Jaunting Cars Gap of Dunloe: How They Work
We recently returned from visiting the Killarney and Dingle areas of Ireland as a family, and one of the highlights of our trip was taking a ride on one of the Gap of Dunloe jaunting cars.
Before our trip, I’d done SO much research trying to understand how the jaunting cars worked at the Gap of Dunloe. And after reading so many blogs and forums and tour operator websites, I felt like I came away not knowing much more than when I had started.
I’m writing this post to (hopefully) provide some clarity that I found difficult to find. There are still some variables that can make the jaunting car experience confusing at times, but overall, it works in a pretty straightforward way.
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Is it a Jaunting Car or a Jaunting Cart?
Maybe I’m alone on this, but up until writing this post, I’ve been calling these Gap of Dunloe Jaunting CARTS instead of jaunting cars ðĪŠ. But turns out they are called jaunting CARS.
Jaunting cars are small, lightweight, two-wheeled carriages pulled by a single horse (not the usual four-wheeled carriages you may be thinking of).
Because of their smaller size, they usually only fit about four adults.
They made their debut in Ireland in the early 1800s as a form of public transportation, and (fun fact) the name derives from the word ‘jaunt’, which means a short ride or journey.
Now I get to think of our jaunting car ride whenever I say I’m heading out for a jaunt ðĪ.
What is the Gap of Dunloe Jaunting Car Ride Like?
We all thoroughly enjoyed our experience with the jaunting cars in the Gap of Dunloe. It was even more beautiful than I expected it to be- you have stunning views of mountains and small, picturesque lakes for the entire ride!
The trips can be confusing to read about online because people seem to have different expectations, pay different amounts, and go different lengths, etc.
Hopefully, I can help clear the air a little bit by letting you know what we did, plus tell you what our jarvey (the jaunting car driver) told us when we asked about how these rides usually work, and especially how they work in the peak season from June to August.
There’s no official way to book a jaunting car. All you do is approach a driver, let them know how many people are in your party, and determine how far you want to ride.
I know, I know, I was REALLY hoping to have a way to prebook this because it just felt like leaving too much up in the air (especially when travelling with young kids with limited stamina). But alas, there’s not.
We were travelling in a group with four adults, two kids, and one toddler. The carts really aren’t that big (fitting four adults max, depending on your size), so we needed two carts, one with 2 adults and 1 child, and the other with 2 adults, 1 child, and the toddler.
The entirety of the Gap of Dunloe road is around seven to eight miles long (one way). It’s a beautiful, narrow, curvy road with both small and large hills.
The entire gap is lined with many of the tallest mountains in Ireland, gorgeous little lakes, and cute roaming sheep. It was honestly even prettier than I expected it to be.
If you search Gap of Dunloe, you almost always see a photo of a picturesque stone bridge called the Wishing Bridge. That bridge is located just a few minutes into the jaunting car ride and only about a 15-20 minute walk away from Kate Kearney’s Cottage.
I thought that was going to be the highlight of the trip, but it actually only got prettier after that!
There seems to be TWO main options for how far to go in the jaunting car which will determine how long of an experience you have, what you see, and the cost.
The first option (and what we did) is an out-and-back ride where you go partially through the Gap of Dunloe and return to the starting point.
The second option is a one-way ride all the way through the Gap of Dunloe.
1. OUT-AND-BACK GAP OF DUNLOE JAUNTING CAR TRIP:
This is what we did, and it’s the most popular option if you’re arriving by car rather than on a guided bus/boat/cart tour like this one.
Our out-and-back jaunting car trip took about 45 minutes and involved crossing the popular ‘wishing bridge’ that you see in most photos, passing multiple beautiful small lakes, and being surrounded by stunning mountains the entire way.
The turning point is where the gap begins to get much steeper and narrower, and the views are beautiful.
At the turning point, the jarveys let us get out of the cart to snap some pictures and to let the kids scamper around (I recommend asking your jarvey ahead of time if you can do this to make sure they’re planning on it).
I’m so happy we had those few minutes to hop out at the turning point. The kids loved scrambling on all of the rocks, and it was such a picturesque spot to soak in the views and snap a few pictures.
Even though we didn’t ride through the entirety of the Gap of Dunloe, I was very happy with our experience. The ride length was perfect for traveling with kids, and we passed so many beautiful spots.
2. ONE-WAY GAP OF DUNLOE JAUNTING CAR TRIP:
The one-way Gap of Dunloe jaunting trip takes you all the way through the Gap of Dunloe and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.
On our trip, we turned around once the hills became steeper and the road narrower; however, if you’re taking the one-way trip, you’ll obviously continue on at this point.
This is what you will do if you book this popular guided bus/boat/cart tours from Killarney.
With the tour I mentioned above, you take a bus to Kate Kearney’s Cottage, where you have the option to walk the Gap of Dunloe ( 7 miles with multiple uphill miles), or you can book the one-way jaunting car trip.
Note that the jaunting car price is NOT included in the tour price; you must pay for it when you arrive.
After traveling through the entirety of the Gap of Dunloe, you continue with your tour with a scenic boat ride and transportation back to your starting point.
âĻðī CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BUS/BOAT & JAUNTING CAR TOUR OF GAP OF DUNLOE âĻðī
You do NOT have to have booked the bus/boat/Gap of Dunloe cart tour in order to do the one-way jaunting car tour. But you would need to have independently figured out transportation, so you’re not stranded on the other side.
What are the Operating Hours of The Gap of Dunloe Jaunting Cars
The Gap of Dunloe carts are available daily from March to October from about 9:30 am to 4 pm.
I’ve mentioned already, but it’s worth mentioning again that our jarvey recommends arriving before 11 am because the groups from the bus, boat & jaunting car tours arrive around 11 am, which makes many of the jarveys unavailable from about 11 am to 3 pm.
There isn’t really any way to reach out to the jaunting car drivers; however, you may be able to call Kate Kearney’s Cottage if you have any questions about whether they are operating or not.
How Much Does a Jaunting Car Ride in the Gap of Dunloe Cost?
We paid 80 euros per jaunting car for about a 45-minute out-and-back ride. The drivers only take cash, but it’s no problem because there is an ATM for you to easily get cash out.
If you want to ride the entire Gap of Dunloe straight through (which takes 1.5-2 hours) to catch a boat on the other end, it will cost around 140 euros per jaunting car.
If you are just 1-2 people, you can find another couple to share the jaunting car with, and it’ll probably cost between 20 and 35 euros per person, depending on the length of the trip you’re taking.
I asked our jarvey if the prices fluctuate depending on demand, and he said they can, but not really.
Just be sure to talk to the jarvey to determine what the trip will entail and how far you’ll be going.
And I recommend asking them if you can hop out and take a few pictures at the turning back point- we really appreciated being able to do that, but I don’t think it’s always an expectation.
How To Book a Jaunting Car in the Gap of Dunloe
Unfortunately, there’s no way to book a jaunting car driver in advance (trust me, I even asked our jarvey if this is possible).
At the start of the road called the Gap of Dunloe, there’s a pub called Kate Kearney’s Cottage and a cafe called The Coffee Pot Cafe (which has amazing sweets btw).
Next to these buildings are two parking lots and some public toilets. The parking lots are a good size; however, even when we visited in April (when there are fewer visitors), the lots were quite full so I can only imagine how packed they must get in peak summer.
You can’t see the jaunting cars from the parking lots; however, they’re just a short walk away, parked in a large, paved, open area on the opposite side of Kate Kearney’s Cottage.
All you do is approach a driver when you arrive, let them know how many people are in your party, and determine how far you want to ride.
I had REALLY been hoping to have a way to book in advance because I like to have everything sorted as much as possible, but there’s not… and that’s okay!
If you’re visiting from June to August, our jarvey highly recommends arriving before 11 am to secure a cart. He said that the guided tour groups taking this bus/boat & jaunting car tour arrive around 11 am, leaving many of the carts unavailable from about 11 am to 3 pm.
*Keep in mind that even if you book that full-day bus/boat &jaunting car tour, the price/reservation of the jaunting car is NOT included in the tour price. You still arrange it and pay for the cart when you arrive, just as you would if you were not a part of the tour.*
Our jarvey said around five jaunting cars were working on the day we visited in April, but that number can increase to around thirty or more carts working per day in the summer.
If you arrive and no carts are immediately available, I recommend stepping into The Coffee Pot Cafe or Kate Kearney’s Cottage for a sweet treat or bite to eat while you wait (the treats at The Coffee Pot Cafe were SO good).
Places to Eat Near the Gap of Dunloe
Right next to the start of the Gap of Dunloe (and right next to the parking lots) are two different places to eat.
When researching, I’d really only heard about Kate Kearney’s Cottage, so I was happily surprised to see an additional cozy spot called The Coffee Pot Cafe.
We stepped into The Coffee Pot Cafe after our jaunting car experience and immediately knew it was the place for us. We tried SO many of their cakes, cookies, and sweets, and they were all amazing.
It was the perfect place to warm up and have a treat after our jaunting car ride.
The cafe is open from March to October from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.
The Coffee Pot Cafe also serves breakfast and light bites for lunch, which looked really good.
Kate Kearney’s Cottage is an old stone building with many lives, currently living as a restaurant and bar.
Each night at 7:00 PM, they host an Irish Night with live music, dancing, and dinner. You can learn more about the Irish Nights here.
Kate Kearney’s Cottage is usually open from noon to 11:30 pm, and closed on Thursdays. In the off-season, they are sometimes open, sometimes not, so check ahead to be sure.
Gap of Dunloe Parking
There are two parking lots next to Kate Kearney’s Cottage and The Coffee Pot Cafe. When we arrived around 1 pm in April, there were spots available, but it was still quite full.
I’d imagine that in peak summer, it’s quite difficult to find an available space.
If you plan to visit in peak summer, arriving around 9 am may be essential to ensure a parking spot.
Gap of Dunloe Jaunting Car vs. Killarney Jaunting Car
I was so confused when I was researching for our trip because I was coming across things called the Gap of Dunloe jaunting cars and other things called the Killarney jaunting cars (sometimes called jaunting carts).
GAP OF DUNLOE JAUNTING CARS
The Gap of Dunloe jaunting cars are the two-wheeled carts located by Kate Kearney’s Cottage that give rides on the Gap of Dunloe and only the Gap of Dunloe.
They can be purchased on-site as a standalone activity or you can book this bus/boat & jaunting car tour of the Gap Of Dunloe to have a scenic boat ride along with the jaunting car experience; however, you STILL have to pay for the jaunting car separately when you arrive at the Gap of Dunloe but everything else is arranged for you.
âĻðīCLICK HERE TO SEE THE BUS/BOAT & JAUNTING CAR TOUR OF GAP OF DUNLOE âĻðī
KILLARNEY JAUNTING CARS/CARTS
The jaunting cars in Killarney are usually bigger, four-wheeled variants that look more like a traditional horse and carriage with room to fit more people than the Gap of Dunloe cars.
You can find these larger carriages at various spots around Killarney National Park, offering scenic carriage rides to Muckross Abbey, down to the lake, and sometimes through town.
These carriage rides can be booked on the spot by talking to the drivers, or you can book one ahead of time by clicking here. These carriage rides do NOT include the Gap of Dunloe.
What gets confusing is that there is ALSO a tour you can book that includes a carriage ride through Killarney National Park + a scenic boat ride on the Lakes of Killarney. This experience sounds so familiar to the Gap of Dunloe bus/boat & jaunting car tour that for the longest time I thought they were the same… but they’re not!
The Killarney jaunting cars do NOT include the Gap of Dunloe. They are in a totally different area.
âĻCLICK HERE TO SEE THE KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK JAUNTING CAR TOUR âĻ
Gap of Dunloe Carriage Ride FAQs
I had SO many questions when trying to figure out how the jaunting cars worked at the Gap of Dunloe. Hopefully, I’ve answered most of yours throughout the post; however, here are some frequently asked questions in case you missed the answers above.
Can I book a Gap of Dunloe jaunting car in advance?
Unfortunately, no. Even if you book this popular, full-day bus, boat, and jaunting car tour through the Gap of Dunloe, the jaunting car is paid for separately and arranged once you reach the jaunting car drivers (the jarveys) next to Kate Kearney’s Cottage.
Can I pay for my jaunting car with a card?
Cash is only accepted for the jaunting car ride; however, there is an ATM on the premises, making it easy to get cash out (that’s what we did).
What time should I arrive?
We visited in April (when it’s not yet peak tourist season) arrived at the parking lot by Kate Kearney’s Cottage around 1:00 pm, secured a cart, and off we went.
However, we seemed to have lucked out with the timing because our jarvey said that from June to August, the most difficult time to secure a cart is from 11 am to 3 pm.
It’s more difficult during those hours because the full-day bus, boat, and jaunting car tours arrive around 11 am, and many of the jaunting cars will be unavailable until about 3:00 pm. He recommends arriving before 10:00 am to secure parking and a cart.
Do I need to tip my jaunting car driver at the Gap of Dunloe?
Tipping in Ireland isn’t expected; however, you’re always welcome to tip if you have a great experience.
Are there other ways to experience the Gap of Dunloe besides the jaunting car?
Yes!
The other most popular way to experience the Gap of Dunloe is by walking it (walking on the same road as the jaunting cars), by bicycle, or you can also technically drive the Gap of Dunloe but if you want to do that it’s recommended to do it before 10 am or after 4 pm because it’s quite crowded with jaunting cars and walkers during that time.
There are no bicycle rentals at the mouth of the Gap of Dunloe; this must be done in Killarney.
If you want to walk, you can reach the Wishing Bridge in about 20 minutes, or if you want to walk to where our cart took us, it may take about 1 hour to reach.
If you want to walk the entirety of the Gap of Dunloe, it is about 7 miles (one way) long with some steep sections. You would then need to catch a boat or consider transportation at the opposite end.
And that’s what I think you need to know to have a great experience with the jaunting cars in the Gap of Dunloe! I hope you have a lovely time as we did.
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, and I’ll be sure to get back to you.
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ðŠ 3 Amazing Family-Friendly Pubs in Dublin With Live Music
ðŪðŠ 24 Hours in Dublin with a Toddler or Young Kids + Map & Tips
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ð 19 Lovely Places to go in Northern Ireland for Families + 5 Day Itinerary & Map
âïļ Crossing Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge with Kids (Even Toddlers & Babies)
WESTERN IRELAND:
ð Conor Pass Dingle Peninsula: What To Expect
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