Things to know
As this is a new website, please bear with us while we squish a few bugs and refine our content - happy walking, thank you for your forbearance.
Biting insects
Beware of tick bites
While traversing The Kerry Way, it is recommended that visitors use insect repellent and wear long-sleeved t-shirts and trousers tucked into socks to help avoid midges and ticks.
Dark Sky Reserve
The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve is Ireland’s first Dark Sky Reserve and was awarded Gold Tier Reserve in the northern hemisphere and is one of only four Gold Tier Dark Sky Reserves in the world. It is approx. 700 sq kilometers and reaches from Kells/Foilmore (north on The Kerry Way) through Waterville (west) and Derrynane/Caherdaniel (south on The Kerry Way). The lack of light pollution means that star constellations, planets, etc. can be very visible.
Visit www.kerrydarkskytourism.com >>
Kerry Way Ultra
An internationally acclaimed ultramarathon, run over the entire Kerry Way on the first weekend in September. There are four distances, 200 k starting and finishing in Killarney, 101k starting in Dromid, Waterville and finishing in Killarney, 58k starting in Sneem and finishing in Killarney and an UltraRelay, starting and finishing in Killarney.
Visit www.kerrywayultra.com >>
Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park has a fascinating and eventful history starting back in the early 17th century.
In the southwest of Kerry, the National Park stretches across 10,000 hectares of mountains, lakes, woodlands and waterfalls. This has been continuously covered by woodland since the end of the most recent glacial period, approx. 10,000 years ago. There is evidence of mining during the Bronze Age, archaeological remains from the Christian period and monastic settlements from 7th to the 14th century.
In 1910, the American William Bowers Bourn bought the Muckross Estate as a wedding present for his daughter Maud on her marriage to Arthur Vincent. When Maud died in 1929, Arthur Vincent donated the estate to the Irish state in her memory. In 1970, it was redesignated as a national park with the three lakes (Lough Leane,Muckross and Upper Lake), Knockreer Estate, Ross Island, Innisfallen and Glena, Ullauns and Poulagower added to the original park.
Visit nationalparks.ie/killarney >>
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is Ireland’s only Outdoor Ethics Education Programme. This is designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation, limiting impacts that come with the increase of recreational use.
Transport
Kerry Airport
An international airport in Farrenfore, just outside Killarney and Tralee. Passenger services are operated by Ryanair and Chalair.
Visit www.kerryairport.ie >>
Killarney Train Station
Situated next to the bus station and Killarney Outlet Centre, Killarney is directly linked by railway to Cork and Dublin, with 7 to 8 daily services from its award-winning rail station.
Train timetables are available here >>
Bus Services
Killarney bus station is located beside Killarney Outlet Centre, and is well served with nationwide services.
Visit www.expressway.ie >>
For more general transport information visit www.transportforireland.ie >>
For local services visit www.locallinkkerry.ie/killarney >>