Bus & Boat Tour
Overview
Your journey begins with a bus trip to Kate Kearney’s Cottage or Ross Castle (recommended starting point for walkers as it allows more time). From here visitors make the 7 mile walk (please allow 2.5 to 3 hours for the walk). For those who do not wish to walk Jaunting cart’s are also available (at extra cost of €25 per person) to take the clients through the natural unspoilt beauty of the Black Valley, a walker’s paradise.
Upon reaching Lord Brandon’s Cottage, there will be time to enjoy refreshments (not included) at the Cafe, before taking your boat trip through the Lakes of Killarney to Ross Castle where your bus will be waiting to take you back to Killarney. As noted, this tour can also be done in reverse.
Inclusions
- Tour Guide
- Bus Transfers
What to expect
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Gap of Dunloe National School Gap of Dunloe National School Gap of Dunloe National School Off the R562 Road To Killorglin Killarney National Park, Killarney V93 YN52 Ireland
Passengers can take in the breathtaking beauty of the Gap of Dunloe by travelling the 7mile/12km journey on foot or can also hire a Jaunting cart (optional extra cost).
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Ross Castle, Ross Road Ross Island, Killarney V93 V304 Ireland
For those client's who wish to complete the tour by beginning their boat journey at Ross Castle, will have some time to look around the grounds prior to the boat departing Reen Pier (red boats) at 11am
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Kate Kearney's Cottage, Killarney Kerry Ireland
Traveller's will have time to avail of refreshment's at Kate Kearney's Cottage either at the start or end of their tour (depending which direction they are taking the tour).
Duration: 30 minutes
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
Signed up for bus and the boat tour - last week ( August 18). PLUS - paid extra on the day for the pony & trap excursion up through the gap ( rather than walking) - A MUST!. NOW - it has to be said, this is hugely weather dependent as for a large part of the trip ( 3-4 hours), you are exposed to ...
Signed up for bus and the boat tour - last week ( August 18). PLUS - paid extra on the day for the pony & trap excursion up through the gap ( rather than walking) - A MUST!. NOW - it has to be said, this is hugely weather dependent as for a large part of the trip ( 3-4 hours), you are exposed to the weather. We had brilliant weather - as shown in attached piccys - and had a real crack!! Collected from hotel at 9.45am. 40 min drive to pick-up pony & trap excursion. Toilets and snacks are available before the trap departs. Met by Donal our tour lead - brilliant character. Top tip - if you are not a Manchester Utd supporter - don't mention soccer - the man's an encyclopedia on united stats and players! We left promptly and travelled up through the gap - lovely steady ride (4 of us - with Donal "driving") with beautiful scenery around us - just very special sights & views. On occasion Donal asked to get out the trap & walk - as gradient was too steep for pony to pull us. No issue - actually quite pleasant to get out and walk. Throughout the trap ride we had the absolute pleasure of a special "escort" - Donal's 10 year old niece, Ava (photo attached) - I think her first ride through the pass. What an absolutely lovely young lady - chatted the whole way. The trap travelled at a steady trot - always under control, so never concerned over speed.Felt safe throughout trip. We arrived at Lord Brandon's cottage for lunch after 2 hours - fresh sandwiches, cakes, soups & warm snacks are available - more than adequate. Plenty of time is allowed for relaxing, lunch, toilet break & recharge for afternoon boat trip.We then left Donal & Ava with pony &trap & climbed aboard a small motorised boat - driven by an amazing local character. Great fun - shared all local info of route & local sites - again weather was very kind & sunshine abounded. Boat trip through lake & river was just a delight - water was very calm and again no concerns over safety. One period you travel through narrow channel section - subject to height of water in river/lakes, you may be asked to get out & walk around this narrow section. We stayed on board & floated through the light rapid section - again, all very safe! Passed by Ross's Castle - again great photo shot opportunity and arrived back to shore after 1.5 hours. Buses were there ready to take us back to hotel - arriving around 4.45 pm. A really brilliant adventure - something very different. HIGHLY recommended - subject to weather. If you are in the area - sign-up IN ADVANCE, as this was a very popular tour.It was a beautifull tour with the most amazing views. We especially loved the trip trough the gap itself. We were very lucky with the weather, we had a clear blue sky with about 26 degrees. When booking it we thought it was quite pricey, (€60,- total for 2 persons bus tour and the boat trip. + €...
It was a beautifull tour with the most amazing views. We especially loved the trip trough the gap itself. We were very lucky with the weather, we had a clear blue sky with about 26 degrees. When booking it we thought it was quite pricey, (€60,- total for 2 persons bus tour and the boat trip. + €50,- total for 2 persons jaunting car trip) buth afterwarts is was worth every penny. It would recommend it to everybody. So far travelling trough Ireland this was the best part of our journey, and I don't think it can get better.Very disorganised would benefit from giving people a small map, instruction sheet of where we are expected to go Late leaving pick up ( told initially only pick up was at pub then found out later could have done hotel pick up) Dropped off at Ross castle (don't bother to do more than a 5 minute...
Very disorganised would benefit from giving people a small map, instruction sheet of where we are expected to go Late leaving pick up ( told initially only pick up was at pub then found out later could have done hotel pick up) Dropped off at Ross castle (don't bother to do more than a 5 minute walk around toilet stop) and told to head down that path pointing in a vague direction to right in 20 minutes for boat tour Boat tour was pleasant but all kicked off at one pointto walk whilst boat went through a small creek Not the easiest to get on and off at that point and end as no pier/ jetty Informative guide on boat but he left us with just head up path to jaunty cars. No direction and path went off in multiple directions. No time to be there and people missed as we were expected immediately Onto jaunty cars 4 adults plus driver one horse this poor exhausted creature was pushed to its limit dragging us up the steep mountain road just cruel to see The scenery was lovely but the gasping of the horse made it fade into insignificance 3 of our group got off in a few spots to walk to give the horse a break. (€50 extra or you had to walk for miles) We then were dumped at the end a cafe for meal/ snack not to,d what time we were being picked up 45 minutes later the little bus arrived driver told us we were in 4 pm bus nd he was the 3:30 bus if there was room he would take us early 8 of us waited and eventually at 4:10 we got onto this supposed 3:30 bus which had just sat there whilst the driver read the paper and chatted by this time there were more people than seats and he told the others they would need to wait for next bus?The tour bus collected us from our caravan site in Killarney in early May and in perfect weather, so our report may be biased as the whole day is open air. We were bussed to the start point of a 7 mile/10 km unaccompanied walk. We were told to allow 2 to 3 hours and it took us a full 3 hours, lea...
The tour bus collected us from our caravan site in Killarney in early May and in perfect weather, so our report may be biased as the whole day is open air. We were bussed to the start point of a 7 mile/10 km unaccompanied walk. We were told to allow 2 to 3 hours and it took us a full 3 hours, leaving no time for a lunch break before the 1.5 hour boat trip due to leave at 2pm. The alternative to the walk is to pay 25 euros per head to ride through the pass by pony and trap. Not being the youngest or fittest in the group we struggled towards the end of the walk, but enjoyed the experience. The boat trip back through lakes and rivers was a real delight. Recommended. NOTE: Despite what some may say and the efforts of the jaunting drivers to convince you that you can't drive through the gap road, you can - but as walkers we found the traffic tiresome and intrusive on the wonderful scenery. It is high time that the authorities used some legislative muscle to ban traffic.Overall this was a good day. The staff (I met the lady at the desk, bus driver, and a driver of the boat) were all lovely. The boat driver was especially enthusiastic despite the hard work he had to do pulling the boat over shallow spots in the lake. The scenery is beautiful even in the rain and ...
Overall this was a good day. The staff (I met the lady at the desk, bus driver, and a driver of the boat) were all lovely. The boat driver was especially enthusiastic despite the hard work he had to do pulling the boat over shallow spots in the lake. The scenery is beautiful even in the rain and mist. However, I had signed up expecting to do the walk first, and boat tour second. So had the other girls on my tour. We left over a half hour late from the tour office. As we waited for the driver we discussed how great it was we were doing the walk first, with the weather it would be a shame getting wet from the rain on the boat and having to start the walk cold. Then when we got going all of a sudden they dropped us off at the Ross' Castle and said we would do the boat first, without mentioning the change before leaving the office. They said when we each said no we wanted to do it the other way around, that it was impossible to do so today. So we just left the bus and went. I also had plans to meet someone at Ross castle after the boat ride so this was not ideal for me. Sure enough we were soaked (this was no fault but the weather, I don't think the boat ride would get you wet if not raining) when we started our walk. I sent an email saying I was upset about the switch, and they did make it right as well as they could at that point by dropping me off to find my friends at the Castle on the way back into town, however they also said basically if I had have said I really wanted to do the boat last they would have obliged -- when I clearly had said that when they dropped us off at Ross castle before they told us it wasn't possible to do it the other way around that day. I bit of a contradiction. Overall, I was happy with the staff, and the views were unreal. On a sunny day I would probably give them another chance, it was just unfortunate that we had to do the boat first when that isn't what any of the ones on the tour that day wanted.We were informed to be at the bus for 10:30 but were late leaving for trip and the driver/guide/boatman didn't know who was in his party. Buses are old but OK for the short drive to Ross Castle, the man told us when we got there this is the ross castle you have 5 minutes and meet me over by the r...
We were informed to be at the bus for 10:30 but were late leaving for trip and the driver/guide/boatman didn't know who was in his party. Buses are old but OK for the short drive to Ross Castle, the man told us when we got there this is the ross castle you have 5 minutes and meet me over by the red boats on the other side, the actual tour of the castle is 45 minutes we got 5 minutes to take a quick photo. I'm not to bad as I am from Ireland but I felt bad for all the people in our group who were American and German travelling all the way to Killarney to experience these ancient treasures and to be give 5 minutes and no information on the actual castle. We then took the boat which took us through the lakes fantastic experience and the views breathtakingly beautiful from the boat. Again, the guide/boatman gave very little information on the vista around us and the visitors kept asking me questions on the area thankfully I was able to tell the about the area. The visitors though part of the trip was to see Muckross House and the guide just said that's muck Ross house at the other side of the lake and that was it. We got to the bridges on the lake and we were told we had to get our and walk to the other side, which was ok but if you were older or had problems walking this was a rough enough walk, two men in the group had to help the man pull the boat through and help the ladies off the boat., this happened on two occasions. When we got to where we had to meet the horse and carts when we got off the boat no mooring or jetty to get off you had a fair steep step to get off and you needed help to get off the boat. Then a good walk again up to meet the horse and carts and where you could get some food and a cupa not wonderful, but a well needed bathroom. You met the horse man and had to pay him at the end of the trip which cost €25 each even though we had been told €15 each, the horse cart drive over the Gap was beautiful but again the man was in informative of anything around us. Again, I knew all about the area and was able to inform our group of the gap and the area. At the end of the trip over the mountain we were left off near some souvenir shops, and beware these are expensive we had to sit and wait there for almost one hour for the bus to return to take us back to town. My over all experience was although the scenery is just beyond words and breathtakingly beautiful, the guide was to get you over and through the trip as quickly as possible and it cost us €110 for two, and the American visitors had been charge €130 with their online booking. Shop around for tours and read people reviews!