Ladies View
Category 44.1 km
Distance
155 m
Elevation Gain
3.8%
Average Gradient
8%
Max Gradient
Ladies View is less a stand-alone climb than the defining midpoint of the Moll's Gap experience — a viewpoint at 160m on the N71 Kenmare road that frames the Upper Lake of Killarney in a composition so perfectly proportioned it appears staged. The climb from the Upper Lake level on the Killarney side is moderate and consistent, building gradually to the viewpoint where the panorama opens. The MacGillycuddy's Reeks form the western backdrop; the lake occupies the foreground; woodland fills the middle ground with autumn gold or spring green depending on the season. For cyclists who find the full Moll's Gap route (13km to the gap) too demanding for a given day, the Ladies View out-and-back provides a shorter, fully satisfying alternative on the same quality road. The café and visitor facility at Ladies View is open from 09:00 through to early evening in summer.
Pro Tip
The Ladies View descent toward Killarney in the morning catches the light from the east on the lakes below — arrive at the viewpoint between 08:00 and 10:00 for the best photographic conditions. The road from Killarney through Muckross is the busiest section of the N71 and should be ridden early before tourist bus traffic builds from 09:30.
Part of
Cycling in Ring of Kerry