The Gap of Dunloe, hewn two million years ago by giant, slow moving ice is probably the finest example of a glaciated valley in western Europe.

It is a narrow pass in the the mountains of the McGuillycuddy Reeks mainly between the Purple Mountain on the left and the Bull Mountain. Here the visitor travels along 10kms of winding pathway alongside 5 "Loughs"

Nowadays it is best traversed in the traditional way, ..by pony and trap from Kate Kearneys Cottage.

After passing the first lake, The Black Lake.. due to its depth, the first of many bridges are crossed and then the Echo Lake which inspired Alfred Lord Tennyson in his poem to "set the wild echoes flying".