Fishing

Killarney is one of the main game fishing centres in the south west of Ireland. Located in County Kerry, it provides a vast range of fishing opportunities to the freshwater Game Angler. There are four large lakes in Killarney, two medium sized rivers and numerous small lakes and steams in the surrounding mountains. The main quarry for the local angler is wild Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon. Smaller numbers of sea-trout are also caught in Killarney and a few mountain lakes are artificially stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Lough Leane is the jewel of the Killarney system. This 2,000 HA lake is renowned throughout the region for excellent wild brown trout fishing.  Although declining in recent years due to pressure from pollution it still has a wealth of fishing to offer. It is a unique limestone lake which has a neutral Ph value. The trout are generally not large, avagering about 0.5 lb, but they are excellent fighters and very free rising. Fishing in Killarney is a game of numbers as a days fishing is measured in terms of numbers of keepable fish caught not weight of individual fish.

Lough Leane is also an excellent Salmon lake in its own right. Hundreds of Salmon are caught in it each year and there is a very large run of grilse/peel in the early summer . The Salmon average 11 lb and the grilse/peel average 3.5 lb.

Lough Leane is also an excellent Salmon lake in its own right. Hundreds of Salmon are caught in it each year and there is a very large run of grilse/peel in the early summer . The Salmon average 11 lb and the grilse/peel average 3.5 lb.

Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park is the largest national park in Ireland. Located in the south west of Ireland in Co.Kerry, it contains spectacular mountains, woodlands and lakes. It encompasses 10,000 Hectares which include the famous Lakes of Killarney and the Muckross Demesne. The combination of mountains, and valleys, lakes and islands, rivers, waterfalls, bogs and woodlands forges a distinctive and beautiful landscape. The lakes lie sandwiched between the mountains of the McGillicuddy's Reeks and lower agricultural lands North and East of Killarney. The lower slopes of  mountains surrounding the lakes are covered by deciduous oak woods which are an essential component to the Killarney national park.

There are also numerous historical buildings within the Killarney National Park - a 7th centurary monastery on innisfallen island - a Norman castle on Ross Island - a 15th century monastery in Muckross and a large Victorian Mansion called Muckross House with exquisite gardens.

The Killarney National Park has many different habitat types from fresh water, through grassland and mountain communities with rare alpine flora, to sessile oakwoods (Quercus petraea), bogs and heaths. The latter making up the greatest part of the park. One of the most unusual areas is formed by Yew Wood on the Muckross Demesne. Thought to be only one of three in Europe, the trees grow on almost bare limestone and have a wonderful carpet of mosses beneath. The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is found on the edge of the oakwoods, it has a limited range in Ireland and is confined to southern Europe. Another species that is relatively unique to the park is the Killarney fern (Trichomanes speciosum), the only European fern to have translucent 3-4 pinnate leaves. The pine martin and red squirrel are regulars in the area, as are the red and sika deer that are under study.

Within the Killarney National Park there are in excess of 20 lakes and loughs of varying sizes. The Lower Lake (also caused lough Leane ) is by far the largest and dominates not only the National Park but also the Killarney landscape. This is followed in size ( but surpassed in beauty ) by the Muckross Lake and the Upper Lake. These lakes are largely unspoilt with some spectacular views of the mountains and rarely visited islands. The remaining lakes are quite small and located in the more remote southern side of the National Park.

Walking

Old Boathouse Trail
As you walk the road from Muckross House to Torc waterfall you encounter a fine specimen Cypress on your right hand side. Following the path beside this tree you will see two old boathouses on the shores of the Muckross lake where boats can be hired in the summer season. This is the first stop on the Old Boathouse walk. Continuing along the path will take you through Rhododendron Arches to a viewing point overlooking Dundag bay. On either side are native Yew trees which are quite common in Killarney and seem to grow on every outcrop of limestone . The next section takes the walker to the cliff overlooking the middle lake ( Dundag point). This provides a spectacular viewing point over Muckross lake and an excellent vantage point for viewing Torc mountain. On your way along the track to the sandy shores of Goleen you will pass a grove of Arbutus. Goleen shore is mixture of caves, sand and pebbles and in Summer is the local swimming point. Further along the shore and past some majestic pines you will find the exit back to the main road.

Arthur Young Nature Trail
This walk is about 7.5 kms long and takes 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace. A shorter version of about 4.5 kms also exists. More than half of this walk is along a surfaced road through the Killarney National Park which is free of motorised traffic but which abounds with horse drawn carts and cyclists during the height of the Killarney tourist season. This walk begins near Muckross House and follows a route along Muckross Peninsula between Lough Leane and Muckross Lake.

Along this route there are extensive Yew Woods - reputed to be the largest in Europe - which have varied carpets of mosses and liverworts underneath. The walk meanders through the two main woods on the peninsula - Reenadinna andCamillan - displaying some of the varied flora of the area. Some majestic Oak, Arbutus, Holly can be seen as well as wide varieties of ferns and lichens.

There are fine views of the surrounding lakes and mountains and plenty of wildlife to attract the eye. Sika deer are common along this walk especially on the sections which are away from the surfaced road. Long tailed tits and Warblers are also common as are many species of native birds.

Mossy Woods Nature Trail
This trail is located in one of the most scenic areas of the Killarney National Park, from which some magnificent panoramic view of Torc and Mangerton Mountains and the McGuillicuddys Reeks can be enjoyed. It starts almost directly in front of Muckross House and takes roughly 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace. This trail will take the walker through oak and yew woodland with the the Muckross lake just on the left  hand side for the first half of the walk. 

The walk begins on the northern side of House Bay ( the small bay directly in front of Muckross House). Here a sloping tract of bare limestone can be seen colonised by yew trees and some arbutus. Here the yew trees have been stunted due to the low levels of nutrition. Further along the path there is a good view of Muckross house across house bay. A few steps further and Dunday point comes clearly into view, here the effects of lake water dissolving limestone can be clearly observed in the pockets of caves underneath the cliffs at Dundag point. Further along the route there is an area of large oak trees, woodrush and bilberry which indicate a non limestone rock. Large Scots Pines can be seen growing along the lake shore, these have grown as a result of cones being dispersed by water from plantations.

In the distance the Devils Island can be seen and the Eagles nest where 100 years ago some of the last eagles in Ireland nested. Next there are fine views of Shehy Mountain and the Purple Mountain. A large exotic pine ( Pinus insignis ) can been seen and tracts of Irish Spurge are common. On the right there are some large sandstone boulders, this rock forms most of the mountains around Killarney. The prostrate shrub which has colonised the layers of limestone is Cotoneaster - this shrub originally spread from Muckross Gardens.

The trail continues into an area of Arbutus, or strawberry tree, which is common in Killarney but rare or non-existent in the rest of Ireland. This plant is absent from nearly all of northwestern Europe and found mainly around the Mediterranean. At this point the walk enters the mossy woods. From here on the the forest floor is densely covered with a carpet of moss, a beautiful and unusual sight peculiar to regions of mild climate and high rainfall. If you turn left the track brings you to a surfaced road which joins the Arthur Young's Nature Trail, but this trail continues on the left.

Along the remainder of the trail there are fine Yew and Hazel trees. On the right is a large bog which is actually an arm of the Lower Lake filled with peat .

Ross Island
Ross Island is a peninsula south of Killarney town which juts into Lough Leane. A combination of a road and pathways circumnavigates Ross Island. These begin along a surfaced road close to Ross Castle. There are some spectacular views of Lough Leane and Tomies mountain. Mainly a walk through deciduous woodland with continually changing vistas of mountains and lakes. Wide variety of native flora and unusual shoreline formations. The early part of the walk passes the ruins of Ross Cottage. Take a look through the narrow windows/slits to see a mature sycamore tree growing on the top of a wall. Further along the path and on the shore of Lough Leane are the copper mines - these are reputed to be the oldest copper mines in North Western Europe. This location gives a good view of the eastern side of Lough Leane, and the two large islands off the shore are the Rough and the Cow Islands. Further along the road you reach the headland called Governor's Rock which has a great panoramic view. Further along the track is the Library point which give a great view of Innisfallen Island, O'Donoghues Prison and a tiny tree covered island appropriately called the Mouse Island.

The Gap of Dunloe
The Gap of Dunloe is a rugged mountain pass on the eastern side of the Kerry's MacGillycuddy's Reeks close to Killarney Town. It is famous for it's rugged scenery, unspoilt landscape and corrie lakes. Walking is the best way to see the Gap of Dunloe, leaving your car at Kate Kearneys Cottage. This is a long walk which will takes nearly a full day to complete. It begins alongside Kate Kearneys Cottage and takes the walker through some rugged mountain scenery of a mountain gap. Alternatively, it you have neither the time nor the energy to walk you can hire either a pony or a jaunting car to travel the route. (These ponies and horses are at the opposite end of the scale to the kind seen in horse racing - so don't expect too much) There are fantastic vistas of rocky overhanging mountains and deep and mystic mountain lakes. The route carries the walker through the Gap into the Black Valley. From there route leads to the Upper Lake and and the Queens Cottage - which is a fantastic walk on its own - offering great views of the Upper Lake and the surrounding woodland. From here Killarney town is a further 12km and it is not recommended to walk this as you will have already walked 14km and much of the road to Killarney has reasonably heavy traffic and there is not much of a footpath. Best to arrange to be picked up close to the Queens Cottage or else use a mobile phone to call a taxi or a friend.

There are numerous shorter walks in the Gap of Dunloe area which can take from one to two hours to complete.