20 Attractions to Explore Near Lough Caragh

The Kerry Bog Village is a museum situated in west Kerry focused on the history and culture of Ireland. It recreates traditional Irish thatched cottages and the lives of their inhabitants, and its founder was largely responsible for the resuscitation of the Kerry bog pony as a viable breed. The museum is located between the towns of Killorglin and Glenbeigh. Its structures were built using authentic 18th century construction techniques

Lough Coomloughra is a lake in County Kerry and has an elevation of 469 metres. Lough Coomloughra is situated north of Maghanlawaun, close to Lough Eagher. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area and a good picnic location too.

Rossbeigh strand is located five kilometres outside the village of Glenbeigh. It is an extensive sandy beach in a rural environment and is great for swimming, walking, surfing and a wide range of other activities. Rossbeigh contains a large volume of sand dunes and herbaceous vegetation. It is considered an important habitat for flora and fauna, including wildfowl.

This is the second-highest peak in Ireland, at 1,008.2 metres , on both the Arderin and Vandeleur-Lynam lists. It is part of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks range. It also offers some of Ireland's "most intimidating" hill-walking, and is often climbed as part of the Coomloughra Horseshoe, described as "one of Ireland's finest ridge-walks.

Carrauntoohil is the legendary highest mountain in Ireland. It is on the Iveragh Peninsula in the Reeks District in County Kerry, close to the centre of Ireland's highest mountain range, MacGillycuddy's Reeks. As Ireland's highest mountain, Carrauntoohil is popular with mountain walkers, who most commonly ascend via the Devil's Ladder route. Its ascent is considered a real challenge for hikers and requires experience and preparation.

Cronin’s Yard has been used as the traditional starting point for ascents of Ireland’s highest mountain.It is located at the entrance to the Hag’s Glen. The facilities provided are a tea room, male & female shower rooms and male & female toilets. Car parking available.

Cnoc na Péiste, is the fourth-highest peak in Ireland, on the Arderin and Vandeleur-Lynam lists. Cnoc na Péiste is part of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks range in County Kerry. It is one of only two 3,000 ft peaks in the Reeks with a prominence above the Marilyn threshold of 150 metres, and is the highest summit of the Eastern Reeks. It is one of the iconic location in this area and also a good trekking destination.

The Big Gun is the ninth-highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list, or the tenth-highest according to the Vandeleur-Lynam list. It is part of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks in County Kerry, and is also known as Lackagarrin or Foilnabreachaun. Because of its positioning, The Big Gun is usually climbed as part of a horseshoe, or loop-walk, of the eastern section of the Reeks, starting and ending from the Hag's Glen.

Cruach Mhór, is the tenth-highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list, and the eleventh-highest peak in Ireland according to the Vandeleur-Lynam list. A distinctive square grotto marks the summit. It is part of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks in County Kerry. A good trekking destination and also it offers beautiful views too.

The Gap of Dunloe is one of the most stunningly beautiful parts of County Kerry and indeed Ireland. Stretching through the MacGuillicuddy Reeks mountain range, this beautiful glacial valley simply must be experienced to be appreciated. It is a narrow mountain pass running north-south in County Kerry, Ireland. It is one of Kerry's most popular tourist destinations due to its scenery.

This is the 20th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 27th–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale. Caherconree is the 2nd-highest mountain in the Slieve Mish Mountains in the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry, Ireland, and one of its southerly spurs is the site of an ancient stone promontory fort, which is a protected National Monument. A beautiful location where a risky trek is possible.

Purple Mountain, is the 21st–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 28th–highest according to the Vandeleur-Lynam scale. It is located in County Kerry, and is the highest point of the Purple Mountain Group. It is composed of sandstone particles of various sizes which are collectively known as Old Red Sandstone. Old Red Sandstone has a purple-reddish colour, and has virtually no fossils.

Located at the ‘end’ of the gap, if you walk from the Kate Kearny side, Lord Brandon’s Cottage is a welcome site for those that have conquered the first leg of the walk. Once a grand hunting lodge, the cottage has a tale of love and betrayal tide to it, which you’ll discover shortly.

Moll's Gap is a gap in County Kerry and has an elevation of 237 metres. Moll's Gap is situated south of Derrylea. It offers views of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountains, and is a popular tourist location. The rocks at Moll's gap are formed of Old Red Sandstone, which are small quartz grains laid down over 350 million years ago; unlike most of the Old Red Sandstone around Killarney which is stained red by iron oxide, the rock at Moll's gap is stained green by chlorite.

Minard Castle stands majestically on a hill high above Kilmurry Bay. The ruin is badly damaged – a result of the siege by Cromwell’s troops in 1650, which no inhabitant survived. The castle is located slightly south of the village of Minard. The current structure is the enlargement of an older house carried out around 1848 by the architect John Thomas Rochead.

Upper Lake is a lake in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It is one of the Lakes of Killarney, along with Muckross Lake and Lough Leane. The lakes of Killarney are a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts. Killarney has some of the best salmon and brown trout waters in Ireland and is an ideal base to fish.

Lough Leane is the largest of the three lakes of Killarney. The River Laune flows from the lake into the Dingle Bay to the northwest. It is approximately 19 square kilometres in size. It is also the largest body of fresh water in the region. It has become eutrophic as a result of phosphates from agricultural and domestic pollution entering Lough Leane Reedbed, an important habitat on the edge of Lough Leane.

Innisfallen is the largest island on Lough Leane, which is the largest of the three Lakes of Killarney. An island of approx 21 acres it is the largest of the islands on the lake and can be accessed via motor boats which run from Ross castle during the summer months. Some of the most impressive archaeological remains from early Christian times to be found in the Killarney region are to be found in the ruined monastery on Innisfallen Island.

Dinis Cottage on Dinis Island in Killarney National Park looks out over the Middle Lake and was built by the Herberts who at one time owned the lands that are now part of Killarney National Park . The cottage has been described as a hunting lodge and a woodcutter’s hut and dates back to the 1700s. It provides a tempting stop-off for the many visitors, walking the popular Muckross and Dinis 10km circular trail through the National Park and taking in Torc Waterfall.

Ross Castle sits on the edge of Killarney’s lower lake and was built by O’Donoghue Mór in the 15th century. The Castle came into the thands of the Brownes who became the Earls of Kenmare and owned an extensive portion of the lands that are now part of Killarney National Park. It is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of the Clan O'Donoghue, later associated with the Brownes of Killarney.The castle is operated by the Office of Public Works, and is open to the public seasonally with guided tours.