Knockreer–Castlerosse Loop in Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park, KY

Knockreer–Castlerosse Loop

A riverside loop with meadow, lake and mountain views.

Length
5.1km
Time
1.8hr
Elev. change
24m
Difficulty
Easy
  • Loop
  • Dogs allowed
  • High point 44 m

Hear the audio tour

Knockreer and Deenagh Lodge

Overview

About Knockreer–Castlerosse Loop

Why go

  • Riverside woods, a meadow, and a lake-and-mountain view in one short loop.
  • Mostly level surfaced paths keep the climb easy.

Heads up

  • The rough Castlerosse golf-edge connection has unclear public access.

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Killarney map
Full map
Elevation20–44 m
TrailheadDeenagh Lodge / Port Road entrance52.05899, -9.51999
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Roadside parking is available on Port Road just outside the Deenagh Lodge entrance. The local route guide says spaces can be busy in summer and during services at St Mary’s Cathedral; no dedicated trail car park or capacity was verified.

Safety

The path meets the Castlerosse hotel driveway, where vehicles pass. The rough hotel and golf-course edge has unconfirmed public access; follow signs and turn back if marked private. Give red deer, especially rutting stags in autumn, a wide berth.

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Killarney Tour Guide

Your drive to Knockreer–Castlerosse Loop, 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 trailhead

Knockreer and Deenagh Lodge
0:00 / 0:36
“You're nearing the Port Road entrance to Knockreer, opposite St Mary's Cathedral.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Killarney Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Killarney House and Gardens
  • Ross Castle and Innisfallen
  • A New Set of Antlers
  • 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!!!!”
JMJamesApp Store review
Download Parkwolf on the App StoreGet Parkwolf on Google Play

4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Trail guide

Hiking Knockreer–Castlerosse Loop

What this loop isKnockreer–Castlerosse is a 3.16-mile (5.

Knockreer–Castlerosse is a 3.16-mile (5.1 km) loop from Deenagh Lodge, following the Deenagh River and Knockreer parkland to the edge of Castlerosse, then returning by Victoria Lodge and Cotter’s Field. Allow about 1½–2 hours. Most of the route is paved or gravel and nearly level, with a short rougher stretch and one small rise. This Deenagh route is different from the separate Knockreer Circular Walk that starts at Killarney House.

Follow the river outFrom Deenagh Lodge, head down toward the river, past the playground and Knockreer playing…

From Deenagh Lodge, head down toward the river, past the playground and Knockreer playing fields. The path winds through riverside woods and opens beside a meadow. A horse track crosses at the far end and offers a shorter way back toward the Circular Walk; for the full loop, continue straight toward Castlerosse. A seasonal café at the thatched lodge and toilets at the playground are beside the starting area.

The Castlerosse edgeThe path meets the hotel driveway, so watch for vehicles.

The path meets the hotel driveway, so watch for vehicles. The described route skirts the grounds by the playground and tennis courts, then follows a rough track beside the golf course. A small rise opens a view over Lough Leane toward Mangerton and Torc. Public access along the hotel and golf-course edge has not been independently confirmed; check signs and turn back if any section is marked private.

Return through KnockreerRe-enter the park at the gate near Victoria Lodge, take the right-hand path at the junction and…

Re-enter the park at the gate near Victoria Lodge, take the right-hand path at the junction and cross a small cattle grid. The return crosses Cotter’s Field, where the meadow opens toward the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. Dogs are allowed on a lead along the described route; follow any posted rules on the resort edge. Give red deer plenty of room, especially stags during the autumn rut.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Killarney

All Killarney wildlife maps

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Killarney. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Keep exploring

Near Knockreer–Castlerosse Loop

See it all on the map

Trails that start nearby

Places near the trailhead

Parkwolf’s Killarney ranking

Top-rated trails in Killarney

All 29 trails
  1. 1Muckross Lake LoopModerate · 10 km
  2. 2Muckross House to Torc Waterfall LoopModerate · 6 km
  3. 3Tomies Wood LoopModerate · 6.5 km
  4. 4Mangerton Mountain via Devil’s Punchbowl LoopChallenging · 9.7 km
  5. 5Tomies and Purple Mountain LoopChallenging · 15.6 km
  6. 6Old Kenmare Road WalkChallenging · 8 km

Take Parkwolf to Killarney.

The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.

4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Download Parkwolf on the App StoreGet Parkwolf on Google Play