Bonane Heritage Park
Open-air archaeological park near Kenmare with a trail past a stone circle, ringfort, standing stones and a reconstructed crannog.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Bonane Heritage Park lies in a valley between the Caha and Sheehy mountains, where the Ring of Beara meets the Ring of Kerry. It is a privately owned archaeological site that presents more than 250 preserved monuments, ranging from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages to the time before the Famine.
A loop trail of about two kilometres leads past a stone circle, a ringfort, standing stones and a fulacht fiadh, a prehistoric cooking site. Some researchers have suggested that the alignments of the stones had astronomical significance, and the park has held sunrise gatherings at the stone circle on the summer solstice. A free audio tour guides visitors through the story of the landscape from the Neolithic period to the Famine years, and guided tours can be booked in advance for groups, schools and colleges.
The park also shows reconstructions made through experimental archaeology, such as a crannog, a dwelling built on a lake, and a replica project based on the Lough Lynch site.
Highlights
- Stone circle, ringfort and standing stones
- More than 250 archaeological sites in one valley
- Reconstructed crannog (lake dwelling)
- Free audio tour from the Neolithic to the Famine
- Solstice alignments and sunrise gatherings
Permanent exhibitions
- Archaeological trail – A loop trail of about 2 km past a stone circle, ringfort, standing stones and a fulacht fiadh, among more than 250 archaeological sites from the Stone Age to pre-Famine times.
- Reconstructed crannog – A reconstruction of a crannog, a dwelling built on a lake, made by the park as part of its experimental archaeology.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Families | €10 |
Admission €5 per adult and €10 for a family; other concessions are available but no amounts are published. The audio tour is free. Guided tours cost extra depending on the size of the group.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €10 |
Discover Ireland lists the park as family friendly. A family ticket is available.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
About 10 km from Kenmare, where the Ring of Beara meets the Ring of Kerry. From Kenmare follow the N71 towards Glengarriff for about 10 km, take the signposted turn on the left, cross Dromagorteen Bridge and turn left again; the park is on the right.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The 2 km trail is self-guided, with a free audio tour that is played through the SoundCloud app or a web browser. Guided tours for groups of any size, including schools and colleges, must be pre-booked on +353 85 767 7869. A visit takes up to two hours. The park is listed as dog friendly. |
