Page 60 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

58 BACK ROADS IRELAND

VISITING KILLARNEY
Tourist Information
Beech Road, Killarney; 064 663 1633;
www.killarney.ie
Killarney National Park Information
Muckross House; 064 667 0144;
www.killarneynationalpark.ie
Parking
There is a car park next to the Tourist
Information centre, but this may be
full in high season. An alternative is
Glebe car park on College Road.
WHERE TO STAY
Above Majestic Upper and Muckross lakes and Lough Leane, seen from Ladies’ View
KILLARNEY
Killarney Lodge moderate q Moll’s Gap would be hard to disagree with her.
Just a stroll from the town centre yet Co Kerry From here it seems as if the whole of
beautifully secluded in its own walled Moll’s Gap is where the R568 meets Kerry is laid out directly below. Upper
garden, this family-run guest house
offers excellent accommodation. the N71, which runs between Lake stretches away to link up with
Countess Road; 064 663 6499; Killarney and Kenmare. There are the two lower lakes, Muckross and
www.killarneylodge.ie several spectacular vistas from here, Leane. On the far side is the dramatic
KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK but sadly many of the best places for Carrauntoohil massif.
viewing have been fenced off. ª Continue on the N71 to Killarney
Cahernane House Hotel moderate
Set in its own parklands on the edge of ª Continue on the N71 to Ladies’ National Park and Muckross.
the national park, this has a charming View, pausing at the lay-by just before
old-world atmosphere and open fires. it for more splendid views. The Liberator
Muckross Road (off N71); 064 663 Daniel O’Connell (1775–1847), “The
1895; www.cahernane.com; closed w Ladies’ View Liberator”, campaigned for equal
Nov–Jan
Killarney, Co Kerry rights and religious tolerance. His
Coolclogher House moderate Ladies’ View takes its name from one goal was partially achieved in 1829,
This early Victorian house on a working of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting when Catholics were at last admitted
farm is a haven of tranquillity. Four to Parliament in Westminster, and
rooms have mountain and sea views. who, accompanying the monarch on he became the first Irish Catholic
Mill Road (third left off N71 from a visit to Killarney in 1861, pronounced MP in the House of Commons.
Killarney); 064 663 5996; it “the finest view in the realm”. It
www.coolclogherhouse.com
Muckross Park Hotel
moderate–expensive e Killarney National Park
Dating from 1795, this is Killarney’s Co Kerry
most beautifully located hotel, opposite
Muckross Abbey. Elegant bedrooms. Killarney National Park covers approximately 10,000 ha (25,000 acres)
Muckross Village; 064 662 3400; and encompasses three lakes – Upper, Muckross and Leane – and the
www.muckrosspark.com surrounding mountains. It contains Ireland’s largest area of ancient
oak forest and its only remaining herd of indigenous red deer.
Below Lovely Muckross House, in the heart of
Killarney National Park A two-hour walking tour main rooms have been renovated in
This circular tour, known as the period style. Next door, the working
Dinis Walk, is a delightful stroll farm project at the Traditional Farms
around Muckross Lake, through (open May–Sep: daily; Apr & Oct:
ancient woodlands of oak and weekends) has recreated Irish rural life
mountain ash. The walk starts at of the 1930s, before electrification.
Muckross House (open daily) 1, Mucros Pottery and Weaving can
next to the car park. The focal be seen in action next to the craft
point of the park, the house is a shop in the Walled Garden Centre.
fine Victorian residence, completed From the house there are several
in 1843 to designs by Scottish alternative walks around the lakes
architect William Burn. Queen and through the woods or, for a
Victoria herself visited in 1861 as a different touring experience, trips in
guest of the Herbert family, who a horse-drawn jaunting car are also
landscaped the gardens in her possible (pick one up outside the house).
honour, planting them with azaleas To continue the Dinis Walk, follow
and rhododendrons. Today, the the marked trail down to the
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €100; moderate, €100–€200; expensive, over €200

054-059_Back_Roads_Ireland.indd 58 11/09/17 12:29 pm
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