Dates Visited: Friday 31st of May to Monday 3rd of June, 2024
Getting there
OK. First up we didn’t realise there is such as thing as BikeFest and we definitely didn’t realise it was taking place on the long weekend we were due to visit Killarney so our experience of the town may not be typical. However, Killarney is home to many events each year so one should expect that on a given long weekend so check out the local guides when making plans – it may help you time your visit to avoid the busiest times on the roads.
We were collecting our motorhome after getting a number of upgrades including air suspension at Cara Motorhomes (more about that later). The first slow point on the way to Killarney is Adare which can add around 20 minutes (or more) to the trip depending on when you arrive. Following this you can get held up at Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale as you get closer to Killarney. While a bypass of Adare is planned it is not due to be completed until 2027 (at last check) so if you are approaching via Limerick (as many will) it’s worth bearing in mind that this is a main route to Killarney, Dingle and the Ring of Kerry so traffic can be an issue especially at weekends during the summer. Once you reach Killarney you can reach Flemings via the main road outside of the town. Traffic around the town was particularly heavy over our weekend but the aforementioned BikeFest may have been partially at fault for this. After passing under a bridge and taking a sharp enough turn into the site we drove up to the reception where one of the friendly staff guided us to our pitch.
Pitches and facilities
We opted to go for a site without electric hookup as we can run on battery and solar so this gave us a few additional options for siting. The pitch had a commanding view back along the main aspect of the site and has a slight slope to it that the air suspension was able to compensate for. Pitches aren’t marked out so I did move the motorhome on day 2 as I had parked too close to the campers beside us. They didn’t seem to mind but I didn’t want to encroach – especially as we deployed the awning on the second day. I generally prefer marked pitches as they make it easier to be fair to other campers but it is easier to camp as a group without them.
The site has a plenty of sanitary facilities for the volume of guests and I didn’t find them to be overly busy at any stage of the stay. There is also a decent campers kitchen and shop and kids arcade on site so a bit of comfort if the weather turns bad. Aside from sanitary and cooking facilities the site adds little else, however everything on site is well maintained, and impeccably clean. Showers are an additional cost at 1 euro. Not a huge cost increase but an inconvenience.
Killarney is the main reason for visiting this site
As described above this site is on the outskirts of Killarney and at the start of the Ring of Kerry. It’s an ideal stopover for touring south Kerry or for exploring Killarney. We were able to walk into Killarney in about 25 minutes. The town centre was hopping (an Irish term for busy) as there wasn’t a drop of rain all weekend. On the Saturday night we ate at Kitty O’Sé’s which was excellent value for money and also had a decent selection of options for the children. The staff in the restaurant were very accommodating. On the Sunday we visited Killarney House and Gardens as Muckross was too packed to get to on account of Bikefest. Plenty to see and do around the tow.
Overall we didn’t plan to do much over the weekend but had we done so I think we would have gotten more out of the site. There’s plenty to see and do in the area and rather than copy a list from elsewhere I will redirect you to KillarneyGuide.ie. One other thing I would note: a bicycle makes all that Killarney has to offer much more accessible so pack one if you can or you can avail of bike rental in the town.
As a destination with young children
There is no playground for young children and none close by that we could find. With young children this can be a bit limiting. Oftentimes the youngest can be difficult to entertain and a playground, no matter how simple, can make a big difference. We did note that there weren’t many kids on site so young families might not be the target market for this site.
The site is quiet at night – even with BikeFest in full swing. There is a bit to explore around the site and the staff are always really pleasant to deal with but when we visited the site wasn’t much frequented by young families so the owners might not have much reason to add a playground or more kids facilities – especially if this causes additional insurance problems.
Killarney town is probably better suited to older children and young adults. The town was in full swing when we were there and the lively atmosphere would suit older kids. There are a decent amount of shops, a cinema and plenty of places to eat and drink.
Value for Money
There are three campsites in the area and as far as I can tell all are comparably priced so the pricing is fair for the area. The stay worked out over 70 euro per night including an extra vehicle. So this site is one of the more expensive we have stayed in in Ireland, or Europe for that matter. Unless we had a reason to visit Killarney again I wouldn’t think this marks good value for a young family as you end up paying additional costs for children without the benefit of children’s facilities or a destination that is particularly targeted towards younger children. If we were travelling as an older family or as a couple and had the option to enjoy Killarney more thoroughly this site would be a solid base.