Two Night Stay
Suggested Itinerary
Cycle from Cahernane – Muckross Abbey – Muckross House & Gardens
Check in to Cahernane. Have a light snack and welcome drink in The Cellar before taking our complimentary bikes out to explore the Killarney National Park. At the top of the hotels driveway, take the cycle path to the right.
After 1km, the cycle path leads into the woods. Keep the Lower Lake on your right and after another 1km, you will see Muckross Abbey on your left. Stop here and explore the Abbey, especially the Yew Tree in the center of the Abbey. Legend has it that anyone who damages the tree will die within a year. The tree is approximately 400 years old.
Continue cycling up the hill and after another 2 kms, you will see Muckross House ahead.
To loop around, cycle past the main car park and back to Muckross Abbey before returning back to Cahernane.
Total distance is 9km of a relatively easy cycle. For something a little more strenuous (17km), follow the signs for Dinis Cottage, this loop takes you around the Muckross Lake. Stop at Dinis for refrehsments (shop is open in high season until 5pm)
Once you are settled back in Cahernane, enjoy a rest with a coffee or drink in the Library or Atrium before your gourmet dinner in the Herbert Restaurant. Don’t forget to order your picnic lunch for the following day from reception.
Ross Castle – Copper Mines - Innisfallen Island – Torc Waterfall
After a hearty breakfast why not take in some more sights of Killarney.
Our first suggestion is to drive to Ross Castle (you can walk, its 4kms). From there, you can walk to the Copper Mines (3km loop walk to Govenors Rock). Killarney had a thriving copper mining business in the 19th century.
If it’s a rainy day, a tour of inside Ross Castle is a great way to spend a couple of hours.
Alternatively, take a small motor boat from Ross Castle over to Innisfallen Island (approx. €10 per person). You can also hire row boats from Ross Castle but if the wind is strong, it can be a tough pull out across the lake ! Our recommendation is to take the motor boat. A monastery was established on Innisfallen in the 7th century but the ruins you see on the island now are from a more recent 12th century Augustinian priory.
The boatman can leave you for 20 minutes or for an hour as you prefer. Have your Cahernane picnic here. Please note there are no services (toilets, coffee shop) on the island so you must bring everything you need with you.
In the afternoon, a visit to the resplendent Torc Waterfall is a must. To drive here is a 7km drive from Cahernane. Turn right at the top of our driveway and continue past Muckross House and Gardens. You will see a car park on your left hand side of the road.
Once you park at the Torc Waterfall car park, the waterfall is a short 200m walk from here. If you are feeling energetic, you can continue walking up the steps past the waterfall and do a loop back around to the car park (approx. 30 minutes walk).
After all this fresh air, why not return to Cahernane to have afternoon tea in the Drawing Room, overlooking the beautiful views of Tomies and Glena mountains.
Killarney Town – St Mary's Cathedral
After your breakfast and before you leave Killarney, why not pay a visit in to the town centre. Parking is plentiful and the small local shops and boutiques are not to be missed. Killarney Cathedral is only a short walk from the town centre and was designed by Augustus Pugin who also designed Big Ben and the interior of the Palace of Westminster in London.
