Killarney to Gap of Dunloe
The hike/launch/bicycle tour that takes us from the busy city of Killarney to the stillness of the glacier trail that is The Gap of Dunloe offers the best of everything an exploration can hold. First, we visit Ross Castle which sits on the edge of Killarney’s lower lake and was built by O’Donoghue Mór in the 15th century. Legend has it he sleeps in the waters of Lough Leane rising on May 1 every seven years on his white horse. Ross Castle was the last stronghold in Munster to hold out against Cromwell. From Ross Castle we take our rental bikes onto the launch that will take us through the lower lake of Killarney, catching sight of the ruined monastery of Inisfallen founded in 640 and where the Irish High King Brian Boru received his education. Passing under the Brickeen Bridge we come to The Meeting of the Waters where the Upper lake, Middle Lake (also known as Muckross Lake) and Lower Lake (Lough Leane) come together. After entering the Upper Lake we come to Lord Brandon's Cottage where we disembark with our bikes to have a lovely cup of tea and consider the crumbling tower where Lord Brandon is said to have kept his young wife imprisoned when he found her love letters to Lord Melbourne, the future Prime Minister of Britain. Refreshed we climb on our bikes for one of the most amazing and scenic rides in Ireland. Riding through the narrow gap between the Purple Mountain and the looming Magillicuddys' Reeks along the River Loe there is the awesome sense of movement, one can feel the presence of the slowly moving glacier making its way through the rock. With photo ops at every turn it is a ride not to be missed, and with the lemon cake with clotted cream at The Coffee Pot waiting for us at the halfway point you will see why this exploration delivers so much satisfaction.
