Page 168 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

166  IRELAND REGION B Y REGION

8 Lakes of Killarney

Renowned for its splendid scenery, the area is one of Ireland’s most popular
tourist attractions. The three lakes are contained within Killarney National Park.
Although the land scape is dotted with ruined castles and abbeys, the lakes are
the focus of attention: the moody water scenery is subject to subtle shifts of
light and colour. The area has entranced many artists and writers including
Thackeray, who praised “a precipice covered with a thousand trees … and other
mountains rising as far as we could see”. In autumn, the bright red fruits of the
strawberry tree colour the shores of the lakes.

R562 to Killorglin
. Gap of Dunloe (see pp168–9)
Glaciers carved this
dramatic mountain
pass which is
popular with
walkers, cyclists and
horse riders. The
route through the Lough
gap offers fabulous Leane
views of the
boulder-strewn
gorge and three
small lakes.

KEY
1 Killarney (see p163) is the main
town from which tourists visit the
sights around the lakes. N71 to Moll’s Gap
2 Ross Castle, built in the and Kenmare
15th century, was the last stronghold (see pp168–70)
under Irish control to be taken by
Cromwellian forces in 1653.
3 Muckross Abbey was founded
by the Franciscans in 1448, but Upper Lake
was burnt down by Cromwellian
forces in 1653.
4 Torc Waterfall, an 18-m (60-ft)
high waterfall, cascades through
the wooded Friars’ Glen into
Muckross Lake. A pretty path winds
up to the top revealing views of
Torc Mountain.
5 Long Range River
6 Ladies’ View gets its name from
the delight it gave Queen Victoria’s
ladies-in-waiting when they visited
the spot in 1861.
7 Purple Mountain, 832 m
(2,730 ft)
8 Tomies Mountain, 735 m
(2,411 ft)
9 Kate Kearney’s Cottage was
home to a local beauty who ran an
illegal drinking house for passing
travellers in the mid-19th century. Upper Lake
It is still a pub today. This narrow lake is the smallest of the three lakes. It flows into the
Long Range River to the Meeting of the Waters.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp298–9 and pp313–16

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