The best hikes from bus stations around Muckross Lake

Worth seeing

👍🏼

very nice natural beauty

Muckross House is a beautifully preserved 19th-century house set against the stunning backdrop of Muckross lake and the surrounding mountains. The house, now a museum, offers a glimpse into Ireland’s aristocratic past with its period rooms and impressive gardens.

Beautiful hike and an impressive monastery ruin

The hike through Killarney National Park takes you over narrow wooden walkways and a rustic bridge, deep into the picturesque moorland. There is something calming about the landscape here - endless meadows, isolated gnarled trees and small, gently babbling streams that perfectly round off the scenery. The narrow walkway ensures that you can get through the often swampy terrain with dry feet while you can fully enjoy the nature around you. What particularly struck me is the change from dense vegetation to wide, open spaces. You really feel like you are in the middle of nature here, far away from the hectic pace of everyday life. The path winds gently through the moor and repeatedly leads you over small watercourses. At the narrow bridge you can pause and enjoy the peace and quiet while the water passes beneath you. Keep your eyes open for the many details of the landscape. Especially in the early morning or late afternoon you can experience the special play of light here, when the sun is low and the tall grass glows in warm colors. Sturdy shoes are a must, even if the footbridge gives you support - it remains a nature trail with its own challenges. This hike offers a mixture of adventure and enjoyment of nature without being subjected to great exertion. It is the perfect route to concentrate on what is important: the nature and silence of Killarney National Park. I really enjoyed experiencing the small streams and the wide moorlands in this way.

Directly at the monastery there is the adjacent and associated old cemetery with various graves

The ruins of the Franciscan monastery Although Cromwell's troops deliberately destroyed the Abbey, the remains of the monastery are still well preserved today. A church surrounds a wide, square tower with beautiful windows. In the inner courtyard there is a cloister with an arched arcade. The highlight of Muckross Abbey is in the middle of the inner courtyard, surrounded by the cloister: there is a remarkable yew tree that is said to be as old as the monastery itself. Outside Muckross Abbey there is a historic cemetery that is still occasionally used today. Countless clan leaders from the 17th and 18th centuries are buried here, including the chiefs of the O'Donoghue clan. And the remains of some important heroes of Irish literature also rest in peace in the cemetery. For example, the grave of the poet Aogán Ó Rathaille is located here. Visiting Muckross Abbey Visiting Muckross Abbey is free. To get to the old monastery, you have to take a short walk from the "Muckross Abbey" car park on the N71. It is also possible to rent bicycles in Killarney and explore the Franciscan monastery and the surrounding national park by bike. Or you can take a walk from the imposing Muckross House and go straight to the abbey through a large park. Visitors can visit all parts of the ruins. Narrow stairs lead up to the tower, from which you can enjoy a great view of Lough Leane. You can explore the grounds and walk through the historic cloister, through which the monks once walked. (Source: https://www.gruene-insel.de/blog/2020/die-muckross-abbey/)