Parking
Start at Flesk Bridge on the N71 south of Killarney. The published stage does not identify dedicated long-stay parking there; confirm your parking and Black Valley pickup before leaving a car.
Overview
About Kerry Way: Killarney to Black Valley Stage
Why go
- Combines Muckross, Torc Waterfall, and Black Valley in one through-hike.
- Mostly firm old-road walking, with a short sleeper-boarded bog.
Heads up
- A long one-way day needs a separate pickup or onward-transport plan.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Killarney map
Full mapElevation17–281 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Killarney Tour Guide
Your drive to Kerry Way: Killarney to Black Valley Stage, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Killarney National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
A New Set of Antlers0:00 / 0:28
“If you spot a red deer stag with soft-looking antlers, that's a new set growing. Stags shed and regrow their antlers every year.”
Plays on the road 0.5 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Killarney Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Killarney House and Gardens
- Ross Castle and Innisfallen
- Knockreer and Deenagh Lodge
- Ross Island Copper Mines
- 18 audio storiesacross Killarney’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Sika Deer, Feral Goat, and 10 more
- Works offlinemaps, 29 trails, 32 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Kerry Way: Killarney to Black Valley Stage
The full through-hikeThis 22 km (about 13.
This 22 km (about 13.7 mile) point-to-point stage starts at Flesk Bridge on the N71 and finishes at the church and hostel in Black Valley. It takes about seven to eight hours with stops, passing Muckross Abbey and Lake, Torc Waterfall, and the Old Kenmare Road before dropping toward the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. It is a full-day walk, not the whole Kerry Way or the shorter Old Kenmare Road walk from Torc Upper.
Start along MuckrossFrom Flesk Bridge, follow the paved Jaunting Cars’ Trail toward Kenmare for about 1.
From Flesk Bridge, follow the paved Jaunting Cars’ Trail toward Kenmare for about 1.5 km, then enter the National Park. The route passes Muckross Abbey and House and Gardens, with Muckross Lake beside you, before the tunnel under the N71 leads to Torc Waterfall. The way to the falls is well marked.
Torc and the old roadClimb past the waterfall onto Old Kenmare Road.
Climb past the waterfall onto Old Kenmare Road. Most of this stretch follows the old road and is firm underfoot; one short boggy section has been boarded with old railway sleepers. The road eventually brings you to the church by the N71. This is a different through-route from the separate Torc Upper to Incheens Old Kenmare Road walk.
Oak woods and mountain viewsCross the N71 at the church and descend into oak woodland, following below the road toward the…
Cross the N71 at the church and descend into oak woodland, following below the road toward the Upper Lake. When the trees open, the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks come into view ahead. The oak woodland changes the feel of the walk after Muckross and Torc.
Finish in Black ValleyLord Brandon’s Cottage offers light refreshments in summer.
Lord Brandon’s Cottage offers light refreshments in summer. After it, the Kerry Way crosses the Gearhaneen River and continues into Black Valley; the church and hostel mark the stage end. Treat the cottage as a seasonal bonus rather than a year-round food stop.
Sort the two ends firstThis is one-way, so arrange onward transport from Black Valley before setting out; the stage…
This is one-way, so arrange onward transport from Black Valley before setting out; the stage page does not give a return service or dedicated long-stay parking at Flesk Bridge. Dogs are allowed in the National Park on a lead. The route crosses the N71 at the church, so take care at that road crossing.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Killarney
104 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
207 sightingsSika DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
12 sightingsFeral GoatMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
49 sightingsSwanMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
48 sightingsHeronMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
15 sightingsCormorantMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Killarney. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
