The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow glacier-cut valley running between Purple Mountain and the MacGillycuddy's Reeks west of Killarney. It is the most photographed single road in the country and the classic Killarney day trip combines walking, jaunting car, and a boat ride back to town across the lakes.
The classic round trip
Take a coach or your own car to Kate Kearney's Cottage at the entrance to the Gap. Walk or take a jaunting car the seven kilometres through the Gap to Lord Brandon's Cottage at the head of the Black Valley. Catch a boat from there back through the Three Lakes to Ross Castle. Total day is six to seven hours. About seventy to ninety euros per adult including the boat and the jaunting car. A car shuttle takes you back to Kate Kearney's at the end.
How long does the walk through the Gap take?
The walk is seven kilometres on a single tarmac road that climbs gradually for the first half then drops down into the Black Valley. Average walking pace puts it at two to two and a half hours. Slower walkers can take three. The road is closed to most cars from Easter to October, so the Gap is full of people walking, jaunting cars, and the occasional cyclist.
Should I take the jaunting car or walk?
Walk if you can. The Gap is best appreciated at walking pace, with time to stop at the lakes (there are five) and to look up at the rock walls. The jaunting car is lovely but the pace is faster than walking and the driver's commentary tends to crowd out the silence that is the Gap's actual draw. Half-and-half is also reasonable; jaunt up to the highest point, walk down into the Black Valley.
How much does the boat back cost?
The boat trip from Lord Brandon's Cottage back to Ross Castle is around forty euros for adults. It takes about ninety minutes through the Upper, Middle and Lower Lakes of Killarney. The boats are open and basic, with a covered section if the weather turns. They run from Easter through to early October only.
Can I do the Gap without the boat?
Yes. Walk the Gap from Kate Kearney's to the Black Valley and back, an out-and-back of about fourteen kilometres or four hours. Or drive a second car to the Lord Brandon's end and shuttle. The boat is the prettier ending but the walk works on its own.
What is the best month to do this?
May or September. Long days, more reliable weather, the rhododendrons in May and the autumn colour in late September. July and August have busier paths and more midges in the Black Valley after rain. October the boats stop running. Winter the Gap is sometimes closed by snow.
Practical bits
Bring waterproofs, walking shoes (not necessarily boots, the road is tarmac), water, and lunch or snacks. Lord Brandon's Cottage has a small cafe but it gets crowded. Kate Kearney's at the start does a proper Irish breakfast.
The mountain weather caveat
The Gap is at sea level at both ends but the highest point is around 240 metres and the wind funnels through. On a still day in town it can be properly breezy in the Gap. Take the layers you would for a coastal walk and you will be fine.
Why everyone takes the same photo
The view back from the highest point of the Gap, looking down toward Auger Lake and Black Lake with the road snaking between them, is the iconic Gap shot. There is a small lay-by where the jaunting cars stop. The light is best in the morning if you are westbound, evening if you are eastbound.