5 Great Walks in Killarney National Park (With Map)

The Killarney National Park walks vary in length and difficulty and they follow trails that showcase the best the park has to offer.

The main walking trails in Killarney National Park that I’ll take you through below are:

• The 3.5km Circular Walk
• The 5km Library Point Trail
• The 2.5km Muckross Abbey Loop
• The 4.5km Rosie’s Beach Walk
• The 5km Knockreer Castlerosse Loop

Looking for hikes? In this guide I am focusing on the walks in the ‘main’ section of the park. If you’re looking for longer hikes in Killarney, see my other guides to Cardiac Hill, the Torc Mountain walk, the Gap of Dunloe walk and the Tomies Wood Walk

The best walks in Killarney National Park

Take a couple of minutes to review the Killarney walks map above, as it’ll give you a sense of where each walk takes place.

As you can see, most are a short walk from the town centre. I’ll stick in a Google Map of each of the trails below for your convenience.

1. The Circular Walk

Arguably the most accessible of the many walks in Killarney, The Circular Walk is easily accessible from Killarney Town and is ideal for all levels of fitness. 

Starting at the thatched-roof Deenagh Lodge and heading along the path that rises up the hill, you’ll be following the signs for Knockreer House.

Once you’re beyond Knockreer House the path soon opens up to the wonderful vista of Lough Leane and the McGillycuddy Reeks standing proudly behind it.

You’ll eventually end up in gentle meadows populated by red deer and Kerry cows before taking a couple of left turns and heading back to Deenagh Lodge. 

Key info about this walk

• Distance: 3-3.5km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Where it starts: Deenagh Lodge
• Where it ends: Deenagh Lodge

2. Rosie’s Beach Walk

If you’re in search of beaches near Killarney, the ‘hidden’ Rosie’s Beach is well worth heading out to.

Although often described by locals as a ‘secret beach’ due its peaceful seclusion, the route to get to Rosie’s Beach is actually a pretty easy one. 

Starting from the car park at Muckross House you’ll follow signs for Dinis Cottage for about 1.5km along a lovely woodland trail, before a grassy path opens up on your left-hand side.

Take that path and before you know it, you’ll be in one of the quietest and most beautiful spots in the entire park! Head back the same way to return. 

Key info about this walk

• Distance: 4.5km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Where it starts: Muckross House carpark 
• Where it ends: Muckross House carpark 

3. Knockreer Castlerosse Loop

Another of the walks in Killarney National Park that starts at Deenagh Lodge but this time it’s a larger loop that takes in open parkland, golf courses and shaded riverbank paths. 

From Deenagh Lodge, you’ll pass by the Deenagh River and up towards the green playing fields of Knockreer.

You’ll then head up to the Castlerosse Hotel where you’ll get a beautiful vista of the mountains of Mangerton and Torc.

The walk back down goes past the charming Victoria Lodge and covers the same deer-filled ground that’s on the Circular Walk. 

Key info about this walk

• Distance: 5km
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Where it starts: Deenagh Lodge
• Where it ends: Deenagh Lodge

4. The Library Point Trail

The Library Point Trail is one of the longer linear walks in Killarney National Park and it’s arguably one of the most impressive.

Take advantage of the secluded woodlands of Ross Island, a lovely area that perhaps gets overlooked by some visitors to Ross Castle.

The Library Point Trail starts at Ross Castle and heads out to the old Copper Mines (said to have had activity for over 4,000 years!).

You’ll then meander through some beautiful woodlands to Governors Rock before heading up to Library Point at the top of the peninsula, with its wonderful views of Innisfallen Island and the distant MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. Following the lakeshore will take you back to Ross Castle.

Key info about this walk

• Distance: 5km
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Where it starts: Ross Castle
• Where it ends: Ross Castle

5. Muckross Abbey Loop

The last of the Killarney National Park trails is the looped Muckross Abbey walk, which takes in one of the key attractions on the Ring of Kerry.

A tarred path will take you towards the Muckross Abbey, although you’ll also have the option of rambling closer to the lakeshore (keep your eyes peeled for deer in the meadows on either side of the path!).

Spend some time exploring the abbey ruins before circling around and heading through a small archway to put you back on a slightly different route. 

Key info about this walk

• Distance: 2.5km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Where it starts: The ‘new’ entrance car park (see ‘B’ on map above)
• Where it ends: The ‘new’ entrance car park (see ‘B’ on map above)

FAQs about the different Killarney walks

When you finish up your ramble, you can either tackle some of the other things to do in Killarney or you can kick back with a pint in one of the Killarney pubs or with a feed in one of the restaurants in Killarney.

If you’re still hungry for information, here are some of the most FAQs we get about the Killarney walks.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.