A lovely 2.6km walk or bike ride southwest of Killarney town’s St Mary's Cathedral pedestrian entrance to the park (you may well spot deer along the way), Ross Castle (heritageireland.ie; adult/child €5/3), a traditional tower house and keep, dates to the 15th century, when it’s thought to have been built by Irish chieftain O’Donoghue Mór, and was restored in 1970. The entertaining 45-minute guided tour (no prebookings; arrive early to minimize wait times) combines an easily digested history lesson with real insight into life in medieval Ireland.
The castle is picturesquely set on Ross Island, an inlet of Lough Leane, with several loop trails. When Cromwell’s forces finally attacked Munster’s last stronghold, they did so by boat. Today, tour operators depart for lake excursions here.
