I’m a big fan of Killarney. I’d say I’ve been to the town at least once a year almost every year of my life. My grandmother was from Killarney so it was a regular holiday destination when I was growing up. As I’ve gotten older I still love to head down south to county Kerry whenever I can to explore the amazing Killarney national park, take friends on a tour of the brand new Killarney Brewing Company, grab a bite to eat in one of the quality restaurants and then indulge in some modest revelry in the great live music bars at night time.

There’s so many things to do in Killarney but it’s the day time activities that are the really big attraction for me. The national park has lots to do for all ages and fitness levels. A great way to get around is to rent a bike and cycle on one of the many bike trails around Muckross House or the lakes of Killarney. There’s also horse riding or rock climbing if that’s your thing while a simple stroll around the park can be enough for some. Killarney is a popular tourist destination so as you would expect there are plenty of hotels and guesthouses to choose from.

It’s a great outdoor town and if the weather is kind then there’s no place better that I know of to get out and about for some fresh air and exercise. I’m just back from a weekend in Killarney and on the Saturday morning I set the alarm and got up early to tackle one of my favourite Killarney excursions: a climb up Torc Mountain. Many visitors to Kerry will be familiar with the beautiful Torc Waterfall and it’s definitely worth a visit if you haven’t been before. Unfortunately many people just leave Torc with a visit to the waterfall and don’t bother climbing the mountain which at 535 metres and with railway sleepers for much of the path is one of the most straightforward mountain climbs there is.

Torc is only a short drive from Killarney. It’s on the road to Kenmare which is a part of the Ring of Kerry. You don’t require rock climbing shoes, climbing gear or anything like that for Torc but a good pair of hiking boots and warm rainproof clothes are advisable. So last Saturday morning, I prepared my bag with snacks, water and an extra layer, checked the weather forecast on Radio Kerry news and set off for the lower car park at Torc waterfall. I took some video of the hike which you can have a look at below. As I said it’s not the highest mountain in Ireland (Carrauntoohil is almost double the height and very close by!) but there’s still a great sense of achievement when you get to the summit and enjoy the spectacular views over Killarney national park.

Enjoy the video and let me know of any feedback in the comment section below.

Yours in health,

Brian