Lough Leane Shore on Ross Island – Ross Island Copper Mine loop from Killarney

Running trails & routes

Ireland

Munster

Kerry

Lough Leane Shore on Ross Island – Ross Island Copper Mine loop from Killarney

Moderate

5.0

(4)

runners

Lough Leane Shore on Ross Island – Ross Island Copper Mine loop from Killarney

01:20

12.9km

50m

Running

Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 24, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Killarney National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

3.13 km

Ross Castle

Highlight • Castle

A 15th-century castle purportedly constructed by the chieftain O’Donoghue Mór. It was the last place in Munster to hold out against Cromwell.

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4.09 km

Lough Leane Shore on Ross Island

Highlight • Lake

It is worth taking the loop round Ross Island to take in the views over Lough Leane towards Cow Island and Rough Island.

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4.30 km

The path leads past the mine, where copper was first mined in Ireland. This was in the Bronze Age from 2400 to 1800 BC.
A detour along a trail near the information board about the 19th century copper mine takes you to one of the vertical shafts.
To the east you can still see the dam that was built into the lake to create the shafts that led to the copper deposits.
Three information boards tell the history of the places.

Translated by Google •

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4.99 km

View of Lough Leane from Governor's Rock

Highlight • Viewpoint

A wonderful vantage point slightly elevated on a rock overlooking Lough Leane.

Translated by Google •

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6.63 km

Library Point

Highlight • Viewpoint

The trail to Library Point is just over 2 km from Ross Castle via the most direct route. It can be extended to a nice 5km return trip by including the Copper Mines loop on either the outward or return leg. At Library Point itself, there is a short loop around the headland of the peninsula with multiple nice outlooks. This optional loop is well worth the short detour as it skirts along some woodland paths high above the lakeshore below. It would be interesting to know where the name "Library Point" comes from - one thing is clear: There are no bookshelves here...
killarneyguide.ie/library-point
greatruns.com/killarney-river-walk-and-footpaths-to-library-point

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11.3 km

Maurice O'Donoghue Memorial Park

Highlight • Rest Area

Small green park next to the river Flesk, in honour of Maurice O'Donoghue who died on June 9th 2001 aged 62 - a prominent Killarney hotelier who pioneered many initiatives to develop the town as the leading tourism centre in the south-west.

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12.9 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.15 km

3.47 km

990 m

861 m

214 m

128 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

8.60 km

3.04 km

936 m

163 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Monday 5 October

15°C

8°C

78 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

June 7, 2023,🇮🇪 Ross Castle & Library Point

The evening before we finally arrived in Killarney after a long day of travel with various great highlights (tours will come later 😉🤣). One of my longing places on a three-week road trip 16 years ago. With the National Park, Lough Leane, its countless pubs and restaurants, the Kerry Way, and and and, Killarney is simply a great travel destination. …

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