Ross Castle – Ross Island Copper Mine loop from Killarney

Hiking trails & Routes

Ireland

Munster

Kerry

Ross Castle – Ross Island Copper Mine loop from Killarney

Moderate

4.7

(47)

188

hikers

Ross Castle – Ross Island Copper Mine loop from Killarney

03:48

14.8km

60m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 24, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Killarney National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

3.17 km

Ross Castle

Highlight • Castle

On the edge of Lough Leane, Ross Castle dates from the 15th century and was the last place in Munster to withstand Cromwell. It is open to the public outside of winter with excellent guided tours.

Tip by

5.41 km

The trail to Library Point is just over 2 km from Ross Castle via the most direct route. It can be extended to a nice 5km return trip by including the Copper Mines loop on either the outward or return leg. At Library Point itself, there is a short loop around the headland of the peninsula with multiple nice outlooks. This optional loop is well worth the short detour as it skirts along some woodland paths high above the lakeshore below. It would be interesting to know where the name "Library Point" comes from - one thing is clear: There are no bookshelves here...
killarneyguide.ie/library-point
greatruns.com/killarney-river-walk-and-footpaths-to-library-point

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7.17 km

Ross Island Copper Mine

Highlight • Historical Site

The path leads past the mine, where copper was first mined in Ireland. This was in the Bronze Age from 2400 to 1800 BC.
A detour along a trail near the information board about the 19th century copper mine takes you to one of the vertical shafts.
To the east you can still see the dam that was built into the lake to create the shafts that led to the copper deposits.
Three information boards tell the history of the places.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

9.77 km

View of Ross Castle across the lake

Highlight • Viewpoint

If this isn't a beautiful view?

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12.0 km

Deenagh Lodge Tearooms

Highlight • Cafe

Down Syndrome Kerry operate tearooms from Deenagh Lodge in the National Park in Killarney from early April to September. The aim and focus of this project is to train young adults with Down Syndrome in the hospitality sector with a view to gaining employment within this area. Down Syndrome Kerry is a parent led voluntary organisation with a membership base of over 230 families spread throughout County Kerry and into parts of Cork and Limerick: downsyndromekerry.ie; facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063522284099

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12.3 km

St Mary's Cathedral, Killarney

Highlight • Religious Site

Impossanter gothic building

Translated by Google •

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12.9 km

Pubs and Restaurants in Killarney

Highlight • Pub

This Building was the old Town Hall of Killarney and is now the entrance to the Old Market Lane. It was built in the 1870s-1890s in Victorian Style with red bricks.

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13.0 km

St. Mary's Church of Ireland, Killarney

Highlight • Religious Site

I find the painted organ, the window glass and the wood on the ceiling very impressive. The church is right in the center.

Translated by Google •

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14.8 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.60 km

4.28 km

2.17 km

950 m

924 m

897 m

Surfaces

10.6 km

2.51 km

1.20 km

465 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Wednesday 7 October

16°C

6°C

97 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

April 3, 2026,🇮🇪 900. Tour - Ross Castle – Saint Marys Cathedral - Killarney National Park

For the 900th tour, the sun shone brightly today.
For this, we chose something special, a visit to Ross Castle.
The tourist highlight in the region and truly worth every cent.
We listened to the history of the castle in a guided tour and were thrilled by the architecture and the background.
Afterwards, we added a loop around Ross Castle …

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June 19, 2024,Killarney to Ross Castle and beyond

That means I've exceeded 200 km in the last 11 days.
Another tour where long paths led to beautiful places. There were also some very beautiful trails.
And the weather was perfect.
I actually wanted to explore the city, but then my hiking boots were put to one last use.
You could only visit the inside of the castle for …

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