Gap of Dunloe Walk: Route, Distance and Getting Back

Where the route runs

The route follows the road through the Gap of Dunloe, a glacial pass about 12 km (7.5 miles) west of Killarney town. It begins at Kate Kearney's Cottage on the northern side and ends at Lord Brandon's Cottage in the Black Valley, a small settlement at the southern foot of the pass. The MacGillycuddy Reeks rise on the west side of the road, and Purple Mountain on the east.

Because this is a point-to-point route, the start and finish are not at the same place. Most walkers start at Kate Kearney's Cottage because it is easy to reach by car or taxi from Killarney and has a large parking area. Lord Brandon's Cottage is isolated in the Black Valley.

Getting to the trailhead

Kate Kearney's Cottage is the main trailhead, roughly a 15-minute drive west of Killarney. The car park beside the cottage is ample but fills on busy summer days, so an early arrival saves hunting for a space. A sign at the start of the road discourages driving beyond the cottage except under certain circumstances, so most visitors park there and continue on foot.

Public transport to Kate Kearney's Cottage is unreliable, so a taxi from Killarney is the simplest car-free way to reach the start. For the return, the boat from Lord Brandon's Cottage to Ross Castle is the traditional option, but sailings are infrequent and should be booked ahead.

If you are based in Killarney for several days, the town makes a convenient base for this walk and others in the area, including the lakes and low slopes covered in the broader hiking in Killarney guide; the Gap of Dunloe walk is a half-day outing from town.

The one-way problem and your three ways back

If you walk the full gap from north to south, you finish at Lord Brandon's Cottage with a decision to make. The first option is the boat across Lough Leane to Ross Castle, a trip of about 1.5 hours that lands you a short walk from Killarney town. Boats are small open motorboats, so dress for spray and weather; seats should be reserved in advance because capacity is limited.

The second option is a jaunting car, a horse-drawn trap that can carry up to four people. Jaunting cars operate from Kate Kearney's Cottage and from the Head of the Gap, and they travel the length of the pass. Booking on the spot at Lord Brandon's Cottage is less certain than arranging a return in advance.

The third option is to walk back to Kate Kearney's Cottage, which turns the outing into a 22.5 km (14 mile) round trip. Many hikers shorten the day by turning around at the Head of the Gap, the pass's high point, giving a round trip of about 12.2 km (7.6 miles) with the climb and descent on the same route.

Distance, ascent and time

The through walk from Kate Kearney's Cottage to Lord Brandon's Cottage is about 11 km (7 miles) with roughly 230 m (750 ft) of ascent when walked north to south. The climbing is spread over the first half, with the steepest section between Augher Lake and the Head of the Gap. Allow 3 to 5 hours, depending on pace and stops; the return boat or jaunting car adds more time.

For a shorter outing, the out-and-back to the Wishing Bridge is about 2 km (1.2 miles) and takes around 40 minutes at an easy pace. This option gives a taste of the pass and its first lake without committing to the full traverse or arranging a return from the far end.

For comparison, the long out-and-back walk from Kate Kearney's Cottage is about 10 km and takes roughly 4 to 5 hours, since the same climb is repeated in reverse.

Route description: Kate Kearney's Cottage to the Head of the Gap

From Kate Kearney's Cottage, the road heads south past a jaunting-car loading area and a few houses before opening into the pass. At about 0.8 km (0.5 miles) a side track on the right leads into the MacGillycuddy Reeks, but the Gap of Dunloe walk stays on the main road. The first lake, Coosaun Lough, appears as the road bends into the mouth of the pass.

The Wishing Bridge crosses the stream between Coosaun Lough and Black Lake, and it is the first landmark most walkers stop for. A small coffee stand sometimes parks here in season; otherwise there are no services between the two cottages, so carry water and snacks. Beyond the bridge the road passes open fields and sheep pastures.

Augher Lake, the fourth and largest of the chain, sits about 3.2 km (2 miles) from the start. Past Augher Lake the road steepens noticeably, climbing through a series of bends. Do not mistake this rise for the top: Black Lough lies beyond it, cradled among glacial boulders, and the road continues climbing past its stone bridge.

After the final hairpins, the road reaches the Head of the Gap at about 240 m (788 ft), the true high point of the walk. The view north takes in the road twisting back down between the lakes, while the view south opens onto the Black Valley. In poor visibility or strong wind this exposed section is where you feel the weather first.

Descent to Lord Brandon's Cottage

From the Head of the Gap the road drops into the Black Valley, a remote farming valley beneath the MacGillycuddy Reeks. The descent passes sheep and cattle pastures and crosses the Kerry Way, the long-distance route around the Iveragh Peninsula; the Kerry Way guide covers that route in full. Walkers continuing south leave the road's highest ground here and lose height steadily.

At around the 10 km (6.3 mile) mark the route enters Killarney National Park and stays inside the park boundary to Lord Brandon's Cottage. The final stretch is a gentle lane through woodland and open ground. Lord Brandon's Cottage, a 19th-century hunting lodge now used as a cafe, marks the end of the walk, with restrooms and hot food available. If you enjoy linking low-level trails like this into a longer trip, the Ireland hiking guide covers similar waymarked routes elsewhere on the island.

Driving the pass

The Gap of Dunloe road is a public road and driving it is legal, but it is narrow, winding and busy with walkers, cyclists and jaunting cars during the day. If you drive, go early in the morning before the crowds arrive, and expect to meet oncoming traffic and horses on blind bends. For most visitors the pass is better experienced on foot, by bike or from a jaunting car.

When to go and what the weather does

The walk is open year-round, but the pass funnels wind and rain, and the road can be slick after wet weather. Late spring through early autumn gives the best chance of dry days and long daylight, but afternoon showers are common in Kerry. Start early in summer to avoid the busiest hours on the road and to leave time for the boat or jaunting car.

There is no significant snow on the road in a normal winter, but ice can form on the shaded climb above Augher Lake. Check the forecast on the morning of your walk and carry waterproof layers; the gap offers little shelter once you are past the Wishing Bridge. Hikers continuing beyond the gap onto the MacGillycuddy Reeks should be equipped for rougher mountain ground and should not treat the Gap of Dunloe road as a mountain route.

Plan Your Visit

Decide first whether you are walking one way or turning back at the Head of the Gap. The one-way option is the classic route but requires arranging the boat or a jaunting car in advance, while the out-and-back keeps logistics simple and still delivers the best of the pass.

Book any boat seats before you travel and plan to reach Kate Kearney's Cottage early. If you have time, combine the walk with the Muckross Lake Loop or other low-level paths in Killarney National Park on a separate day. For the broader context of hikes around Killarney, including the MacGillycuddy Reeks and the lakes, start with the Killarney hiking guide.