Gap of Dunloe, Mountain pass in County Kerry, Ireland

The Gap of Dunloe is a mountain pass stretching 11 kilometers between two ranges, where five connected lakes sit within steep rocky walls. The River Loe runs through the valley, creating a flowing water route that links each lake in sequence.

Glaciers from the last ice age, roughly 25,000 years ago, carved this U-shaped valley through repeated ice movement. Boulder-sized rocks left behind by melting ice dot the valley floor, marking the passage of those ancient glaciers.

The pass earned its Irish name from an ancient stronghold that once stood in the valley. Today, the landscape carries memories of these early settlements through the names given to the surrounding mountains and waters.

You can walk, cycle, or ride in traditional horse-drawn carts through the pass, starting from one cottage and ending at a lodge on the other side. The journey takes several hours, so start early in the day and bring layers for changing weather.

The Wishing Bridge is the stone arch between Coosaun Lough and Black Lake, and tradition holds that a wish made while standing on it comes true. The cliffs at Brennan's Leap, on the western shore of Coosaun Lough beside the bridge, hold most of the valley's rock climbs, with over 107 routes graded in the Irish Climbing Online Wiki.