castle is a 15th-century tower house and keep on the edge of Lough Leane, in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of the Clan O'Donoghue, later associated with the Brownes of Killarney.
The castle is operated by the Office of Public Works, and is open to the public seasonally with guided tours.[1]
Address: Ross Castle Ross Road, Killarney National Park
Muckross House
19th-century lakeside mansion and gardens. Muckross House is located on the small Muckross Peninsula between Muckross Lake and Lough Leane, two of the lakes of Killarney, 6 kilometres from the town of Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland. In 1932 it was presented by William Bowers Bourn and Arthur Rose Vincent to the Irish nation. It thus became the first National Park in the Irish Free State and formed the basis of the present day Killarney National Park.[2]
Address: The Killarney National Park, V93 EW28 Killarney National Park
Lakes of Killarney
Lake. The Lakes of Killarney are a scenic attraction located in Killarney National Park near Killarney, County Kerry, in Ireland. They consist of three lakes - Lough Leane, Muckross Lake and Upper Lake.[3]
Torc Mountain
National park peak with a waterfall. Torc Mountain, at 535 metres, is the 329th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list. It is a popular mountain for hill walkers as it has a stone or boarded path from its base at Torc Waterfall to its summit, which has views of the Lakes of Killarney. Torc Mountain is part of the Mangerton Mountain Group range in County Kerry, Ireland.[4]
Address: Killarney National Park, Killarney National Park
Purple Mountain
Purple-hued peak for challenging hikes. Purple Mountain at 832 metres high, is the 21st–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 28th–highest according to the Vandeleur-Lynam scale. It is located in County Kerry, and is the highest point of the Purple Mountain Group.[5]
Lough Leane
Lake in the Republic of Ireland. Lough Leane is the largest of the three lakes of Killarney. The River Laune flows from the lake into the Dingle Bay to the northwest.[6]
The Grand Killarney
Spa
Address: The Park Town Centre, Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park
Lush forested mountains, valleys and lakes. Killarney National Park, near the town of Killarney, County Kerry, was the first national park in Ireland, created when the Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish Free State in 1932. The park has since been substantially expanded and encompasses over 102.89 km2 of diverse ecology, including the Lakes of Killarney, oak and yew woodlands of international importance, and mountain peaks. It has the only red deer herd on mainland Ireland and the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland. The park is of high ecological value because of the quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species that they accommodate, some of which are rare. The park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The park forms part of a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service is responsible for the management and administration of the park. Nature conservation is the main objective of the park, and ecosystems in their natural state are highly valued. The park is known for its scenery, and recreation and tourism amenities are provided for.[7]
Upper Lake
Lake in the Republic of Ireland. Upper Lake is a lake in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It is one of the Lakes of Killarney, along with Muckross Lake and Lough Leane.[8]
Torc Waterfall
Small waterfall in a scenic setting. Torc Waterfall is a 20 metres high, 110 metres long cascade waterfall formed by the Owengarriff River as it drains from the Devil's Punchbowl corrie lake at Mangerton Mountain. The waterfall, which lies at the base of Torc Mountain, in the Killarney National Park, is 4.3 miles from Killarney in Kerry, Ireland. The waterfall is a popular site on the Ring of Kerry and the Kerry Way tours.[9]
Muckross Lake
Lake in the Republic of Ireland. Muckross Lake, also called Middle Lake or The Torc, is a lake in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It is one of the three famous Lakes of Killarney, along with Lough Leane and Upper Lake. It is Ireland's deepest lake, reaching to 75 metres in parts.[10]