Killarney Valley & National Park - Private Tour

Muckross House stands in the midst of a densely wooded area of the 10,000 acre Muckross Demesne. The mansion was built in 1843 and was designed by William Burns. The grounds of the house consist of well laid out flower gardens, rockeries, shrubberies and lawns extending out to grassland, stately pine woods, and lake-shore. The traditional farms will transport you back to a time in Ireland when family life was much simpler.

Ross Castle stands on the eastern shore of Lough Lein, where it adopts a commanding position. The castle is a very ancient one, thought to have been built in the 15th century. A spiral staircase of stone leads to the top, from whence a marvellous panorama can be viewed.

St. Mary's Cathedral was designed by A. W. N. Pugin (1812-1852). The foundation stone was laid inn 1842, and work on the building commenced and continued through the famine years. By 1853 many homeless people were housed in the completed aisles of the church, and under the "Griffiths Valuation Act", which came into being in that year, the church was classified as an auxiliary work-house.

Aghadoe, commands beautiful views of the lakes and mountains. Here, can be seen the ruins of the ancient church, which bears traces of two periods, generally assumed to be the seventh and twelfth centuries.

Ladies View received its name during the 1861 visit of Queen Victoria to Ireland. Ladies View offers marvelous views of the valleys, lakes and hills, including the Black Valley, the Upper and Middle Lakes, McGillicuddy Reeks and the Gap of Dunloe. This is the perfect spot for picture taking, the site also includes Ladies View Café.

Torc Waterfall is about 100ft from cliff edge to river bed, and is watched by many with wonderous awe. The mountain, abounding in trees, shrubs and vegetation, contains the famous Torc Waterfall, caused by the swift turn west of the Torc River, and cascading down the mountain side in a great roaring torrent, and whirling into a fast flowing current through great rocks and boulders, reverting again to its normal river formation, winding its way down to the Muckross Lake.

Killarney National Park was the first national park in Ireland, created when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish Free State in 1932. The park encompasses over 102.89 sq km (25,425 acres) of diverse ecology, including the Lakes of Killarney, oak and yew woodlands of international importance, and mountain peaks. It has the only red deer herd on mainland Ireland and the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland. The park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere reserve in 1981.