Gleninchaquin Waterfall

Kenmare / Ring of Beara, County Kerry, Ireland

About Gleninchaquin Waterfall


Hiking Distance: 1.2km round-trip
Suggested Time: 45-60 minutes

Date first visited: 2024-07-10
Date last visited: 2024-07-10

Waterfall Latitude: 51.7993
Waterfall Longitude: -9.65806

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Gleninchaquin Waterfall is perhaps the most impressive waterfall on the inland part of the Ring of Beara Peninsula in the southwest of Ireland.

Perhaps fittingly, it’s claimed to be one of the country’s tallest as the River Geartha dropped 140m while draining the Cumeentadhg Lake.

Gleninchaquin_003_07102024 - Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin Waterfall

If true, this height figure would make the Gleninchaquin Waterfall even taller than the Powerscourt Waterfall.

The waterfall certainly looked very impressive when we approached the private Gleninchaquin Park.

It also looked impressive when we saw the waterfall from the nearby Uragh Stone Circle.

From up close, we could better appreciate its segmented state (which was how we saw it during our mid-July 2024 visit).

Uragh_Stone_Circle_017_07102024 - Looking against the late morning sun past the mysterious Uragh Stone Circle towards the Gleninchaquin Waterfall in the distance
Looking against the late morning sun past the mysterious Uragh Stone Circle towards the Gleninchaquin Waterfall in the distance

During that visit, we also managed to minimize looking against the morning sun when we got within the cliff’s shadows.

That said, I’ve seen pictures in the literature when it had a thicker appearance due to higher flow (probably earlier in the season or in a wetter year).

In any case, our visit was a pretty straightforward one as we started from the private car park after paying the owner in cash 7 euros per person or 20 euros total for a family.

From there, we then went on a signed path that pretty much followed a road that went around some sheep pasture while also skirting alongside a tributary of the River Geartha.

Gleninchaquin_015_07102024 - Initially, the hike to the Gleninchaquin Waterfall followed a tributary of the River Geartha (the River Walk Trail would continue along the branch)
Initially, the hike to the Gleninchaquin Waterfall followed a tributary of the River Geartha (the River Walk Trail would continue along the branch)

Thus, after about 600m (1.2km round-trip) of following the road (keeping right at the forks of the road) and eventually trail, we ultimately got to the base of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall.

Once there, the trail continued to go over a bridge spanning the river and then climb up towards the top of the falls and beyond, but we were content with just being around the waterfall before turning back.

Although it appeared that there used to be a more direct path cutting right through the pasture (and even signage suggesting that you could complete a short loop hike), that path was closed as of our visit.

Thus, when all was said and done, we returned the way we came spending about an hour away from the car.

Gleninchaquin_089_07102024 - Looking across the sheep pasture towards the Lough Inchiquin from the trail leading to the base of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Looking across the sheep pasture towards the Lough Inchiquin from the trail leading to the base of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall

When we first showed up, it was shortly after the place opened (from 10am to 5pm) so we were the first people there on a Saturday.

However, when we came back, there were already 4 more car loads of visitors so this place seemed pretty popular despite the tricky single-lane road it took to get here (see directions below).

Authorities

The Gleninchaquin Waterfall is Gleninchaquin Park in the Ring of Beara near the town of Kenmare in County Kerry, Ireland. The park is privately owned and thus is managed by the owners of the farm encompassing it. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting the Gleninchaquin Park website.

Gleninchaquin_001_07102024 - When we first showed up to the Gleninchaquin Park on a Saturday morning, we were the first people here besides the owners
Gleninchaquin_002_07102024 - Looking across a sheep pasture towards the Gleninchaquin Waterfall from the car park for the Gleninchaquin Park
Gleninchaquin_004_07102024 - Looking back at the reception for the car park of the Gleninchaquin Park
Gleninchaquin_006_07102024 - Another look back at the car park for the Gleninchaquin Park as both Julie and Tahia noticed a fence blocking a direct path to the waterfall across the sheep pasture. However, that direct path was closed
Gleninchaquin_007_07102024 - Following a sign taking us onto the continuation of a road going past the car park and towards trails (one of which went to the base of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall)
Gleninchaquin_008_07102024 - Looking into the shade of a tributary of the River Geartha where I noticed this attractive cascade on the way to the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_017_07102024 - Keeping right to stay on the road at this decision point as the path on the left went to the River Walk, which was another one of the detours deviating from the path to the base of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_018_07102024 - Julie and Tahia continuing to follow the road towards the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_021_07102024 - Julie and Tahia keeping right at this fork in the road to go past a gate to continue towards the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_024_07102024 - Context of the tractor road with the sheep pasture on the right and the Gleninchaquin Waterfall up ahead
Gleninchaquin_030_07102024 - Looking further down across a sheep pasture towards the Lough Inchiquin from the tractor road on the way to the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_041_07102024 - Looking down across a sheep pasture backed by some mountains as seen from the tractor road near the base of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_045_07102024 - Looking back across the sheep pasture towards the private form and car park where we started the Gleninchaquin Waterfall excursion
Gleninchaquin_046_07102024 - Looking up at the Gleninchaquin Waterfall from within the shade of its cliffs to block out the late morning sun
Gleninchaquin_049_07102024 - More contextual look at the main segment of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall from within the morning shade to shield ourselves from looking against the late morning sun
Gleninchaquin_052_07102024 - Wide look up from the base of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_054_07102024 - Looking back towards the Lough Inchiquin from the base of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_055_07102024 - Looking against the morning sun at a more contextual look at the segments of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_059_07102024 - Another look against the morning sun as I tried to get a more satisfying look at the Gleninchaquin Waterfall, but there was definitely a tradeoff between good composition and bad lighting
Gleninchaquin_061_07102024 - Looking towards the Gleninchaquin Waterfall from the bridge over the river
Gleninchaquin_071_07102024 - Looking at the continuation of the trail going further up the cliffs for a longer hike beyond the bridge in Gleninchaquin Park
Gleninchaquin_064_07102024 - Portrait look at the Gleninchaquin Waterfall from the footbridge over the river
Gleninchaquin_068_07102024 - Another look against the morning sun at the Gleninchaquin Waterfall from the bridge over the River Geartha
Gleninchaquin_074_07102024 - A picnic table with a nice view towards the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_005_iPhone_07102024 - Contextual look at the picnic table besides some giant boulders fronting the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Gleninchaquin_083_07102024 - As you can see from up close, the Gleninchaquin Waterfall looks smaller than it did when seen from a distance
Ring_of_Beara_Driving_047_MingSung_07102024 - Looking at the signed turnoff leading to the Uragh Stone Circle
Ring_of_Beara_Driving_110_MingSung_07102024 - Approaching a gate blocking the path to the Uragh Stone Circle. This is to keep the livestock within the property boundaries so you have to open and then close the gate after passing through to respect the owner's wishes
Uragh_Stone_Circle_002_07102024 - After having had our fill of the Gleninchaquin Park, we checked out the Uragh Stone Circle, which offered an alternate view of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall
Uragh_Stone_Circle_023_07102024 - Zoomed in look at the Uragh Stone Circle fronting the Lough Inchiquin
Uragh_Stone_Circle_026_07102024 - Contextual look at the Uragh Stone Circle fronting the Lough Inchiquin
Uragh_Stone_Circle_033_07102024 - After having made the initial climb from the trailhead for the Uragh Stone Circle, I had this nice look back towards that trailhead backed by the Cloonee Lough (which actually consists of multiple lakes)
Uragh_Stone_Circle_060_07102024 - Looking across Lough Inchiquin towards the Gleninchaquin Waterfall from the Uragh Stone Circle
Uragh_Stone_Circle_064_07102024 - Looking back at the context of the Cloonee Lough and car park for the Uragh Stone Circle on the way back from the short jaunt


The Gleninchaquin Waterfall was located in the Ring of Beara near the town of Kenmare.

Since that town was where we stayed while exploring both this peninsula and the Ring of Kerry, I’ll describe the driving directions from there.

Ring_of_Beara_Driving_124_MingSung_07102024 - The single-lane road to the Gleninchaquin Park can be tricky due to bi-directional traffic as this road seemed pretty moderately-used (and this includes trucks as well as other visitors)
The single-lane road to the Gleninchaquin Park can be tricky due to bi-directional traffic as this road seemed pretty moderately-used (and this includes trucks as well as other visitors)

From the one-way triangular centre in Kenmare, we made successive turns until we headed south on the N71.

After about 900m (going over the Our Lady’s Bridge across the head of Kenmare Bay), we then turned right to follow the R571 Road.

We then followed the R571 Road for about 12km before turning left onto a signed but easy-to-miss single-lane road for Gleninchaquin Park as well as Uragh Stone Circle.

Then, we followed this somewhat tricky single-lane road for 7km to the Gleninchaquin Park.

Ring_of_Beara_Driving_059_MingSung_07102024 - Context of the single-lane road going the final stretch to the Gleninchaquin Park where the waterfall is in the shadows in the distance to the topright of this picture
Context of the single-lane road going the final stretch to the Gleninchaquin Park where the waterfall is in the shadows in the distance to the topright of this picture

I say tricky because there are tall hedges and trucks do share this road (I even had to back up for a ways to the nearest layby to let one pass in one instance).

Note that roughly half-way down this single-lane road, there’s a turnoff for the Uragh Stone Circle, which offers an alternate view of the Gleninchaquin Waterfall while also experiencing the mysterious stone circle itself.

That was a 400m detour to a separate car park, which had an honor-system drop box asking for 5 euros per person.

In any case, this 21km drive took us a little over a half-hour.

Gleninchaquin_097_07102024 - The car park for the Gleninchaquin Park
The car park for the Gleninchaquin Park

For context, Kenmare is about 27km (about 30 minutes drive) north of Glengarriff, about 43km (over 30 minutes drive) south of Killarney, 106km (about 2 hours drive) southeast of Dingle, 119km (about 2 hours drive) south of Tarbert, 83km (about 90 minutes drive) east of Portmagee, 96km (about 90 minutes drive) west of Cork, about 140km (over 2 hours drive) southwest of Limerick, and 353km (about 4 hours drive) southwest of Dublin.

Find A Place To Stay

Longer 360 degree sweep encompassing the waterfall and its surroundings as filmed from within the cliff shadow


Honed in on some sun-amplified mist before panning from the bottom up for both waterfall segments


360 degree sweep from the bridge area encompassing the surroundings around the falls as well as looking against the sun at the falls itself


Elevated 360 degree sweep of the Uragh Stone Circle and the Gleninchaquin Waterfall

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Tagged with: beara, ring of beara, beara peninsula, kenmare, gleninchaquin park, uragh, stone circle, private, munster



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