What to do in Gougane Barra

Stretching over 25,000 acres, Ireland’s first national park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1982, an award given to areas that demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature.

Whether arriving by boat after your trip through the Gap of Dunloe or by land along the Kerry Way, find historic Ross Castle standing serenely over beautiful Lough Leane. See a very well-preserved example of a medieval castle from outside and in.

At Muckross House visit a beautiful aristocratic home, wander through extensive gardens and learn about traditional farming culture. Explore a grand estate with many different perspectives of Ireland’s history.

Once a monastery where monks whispered their daily prayers, now a fascinating site of mossy ruins, find Muckross Abbey deep in Killarney National Park. Wander through rooms with a turbulent history of violence and destruction. You can now sit peacefully among the trees and flowers that grow around them.

Step inside Killarney Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Ireland, to find a peaceful, beautiful church with gorgeous stained glass, carrying living history on its walls. Also known as St. Mary’s Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, this is an important landmark in Killarney and one that brings pride to its citizens.

Look for a spot where two rocky walls rise up on either side of a narrow road winding out to the green horizon and you will have found the Gap of Dunloe. This breathtaking glacial valley cuts through the mountain range of the MacGillicuddy Reeks to the west and Purple Mountain to the east.

Visit Bantry House for an impressive collection of art, lavish furniture, paintings and tapestries. Many of these treasures were collected from around the world by the second Earl of Bantry. The earl's travels also inspired Bantry House's garden. Italianate in style, the garden features a number of terraces, providing spectacular views of a wisteria-encircled fountain, the sea and Whiddy Island. The garden also features the Hundred Steps, a steep staircase which provides a great view of the house.

Follow the sounds of the rushing stream and reach a forest clearing to find Torc Waterfall. Here the fresh, clear water of the Owengarriff River crashes over ancient rocks, sending spray up into the cool air. The waterfall is over 65 feet (20 meters) high. After rainfall, which is frequent in this area, it is even more impressive. Stand, watch and be mesmerized by the rushing water passing through a narrow rocky gap between leafy green.