Kells Bay House & Gardens

Top choice in Ring of Kerry

Opened in 1837 as a hunting lodge, this magnificent estate sprawls over 17 hectares incorporating a waterfall, beach and six different gardens, ranging from palms to a primeval fern forest with dinosaurs carved from fallen trees. Ireland's longest rope bridge, the 33.5m Skywalk, sways precariously 11m above the River Delligeenagh, which swirls through the property.

Walled kitchen gardens and farm animals provide ingredients for its Thai restaurant (mains €10 to €16). It's also possible to stay here (double/suite from €92/145).

Contact

Address

off N70, Kells Bay

Get In Touch

066-947 7974

https://www.kellsgardens.ie/

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Skellig Michael
25.56 MILES
The jagged, 217m-high rock of Skellig Michael (Michael's Rock; like St Michael's Mount in Cornwall and Mont St Michel in Normandy) is the larger of the…
Killarney National Park
24.13 MILES
Sprawling over 10,236 hectares, this sublime park is an idyllic place to explore. Ross Castle and Muckross House draw big crowds, but it's possible to…
Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre
23.19 MILES
A 15-minute nature-safari boat ride is the highlight of a visit to Tralee's wetlands centre. You can also get a good overview of the reserve's 3000…
Ross Castle
24.27 MILES
Lakeside Ross Castle dates to the 15th century, when it was a residence of the O'Donoghue family. The entertaining 45-minute guided tour combines an…
Derrynane National Historic Park
18.06 MILES
Derrynane House was the home of Maurice 'Hunting Cap' O'Connell, a notorious local smuggler who grew rich on trade with France and Spain. He was the uncle…
Muckross House
25.41 MILES
This impressive Victorian mansion is crammed with fascinating objects (70% of the contents are original). Portraits by John Singer Sargent adorn the walls…
Killarney House & Gardens
25.3 MILES
Dating from the early 18th century, Killarney House was once part of a much larger residence that was later demolished; it was restored in 2016 and now…
Gallarus Oratory
14.84 MILES
Gallarus Oratory is one of Ireland's most beautiful ancient buildings, its smoothly constructed dry-stone walls in the shape of an upturned boat. It has…

View more attractions

Nearby Ring of Kerry attractions

1. O'Connell's Birthplace

6.67 MILES

At the bridge across the Carhan River on the eastern edge of town, a neat little memorial park remembers Daniel O'Connell (1775–1847), 'the Great…

2. Old Barracks Heritage Centre

7.35 MILES

Established in response to the Fenian Rising of 1867, the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks at Cahersiveen were built in an eccentric Bavarian-Schloss…

3. Ring Forts

8.33 MILES

Some 3km northwest of Cahersiveen, two extraordinary stone ring forts situated 600m apart are reached from a shared parking area. Cahergal, the larger and…

4. Ballycarbery Castle

8.48 MILES

The atmospheric – and decidedly dangerous-looking – ivy-strangled remains of 16th-century Ballycarbery Castle stand amid green pastures 3km northwest of…

5. Kerry Bog Village Museum

9.88 MILES

This museum recreates a 19th-century bog village, typical of the small communities that carved out a precarious living in the harsh environment of Ireland…

6. Valentia Island Heritage Centre

10.7 MILES

Inside the old school on the road towards Geokaun Mountain, this intriguing local museum has a treasure trove of artefacts that tell the tale of the…

7. An Díseart

10.98 MILES

Set in a neo-Gothic former convent, this Celtic cultural centre has impressive stained-glass windows by Dublin artist Harry Clarke (1889–1931) depicting…

8. Dingle Oceanworld

11.11 MILES

Dingle's aquarium is a lot of fun, and includes a walk-through tunnel and a touch pool. Psychedelic fish glide through tanks that recreate such…

View more attractions

placement: superzone
path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],

targeting:

{
  "url": "ireland/county-kerry/ring-of-kerry/attractions/kells-bay-house-gardens/a/poi-sig/1569887/359701",
  "destination": "Ring-of-Kerry",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "country": "Ireland",
  "region": "Ring-of-Kerry",
  "position": "superzone"
}