We'll be spending a couple of nights in Killarney in a few weeks and are thinking about taking one of the Gap of Dunloe tours. However, they look to be about $60-65 US (including the jaunting cart), and we're on a tight budget, so my first question is - is it worth it? I know we could walk instead of the cart - we're in decent shape - but seven miles is a long walk and not nearly as fun, I would think! We're also thinking about doing the Cliffs of Moher boat cruise and the Dingle harbour boat ride, so if it comes down to an either/or I'd love to hear opinions.

Also, if we do decide to do the Gap of Dunloe tour, do we need to make reservations beforehand? It would be on a Friday in early June. I just don't want to commit and then have it be pouring rain. Also, is there a particular company anyone would recommend? I tried emailing one about the need for reservations, but just got back a form letter that didn't address that question.

Thanks as always! If it helps, "we" are two mid-20s women and this is our first trip to Ireland, except for a few days in Dublin several years ago.

The tour company site is:

http://www.derostours.com

The Gap would be my preference of the three options that you mentioned. For the price, you get transport to/ from Killarney Town center, a local guide, the ride and the boat trip through the lakes. We booked through the Killarney Tourist Office, the afternoon before our tour, in June of 2005.

Bob

I used this company, www.gapofdunloetours.com last September and thought it was well worth it.

I urge you to walk the Gap of Dunloe. It is a lovely walk. The first half is uphill and the last downhill. My wife an I have done it twice and we are in our 50's. The boat ride at end end is also very nice. The pony cart is okay but you have to get out at several points and quite frankly I could not put up with the driver hitting the pony on the head with his crop. Without the Pony cart the Gap is quite reasonable for a whole day.

In Dingle do the Sleas Head drive rather than the boat ride. It is one of best drives in Ireland. I haven't done th Cliffs of Moher boat ride but the ferry ride back from the Aran Islands to Doolin give you a great view of the cliffs so that might be alright. Again two girls in thier 20's will have not problem walking the Gap. Have fun

I thought it well worth the cost! It was a highlight of our Oct. 2005 trip! I have taken shorter tours with less offered for more $$$ but was more than satisfied with Deros. This tour ranks as the best of all tours I have taken.- so much so that I was very tempted last month to take the tour all over again even though I had promised myself we would do different things this trip!

Our trap driver was really sweet and we had a fun time with him. We did have to get off twice and walk a little- (we only saw our guide kinda tap the horse on his side with the crop)

My advice would be to take the trap ride and when you end at Ross Castle- where Dero's bus is waiting to take you back to town, send them off and stay at Ross Castle for the tour and a look see then walk from there back to town- an American 40 minutes (or an Irish 15 minutes)

I agree with Johnod- do the Slea Head drive rather than the boat tour in Dingle then you can boat tour the Cliffs and tell me how it is- I'd like to do that one myself!

Have fun!
Dawn

The Gap Tour is worth every penny. It is a treat to get to know more about the area from a local, as you ride along in the cart. As for tapping with the crop, the ponies are trained for tap cues. It tells them when they need to step up or slow down. For the money you will spend, it is quite economical when you break it down.

I highly encourage people to experience the Cliffs of Moher cruise out of Doolin. You get a more up close and personal view of the cliffs from the sea. It is a phenomenal experience, that you will return to often in your memories. The cacophony of seabirds as they call out from their ledge perches, the awe that you feel as you realize the sheer magnitude of the cliff heights, these are some of the experiences you will only have when taking the cruise. I have done the Cliffs from the top and was more concerned about the wind gusts than the views. On the sea, I could relax and appreciate the experience.

Slan Beo,

Bit Devine

We are also considering the Gap of Dunloe tour on our way from Kenmare to Dingle. How much time should we allow for this?

I have done all three and this is what I would advise:
Take the cliffs of Moher cruise, it is spectacular on a beautiful day.

For Dingle, instead of the cruise you mentioned, take the boat trip from Dunquin to Blasket islands
http://www.dodingle.com/pages/blasket_island_trips.html
or if thta is too expensive, just drive the Slea Head drive

As for Gap of Dunloe, just do the walk, don't pay for the pony cart. The walk is beautiful!

Well, I'm glad we could come to a consensus! Seriously, I wasn't really expecting one, and most definitely appreciate everyone's input. Our time in Ireland is the last section of a two-week trip, so we'll probably wind up just looking at the budget so far and deciding then. So all this information is very much appreciated!

For those of you who have taken the Gap tour or Cliffs cruise, how far in advance did you make reservations? I'm wondering because we'll be arriving via Kerry airport (from London) at 5:20 on a Thursday, and our only full day in Killarney is the next day (Friday). So I'm guessing by the time we got to our hostel and could make reservations, the companies would be closed for the day. We'll have a cell phone in the UK, so could call from there if we found out the weather, etc. - it sounds like that would probably be the way to go?

The Deros run tour departs Killarney about 10 AM and returns about 5 PM. You could probably buy your tickets on the day. Most of their tours leave from in front of their office, so don't let the crowd discourage you. When we went in June of 2005, the bus had several empty seats.
The big "rush" for seating is at the boats, at Lord Bandon's Cottage landing, as each boat holds fewer people than the bus and no one seems to want to wait for the next boat.

The will be little/no time to tour Ross Castle at the end unless you forgo the ride back into Killarney. It's a shame, too. Ross is a VERY nicely restored castle and the tour is quite interesting.

Bob

Thanks for all your help, Bob!

Bob,

If we didn't have as much time as you indicated for the tour, what would you recommend we do?

I'm trying to envision the Gap of Dunloe and can't quite figure out how it is layed out. Are cars allowed to park close enough to get out and walk it?

Can we walk part of the Gap and then drive to Ross Castle? Is there someplace to park if you aren't taking the Dero tour?

The Gap starts at Kate Kierney's cottage and runs down through the Black Valley. There IS a road through, but I wouldn't want to drive it during the busy season. Driving the whole way would probably take as long as the tour does.

There is a car park at Kate Kierney's Cottage and the jarveys offer a 'half tour, out and back, or you could just walk a mile or so and then turn around and come back to the car park. There is no Admission charge (dunno if they charge for parking).

Try this site for info on the walk:
http://irelandforvisitors.com/articles/the_gap.htm

Bob

Bob,

Thank you for the link and info. We will most likely try and park at Kate Kearney's and either walk the Gap a bit or take a jaunty cart as you suggest.

I really appreciate that you share your experiences on this forum. It has helped us out quite a bit in planning our June trip.

There is no parking charge at Kate Kearney's Cottage. Those who take the jaunting cars must haggle with the drivers for pricing. It is about a 7 mile hike to the boat pick-up. Here is a nice slideshow of the gap: http://tinyurl.com/2cxawa There is a map of the route on this page: http://tinyurl.com/2faopm

You would only want to drive it way off season. Even then I would approach the drive from Moll's Gap as opposed to Kate Kearney's Cottage where the drivers do not appreciate people driving on "their road" even though it is a public road.

Just to chime in on the Gap of Dunloe tour...it was one of our favorite days and a good deal for a whole day of scenic beauty.

This is the web site for the tour we took last June. We actually had a bit of a modification because our family had a private driver/guide, so we made arrangements to have the jaunting carts meet us early at Kate Kearney's and the boat also came a little early so we had time to tour Ross Castle at the end. I think we were able to do this since we were a group of 10.
the site also has a video that does an overview of the trip.
www.gapofdunloetours.com

Here is the web site to go along with my "Ireland trip report-short version" from June 2006, that includes several pictures from our Gap of Dunloe tour...they are near the end of the slide show.
irelandjune2006.shutterfly.com