Overview
The Gap of Dunloe (Irish: Bearna an Choimín) is an 11 km glacial valley between the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks to the west and the Purple Mountain group to the east, west of Killarney. The River Loe and a chain of five small lakes thread the valley floor below steep slopes. Silver-grey Old Red Sandstone cliffs rise straight off the road, and the water shifts from deep blue to milky turquoise with the light. The narrow road climbs through the pass towards the Black Valley.
You can see the valley on foot, by bike, by jaunting car or on a combined jaunting-car and boat trip from the Killarney side. The road is narrow and shared with local traffic, which shapes how you plan a visit, as the section on driving below explains.
The route runs from Kate Kearney’s Cottage at the northern end, a pub that has watered travellers since the 1860s, south to Lord Brandon’s Cottage in the Black Valley. The road tops out at the Head of the Gap at 241 m, so it earns its views.
History & Glacial Formation
The valley’s U-shape is a legacy of the last ice age. Around 25,000 years ago a glacier more than 500 m deep broke through the Head of the Gap, grinding out the deep trough you pass through today. As the ice retreated, meltwater filled the scooped-out hollows, leaving the five lakes that define the route: Coosaun Lough, Black Lake, Cushnavally Lake, Auger Lake and Black Lough. The name Dunloe comes from Dún Lóich, “Lóich’s stronghold,” after a Fir Bolg chieftain named in early Irish annals.
For centuries, the pass served as a trading route between the Killarney basin and the Brandon peninsula. It only became a major tourist destination in the Victorian era, when the rise of the grand tour brought visitors seeking Ireland’s wildest scenery. The tradition of horse-drawn jaunting cars, which once carried locals and goods through the narrow track, evolved into a scenic transport method that remains a defining experience of the area.
What to See & Do
The valley offers several ways to experience it, each with its own pace and perspective. Most visitors choose one of the following.
- Walking: For a shorter walk, start near Kate Kearney’s Cottage at the northern end and turn back when you have walked far enough. The Wishing Bridge is the obvious early goal and a good turning point for a relaxed outing. Going further up to the Head of the Gap makes a longer day, so allow plenty of time for the return. The road is shared with vehicles, cyclists and horse-drawn jaunting cars, so leave space at bends and use designated parking.
- Jaunting-car rides: Horse-drawn carriages travel the narrow road, pausing at the viewpoints. Agree the fare and the route before you climb aboard, as arrangements vary by operator.
- Boat crossings: Some trips combine the valley with a boat between Lord Brandon’s Cottage and Ross Castle, crossing the lakes of Killarney. Check the boat operator’s route and booking options for pickup points, weather arrangements and the return journey before setting out.
- Cycling: The road is popular with cyclists, including on e-bikes from Killarney. The gradient is manageable but sustained, and you share the road with walkers, jaunting cars and other vehicles.
Key landmarks include the Wishing Bridge, a stone arch at the narrowest point between Coosaun Lough and Black Lake, and Colleen Bawn Cottage, a stone shelter near the centre of the route that makes a handy resting spot. At the southern end, Lord Brandon’s Cottage sits down in the Black Valley itself, reached after the road drops away from the Head of the Gap. Keep entrances clear and use the established route through the valley.
Driving the Gap (and why most people shouldn’t)
The road through the Gap is narrow, with few passing places, and it is shared with walkers, cyclists, horses and jaunting cars. In summer, and at busy times of day, that makes driving slow and awkward. If you do drive, go at a quiet time, yield at every passing place, leave space at bends and expect to reverse. Use designated parking rather than leaving the car on the verge, and keep gateways and entrances clear.
Better still, leave the car at the northern end and walk or cycle a section, or take a tour. Visibility drops fast in fog or rain either way.
Practical Information
- Getting there: The northern end is at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, west of Killarney. Check current options for reaching the Gap without a car, such as a taxi, a bike or a tour from Killarney.
- Facilities: Check what is open at Kate Kearney’s Cottage and Lord Brandon’s Cottage before you rely on them, and plan ahead as there are no facilities along the road itself that we can confirm.
- Best time to visit: Late spring to early autumn usually offers the most reliable weather and the fullest schedules for boats and jaunting cars. Early mornings tend to give the clearest light and fewer people on the road.
- What to bring: Sturdy footwear, a waterproof layer and water. The valley offers little cover in sudden showers.
- Safety: The road is narrow and lacks hard shoulders in places. Cyclists should wear helmets and use lights, even in daylight. Walkers should stay on the paved edge and be visible to jaunting-car drivers.
- Weather: Jaunting-car and boat operations can stop in poor weather, so check with the operator the day before.
Nearby Sights & Itineraries
The Gap of Dunloe sits within the wider Killarney area and pairs naturally with several nearby places.
- Ross Castle and the lakes of Killarney are on the northern side, and are where boat trips from the Gap return to. Check opening and tour arrangements before you go.
- The Purple Mountain range on the eastern side rises above the valley.
- Continuing south from Lord Brandon’s Cottage leads into the Black Valley, a mountain pass that connects onward towards Moll’s Gap and the Ring of Kerry.
- The Brandon peninsula lies just beyond the Reeks, with the wild coastline of Brandon Bay.
A straightforward half-day plan is to walk a section from the northern end as far as the Wishing Bridge, or book a through trip with a jaunting car and a boat back across the lakes to Ross Castle. Both are easily paired with nearby Beaufort or the Killarney National Park visitor centre. Check the boat and jaunting-car arrangements the day before, as both can stop in poor weather.