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Killarney offers an array of boat trips, chiefly on Lough Leane, the largest of the three lakes. By Damien Switzer In my opinion, the ‘Rolls Royce’ experience of them all is the Gap of Dunloe boat trip through the entire lake system. Allowing yourself an entire day for one trip might sound like a big ask but, take it from me, the hours spent outdoors will be memorable. Like a lot of locals, I take the trip at least once a year. The starting point is Ross Castle between 10am and 10.30am. The trip across Lough Leane and Muckross Lake and on up to Lord Brandon’s Cottage takes roughly two hours. There is an option of bringing a bike if you want to cycle the eight miles back through the Black Valley and the Gap of Dunloe. Otherwise, walk or take a horse and trap. At Kate Kearney’s Cottage, you can catch a bus or taxi back to town. Some walkers choose to return via the Kerry Way behind Torc Mountain if they have taken the Gap route previously. Traditional boatmen also ply for hire from the Pier at Ross Castle. I would highly recommend taking a trip out to Innisfallen Island where the 7th century abbey ruins are quite extensive, and herds of deer roam through the wooded glades. Another beautiful boat trip is the one from Dundag Boat House beside Muckross House across the lake to Dinis Cottage. An all-weather cruising option is offered on Lough Leane by two enclosed water buses, which are ideal for groups and families. These crafts cruise the lake from the docking point at Ross Castle across to the foot of the mountains fringing the water. Trips on canoes or kayaks have grown in popularity on the lakes in recent years, especially for corporate groups. They have the advantage of bringing visi-
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2021
tors very close to the islands dotting the lakes. They are also a terrific sensory experience for visitors who are partially-sighted. Whatever boat trip you choose, nothing compares to being out there in the middle of nature with the possibility of sighting deer, whitetailed eagles and a variety of other wildlife in the waters and the wild.
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