Dunloe Gap — Killarney Pass Road Viewpoint

The Gap of Dunloe is a glacially carved mountain defile running about seven kilometres through the heart of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. Five small lakes — Coosaun, Black, Cushvalley, Auger, and Black Lake — sit in sequence along the valley floor, fed by cold mountain streams. The road is narrow tarmac bordering on track in places, genuinely tight for anything wide. Horse-drawn jarveys and cyclists share it with vehicles, and in summer the foot traffic can make progress slow. But outside of peak tourist season — early spring and late autumn especially — this drive is remarkable.

Access from the Kate Kearney’s Cottage end near Beaufort is the standard route. The road exits at the Upper Lake on the far side into Killarney National Park territory. High-clearance not required, but a wide rig will regret the experience. Check ahead for event closures — the Gap is occasionally shut to vehicles for racing events.

Seven kilometres of glacial drama in Kerry.