We had an amazing time hiking the Gap of Dunloe today. We started at Lord Brandon’s Cottage and hiked up the steeper side. The first mile or two were pretty easy. Then the road tipped up as we went to the top. You walk the whole way on the road so it is easy stepping just a steady climb. You also need to watch out for cars, bicycles, and the horse-drawn jaunting cars. Plenty of sweating on the way up.

When we got to the top we took a family selfie holding on to the high point marker as the wind blasted us from the other side. I don’t know how strong the winds were but you could lean into them quite a bit. That wind persisted most of the way as we gradually dropped back down and finished the hike at 7.00 miles exactly at Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

Four people take a selfie beside the Gap of Dunloe road sign on a narrow tree-lined road in IrelandThree hikers in colorful jackets walk past a Kerry Way and Gap of Dunloe trail signpost amid lush green ferns and misty mountains in Ireland.Winding narrow road curving through a lush green valley of ferns and scattered trees with misty mountains behind under cloudy skiesFamily of four taking a windy selfie at the Gap of Dunloe summit marker, green mountains behind themNarrow winding road snaking through a lush green mountain valley flanked by rocky slopes under a partly cloudy skyNarrow mountain road curving past a stone arch bridge where two hikers in blue and red jackets rest beside a stream, rocky hillside behindTwo young people smiling beside a mountain lake on a narrow road through a rocky green valley in IrelandBlack Ford Kuga passing between two large boulders on a narrow mountain road, with a hiker in an orange jacket nearby and a lake behindTwo young black-and-white lambs with blue markings resting among ferns and rocks on a grassy hillside