After a long day of touring either the Ring of Dingle or the Ring of Kerry, you may want to do some more leisurely sightseeing. We chose to visit Ross Castle, which is close by and still quite well-preserved despite being several hundreds of years old. I’ve included pictures below, but it’s worth a few minutes to check out this link to get more information on the hours of operation if you intend to go. Unlike Dunguaire Castle, you can only take guided tours, which are infrequent and limited to small groups of people at a time. We opted not to wait an hour for the next available tour, but the exterior of the building is still well worth the visit.

Only a few minutes away lies the treasure that is the Muckross House & Gardens, located within Killarney National Park. This beautiful mansion can be toured inside and out, and it’s surrounded by a gorgeous landscape that includes mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and unusual trees and plant life. One downside is that it’s not as easily accessible by car… you will have to do a fair amount of walking to get from the parking lot to every major attraction. One way to avoid this and see more is to hire a jaunting car (basically a horse and simple carriage) to drive you through the vast expanse of this area. This not only saves time and aching feet, but it provides a quaint way to travel while getting a peek into the history of the park from a local guide. We didn’t make reservations for one because we didn’t even know they existed until we arrived, but if you want more information or an advance booking, this is one operator I found online: Killarney Jaunting Cars.

For nature buffs, hikers, cyclists, and photographers, the possibilities at Killarney National Park are endless. There are miles of trails to explore that are off the beaten path, where you’re unlikely to run into many tourists. You could easily spend several days in this park, just enjoying the peaceful environment and postcard-perfect vistas, so take a little time to research the options and decide what appeals to you the most. There’s something here for everyone!