Gap of Dunloe How-To Question

GrammyAmy · Veteran Member

Gap of Dunloe How-To Question

Judy · Guru

GrammyAmy,

The Gap of Dunloe is my favorite place to visit in all of the southwest of Ireland, followed a close second by Healy Pass.

First of all, the pony and trap ride and the boat trip is a package deal. There is a short stop at Lord Brandons cottage for lunch. If I remember right, we arrived back at Ross Castle between 3 and 4 PM.

If you are going to the Gap, its on the opposite side of Killarney from Kenmare. Your best bet is to park in Killarney, go to the tourist office and take the tour they offer. You will be bussed to the Gap and picked up at Ross Castle and driven back to the tourist office in Killarney. That way you wont have to worry about a way back to your car. We used Dero Tours out of Killarney. You can check with their web site for cost.

We have also done a shorter pony and trap ride, offered in the afternoon, through part of the Gap and returning back to Kate Kearneys. If you have the time I would recommend the all day trip, its beautiful.

Hope the weather is clear on the day you visit the Gap.

Judy M.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I've done the Deros Tour, as well. It can be priced with, or without the Jaunting Car, for those hardy types that wish to walk the 7 miles or so from Kate kearney's to Lord Bandon's ...

BUT, there ARE other options, too:

www.derotours.com

http://www.gapofdunloetours.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://www.killarneydaytour.com/index.php

Bob

GrammyAmy · Veteran Member

Great! Thanks - that makes it much clearer than what I was seeing online. I don't know if we'll have the whole day to devote to this, but it's good to know what we can do if we have time. :)

Wellsley · Guru

Hello Grammy Amy,

You and I will be in Ireland some of the same time. You will be getting there before me and I will be staying later. Enjoy your trip and let us know all about it.

Frank

GrammyAmy · Veteran Member

Frank,

I'm really getting so excited, now that we have less than a month to go! I already have excited butterflies! This forum has been my number one help in planning my trip. I couldn't have gotten through my itinerary planning stage without it! SO much more helpful to get real answers from real people, rather than just browsing websites and travel guides. :)

Enjoy your trip!
Amy

GrammyAmy · Veteran Member

Okay, so if we're short on time or too BROKE by the time we get to this part of our trip hmm , we might choose to do the shorter pony-trap-only trip. Do we just show up at Kate Kearney's for this? Do they run all day? Does it go to and from? Yes, I'm a planner - I want to know everything! aww

http://hayesinireland.blogspot.com/2011/03/whats-next.html

Judy · Guru

GrammyAmy,

The shorter trips are in the afternoon, after the pony and traps get back from dropping off people at Lord Brandons for lunch and the boat trip.

If not all the pony and traps are in service up the Gap, you might be able to get the shorter ride earlier. The shorter ride for us was as far as the old barracks, about ¼ of the way up the Gap and back to Kate Kearneys.

You will have to make a deal with the driver for the shorter trip as far as the cost. You can also walk it at no cost. I heard of people driving it, starting at the Black Valley side. We might try that next time if we can find the right road.

Judy M.

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Amy,

We walked the Gap of Dunloe in May of 2009 (around the same time as you'll be there this year. We parked our car on the Black Valley side of the Gap (the side where Lord Brandon's Cottage is) next to a small church. We walked the Gap to Kate Kearney's, had lunch, then took a jaunting car part way backed. After that, we walked the rest of the way back to our car.

We started our walk at about 9 a.m. and were back to the car by 1:30 p.m. or so. I think we paid around 20 euro for the short cart ride (I felt so horrible about that poor horse trying to pull us up that big ol' hill, when she seemed to be having trouble with the smaller ones. We just stopped part way through, paid the driver, and walked the rest of the way.). The day started with broken clouds, but by the time we started in the cart to go back to our car, it was raining steadily (which also made it quite chilly).

Since there weren't many people out walking that day, we drove back through the Gap from the Black Valley. I wouldn't really advise that drive, if it's in the middle of the day, the weather's nice, and there is the potential for a lot of foot, bike, and jaunting car traffic. If you don't have time to walk the Gap, though, you could wait until later in the day (like after 5 p.m. or so) and drive it after the traffic has cleared out.

Walking the Gap of Dunloe was the highlight of that trip. We'll second Judy's nomination of the Gap being our favorite place in all of Ireland - well, it's definitely in our top 5 anyway!

Hope you have a great trip and that the weather holds for you. I don't want to wish you all sunshine for your trip, because that wouldn't really give you a true sense of Ireland, would it? wink

EngagingKate · Senior Member

I forgot to tell you that the photo I use as my avatar is from the Gap of Dunloe walk...

And I've attached another as well

GrammyAmy · Veteran Member

Thanks! This is definitely on our list now. I'm so glad I ran into a description of it and have you all to ask about it. :)

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

We took the Deros Tour in 2005 and hired a jarvey and jaunting car.

In June, 2009 AND July, 2010, I drove the route, from South (near Moll's Gap) through to Kate kearney's. On both occassions, we encountered almost NO traffic, vehicular or otherwise, BUT ...

On BOTH drives, we began the trip about 6 or 6:30 PM and by the time we reached Kate Kearney's, the last of the Jarveys were loading up their horses and heading home. Would NOT want to attempt the drive any earlier, though. Even though it IS a Public roadway, the Jarvey's seriously RESENT (and Rightly so ...) tourists 'Clogging up' the road -- and undermining their ability -- and opportunity -- to earn a living.

Being a Jarvey in the Black Valley is a Birth Right, passed down through the generations and they are a breed of men and women unlike any other. Competition for customers is fierce -- particularly of late --

But, it is a uniquely KERYY experience that it would well and truly be a shame to miss.

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

I find it best to drive the Gap of Dunloe from the Black Valley coming out at Kate Kearney's too. Even if the jarveys are packing up, they still defend their turf stringently. If you come out the other way, well...what can they say? But for those thinking of driving it, the road is EXTREMELY NARROW and winding. If you can do the tour it is a much nicer experience.

Michele

chaika · Veteran Member

We drove the Gap of Dunloe. On the approach one jarvey driver tried to flag us down, but when he saw my wife's broken leg he "allowed" us to drive. It's a road, you do not need their permission to drive it. There are pulloffs all along so you can stop and enjoy the view. I did not have any problems driving a Ford Fiesta through it.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dave,

You are right. You don't need the jarvey's permission to drive the Gap of Dunloe. However, they will definitely try to prevent you from doing so. That's why I do it from the other direction. It prevents confrontations.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

We took the shorter trip in the pony trap, and it was delightful. There were three of us, and one is an experienced horsewoman, so we made a deal - two of us in the trap, and Kim got to ride another pony. She loved it! The gentleman who took us was very talkative and sweet. He said that he, his father, his grandfather had all done this route for tourists. He wintered in Amsterdam, as there wasn't enough work here in Ireland outside the tourist season. He showed us his grandmother's house along the way. It was very cool at the end - he just unhitched his horses, and wiped them down a bit (and we asked permission, and received it, to give the horses some apples we brought). They then just started home, without him. They knew where dinner was! :)

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

You have a good point. The jarveys have been doing the Gap of Dunloe for generations. They are "grandfathered" into guarding their territory and protecting their income. Some can get a bit ruthless, while others are more low-key. They will warn tourists away from "their road" even though it is a public road.

Michele