There are paths that aren't just asphalt, they're a promise. The cycle path from Killarney out towards Beaufort is one such example. As soon as you leave the last houses of the town behind, it becomes quiet. Only the whir of the tires, the faint crackling in the undergrowth, and the occasional curious bird call accompany you. The path leads as if drawn by hand through a fairytale tunnel of trees – tall, overgrown, enchanted. Mossy trunks on the left, ferns all the way to the pedals on the right. Those who brake here do so not out of necessity, but out of reverence.
And then – as if someone had turned over a different chapter – a scene opens up behind the forest like the backdrop of a historical film: Muckross House. A mansion with so much Ireland in its facade that you almost think the grass in front of it is greener than it should be. People stroll, children run, someone eats a sandwich standing up, even though you almost want to kneel down here.
The route isn't a sporting feat, but a joy in motion. Ideal for travelers with time on their hands, for groups of friends with cameras, for everyday escapes on two wheels. And if you look for the little bicycle symbol on the map – somewhere between Lough Leane and Beaufort – you'll find it. Not looking for exertion, but for that feeling you get when nature, history, and your own pedaling are in silent agreement: this is exactly how a summer day should feel.