20 Attractions to Explore Near Priest's Leap

Knockboy is the highest point in County Cork and sits at an elevation of 706m. The mountain is composed of sandstone laid down in the Devonian period which was subsequently uplifted to form a mountain range, before being eroded into its present form by glaciers during the last ice age.The hike up to Knockboy mountain starts from the Priest’s Leap mountain pass monument at 519m.

Bonane Heritage Park is an private archaeological preserve and tourist attraction between Bonane and Kenmare in County Kerry, Ireland. The park has over 250 well-preserved sites from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Age right up to pre-Famine times and celebrates the first settlers who colonised the Irish countryside. It is a stunning walk laden with archeological treasures that all of the family will enjoy.

A majestic old castle on the outskirts of Kealkill village, in the heart of West Cork, played a dramatic role in one of Irish history. A 4-storey tower surrounded by a 14-foot-high outer curtain wall or bawn. The main tower is perched on a rock overhanging the Ouvane river, and has 4 corner turrets. The main entrance to the castle was via a gate in the north wall of the bawn, which had 4 corner towers, the main tower being set into the west wall of the bawn.

Whiddy Island is located in scenic Bantry Bay, Co. Cork. The island is linked to the mainland by the local ferry, Ocean Star III, with return trips several times a day. Bike hire is also available on the island, as is a local hackney service. Trips to and from the island and tours of the bay are available during the summer months, incorporating local history, scenery and the indigenous flora and fauna.Walkers and anglers also travel to Whiddy Island.

The Kenmare stone circle is one of the largest stone circles in south West Ireland measuring 17.4 x 15.8m and unlike any other ring in Muster, this one is egg-shaped. Stone Circles were built during the bronze age believed to be for ritual and ceremonial purposes. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area and there are also many similar things in this surroundings.

Bantry House and Garden is a stately home in southwest Ireland situated right on Bantry Bay with panoramic views of the bay and the caha mountains. The gardens contain seven terraces; the house is located on the third. One hundred steps are located behind the house and fountain, and are surrounded by azaleas and rhododendron.

Gleninchaquin Park, in County Kerry, provides breath-taking landscapes and scenery in which it is a sheer delight to wander around. Explore streams with log bridges, mountain paths with carved steps, rock passages, glens, lakes and waterfalls. This magnificent valley makes for a great day out for the experienced walker – high level routes, to those more inclined to the gentler terrain.

Uragh Stone Circle on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork is without doubt one of the most beautiful and most mystical places in Ireland. This monument consists of a five stone circle with a huge outlier in close proximity. This enormous monolith is at least three metres high and totally dominates the monument. It is set radially to the circle aligned along the NE-SW axis. There are a number of other monuments nearby, including a multiple stone circle and some boulder burials.

The Ring of Beara is a road trip peninsula that runs through two counties in Ireland. It’s a lot lesser known the famous “Ring of Kerry”, but it’s arguably even more beautiful thanks to its wild landscape, untouched beauty and unique spots.

Castledonovan is a townland in Dromdaleague, which lies on a rock on the east bank of the River Ilen in the townland of the same name, in County Cork in Ireland. Approximately 60 feet in height, it sits on a large rock or outcropping, which forms the ground floor, close to the bank of the River Ilen. The Castle was divided into various chambers or rooms. One room was set aside in the old days for food for the garrison and another store room for gunpowder and shot.

Mangerton is a large mountain to the South of Killarney with great northern corries and superb views of the national park and the mountains of Iveragh and Beara. On Mangerton's north-western face lies a deep corrie lake called the Devil's Punchbowl, which is a popular scenic destination for hill walkers; although the mountain is often overlooked by walkers due to the proximity of its more scenic and accessible neighbour, Torc Mountain.

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.

This is a woodland garden that has a selection of narrow paths leading to the sea. You can choose a short stroll of about 40 minutes or take all day discovering the 8 miles of paths. Throughout the garden a rich patina of moss, lichens ferns and saxifrages gives a sub-tropical feel to the whole area. As a foil to the luxuriant plantings, there are great natural outcrops of rocks. The garden is open to the public every day all year round.

Glanmore Lake is a freshwater lake in the southwest of Ireland. It is located on the Beara Peninsula in County Kerry. Well-known as a fishing lake, Glanmore is one of the nicest lake swims on the Beara peninsula, set at the base of Lackabane Mountain with the trees reaching up to the sky it could be deep in the Canadian wilderness.

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.

Torc Mountain is the 329th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list. It is a popular mountain for hill walkers as it has a stone or boarded path from its base at Torc Waterfall to its summit, which has views of the Lakes of Killarney. Torc Mountain is part of the Mangerton Mountain Group range in County Kerry, Ireland. A good trekking destination with stunning views.

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.

A superb waterfall located at the heart of Killarney National Park in Ireland, in one of the numerous wild forests of the park. It is one of Killarney’s most well known tourist attractions and a traditional stopping point for bus and coach tours. As a result it can get busy and congested around this area in the peak summer months. The waterfall and its cascades are among the most impressive due to their height

Muckross Lake is one of the deepest lakes in Ireland and is home to many types of fish. It is one of the three famous Lakes of Killarney, along with Lough Leane and Upper Lake. It is also a habitat for the critically endangered blunt-snouted Irish char.

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.