Ladies View

The N71 climbs from Killarney towards Kenmare and, at about 180 metres, opens out onto a view down the length of the Killarney valley - the Upper Lake in the foreground, Muckross Lake and Lough Leane beyond, oak and yew woodland on the slopes, and the MacGillycuddy's Reeks on the far side. The name comes from Queen Victoria's 1861 visit, when her ladies-in-waiting were reportedly so taken with it that the spot was named after them. It is entirely a roadside stop: a car park, a cafe and gift shop, a wall to lean on and a view. That is the honest description of the visit. Every coach on the Ring of Kerry stops here, so the car park is heavily congested through the middle of the day in summer, and the view faces roughly north-west, which means the light works better late in the day than at noon.

What you actually see

• The three lakes - Upper Lake, Muckross Lake and Lough Leane in sequence.
• The Reeks - Ireland's highest range across the valley.
• The woodland - oak and yew on the slopes below.
• The stop itself - car park, cafe, and a wall to look over.

When to go

April to October. Late afternoon light suits the north-west aspect. Coaches arrive in a block through the middle of the day; early or late is far quieter.

Honest expectations

It is a roadside viewpoint and nothing more - half an hour at most. The car park is chaotic in summer with coaches turning. Rain and low cloud erase the view completely, which is common here.

Nearby

Moll's Gap is south on the N71; Torc Waterfall and Muckross are north.