Killarney National Park

Ireland'S First National Park (1932, From The Gift Of The Muckross Estate), With The Lakes Of Killarney, Muckross House And Ross Castle; UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (1981) · Killarney, Kerry

Killarney National Park is Ireland's first national park, created in 1932 when the Muckross estate was given to the state, and it now covers over 10,000 hectares of lakes, oak and yew woods and mountain right on the edge of Killarney town. It holds the three Lakes of Killarney, Muckross House and its gardens, the ruined Muckross Abbey, the 15th-century tower house of Ross Castle, Torc Waterfall and the only herd of red deer in Ireland thought to descend from the native population, and it was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981. People come to cycle and walk the lakeshore paths, tour the big house, take a boat out to Innisfallen, ride a jaunting car through the woods and, above all, to cross the Gap of Dunloe and come back by boat through the lakes. The honest caveat: the park's front door is a busy tourist town, the most famous spots such as Torc and Muckross are crowded in summer, and it rains a great deal - the woods are green because this is one of the wettest corners of Ireland.

Muckross Road (N71) south of Killarney town; Muckross House and the park visitor centre about 6 km from the town, Killarney, Kerry, Ireland

The park grounds, lakeshore paths, Muckross Abbey and Torc Waterfall are open every day of the year and free to enter. Muckross House is open most of the year by guided tour (shorter hours in winter - confirm), and Muckross Traditional Farms are seasonal, roughly spring to autumn. Ross Castle is visited by guided tour in its season, roughly March or April to October (confirm). Killarney town, with train and bus links from Dublin and Cork, is a walk or a bike ride from the park; Muckross House is about 6 km along the N71. Book the Gap of Dunloe boat trip at least a day ahead in summer, and a Carrauntoohil guide days ahead.

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