How to get to Molls Gap?

How to get to Molls Gap?

Molls Gap is a beautiful scenic area. Molls Gap is a mountain pass located on the N71 roadway from Killarney to Kenmare in Kerry. Molls Gap is visited by large amounts of visitors every year, the viewpoint is on the Ring of Kerry route and it’s a great area to get some memorable photos of Killarney’s amazing landscape, lakes and mountain ranges.  

The views of the Mac Gillycuddys Reeks mountains are unreal from Molls Gap. Loads of Irish people and Tourists drive over to Molls Gap for a gander!

The area gets its name from an Irish woman called “Moll Kissane” who used to sell drinks to the locals and some men building the roadway back in the early 1800s.

Check out my post here on 8 Best Things to do in Kerry Ireland

Tips while travelling to Molls Gap

Uses a navigation app like Google Maps to help you with the journey.

Take your time and plan the journey.

If you are on holiday and not used to driving a right-hand drive vehicle, be very alert on these roads.

Make sure your vehicle has enough fuel for the journey.

Make sure your vehicle has a spare wheel, jack and wheel brace.

Directions from Killarney!

Molls Gap is located 23 kilometres from the town of Killarney, it will take you around 35 minutes to travel to the viewpoint from Killarney.  The journey is a scenic route, and its a quite an enjoyable route to drive.

As you come out of Killarney town after a few minutes you will pass Muckross House on your right-hand side from then on, the journey travels mainly uphill and there are some fantastic views of the National Park on this road.

Killarney can be very busy especially in the summer months so be prepared for some traffic on this route, allow for this. 

See my post here on Best Hotels in Kerry!

Directions

Drive in the south direction on the N71/East Avenue roads, driving towards Scott’s Street

Take a left hand onto the N71

Approaching the roundabout, take the second exit signposted Ring of Kerry and Muckross House/N71

Pass the Lake Hotel on your right-hand side

Pass out Muckross House on your right-hand side

Travel uphill towards Torc waterfall

Follow the Ring of Kerry signs

After 23 kilometres you will arrive at Molls Gap! Enjoy the view!

Molls Gap Café /Avoca Cafe

There is a lovely little cafe and gift shop located at Molls Gap, it’s the perfect spot for a break, to get a nice warm drink and a slice of cake or a freshly baked scone! The store is an Avoca store and has a nice range of Irish products and some lovely food on the menu. You have to pop in for a peep while visiting one of Kerry’s best viewpoints.

Directions from Kenmare to Molls Gap!

Kenmare is a lovely colourful town, its full of nice shops, cafes and Irish pubs. The town has some beautiful accommodation options, nice scenery and delicious gourmet food!

Molls Gap is located around a 15 to 20-minute drive from Kenmare, the journey is only around 10 kilometres and its quite scenic. It’s a nice road to travel on, please be warned that it can be narrow and a twisting roadway.

Directions

Drive towards the square in Kenmare on the N71 roadway

Take a right-hand turn at An Chearmog

Drive toward the Railway road

Take a left hand towards Dromneavane

Take a right-hand turn and follow roads signs for Ring Of Kerry/N71 and Killarney

Drive on N71 and Ring of Kerry road

You will arrive at Molls Gaps on the left-hand side

Directions from Sneem to Molls Gap!

The village Sneem in Kerry is located on the Ring of Kerry route, it’s a great little village to stop off while travelling the Ring of Kerry route. The village is visited by many Irish people each year on road trips or weekends away. Sneem is loved by tourists from all over the world.

This route can be busy in the summer months with tour buses and other vehicles, so take your time and plan ahead. The road can be quite narrow in some parts so be warned, be prepared to stop and pull in to let other road users pass.

Directions

Drive towards the Southwestern R568 and follow signs for the Ring of Kerry/N70 route

Take a left-hand turn at the first cross and follow signs for Ring of Kerry

Drive on the N70/Ring of Kerry route

Take a left turn after around 4.0 kilometres into the journey

Drive into Derrygarrane

Drive into the area of Gearha

Take a right-hand turn at the R568

Turn right onto the N71/Ring of Kerry

Molls Gap will be on your right-hand side after around 28.5 kilometres from Sneem

Check out my post on the Best pubs in Kerry here!

I hope you find this post useful, I welcome any questions or suggestions by email to info@allthings-ireland.com.

Thanks

John Conway