1. Explore!
We are lucky here at The Lake Hotel to have the Killarney National Park on our doorstep. Walk, cycle or take a jaunting car and enjoy the changing colours of the local flora in all their splendour. Or, alternatively, embark on a boat tour leaving from Ross Castle and take in the spectacular seasonal scenery from a different perspective. It is not only the flora that is at its finest during the autumn months but the fauna too; from September to November it is deer rutting season. Whether it be on the grounds of the hotel or during your days exploring Kerry keep an eye out for stags battling for mates and an ear out for their bellowing calls in the evenings.
2. Eat!
With harvest season in full swing what better time to sample some local Kerry culinary delights? Why not book a table in our fine dining Castlelough restaurant. From foraged herbs to the very best game, the Castlelough Restaurant team led by award-winning head chef Noel Enright, use their years of diverse experience and skills combined with the very best seasonal produce from local suppliers to create an unforgettable dining experience. Or why not check out Dingle’s food festival on the 4th-6th October to try some of the region’s finest produce while enjoying a vibrant festival atmosphere. You can also enjoy a taste of Ireland straight from the source when you are out and about and sample fresh brambles that can be found all over from late July to October. (Be sure to follow Good Food Ireland’s rules for doing so!)
3. Get Spooky at Samhain!
Halloween as we know it today is believed to have its origins in the ancient Celtic festival Samhain so what better place to celebrate the 31st of October than here in Ireland. Killarney Pumpkin Farm opens from the end of September to November 1st where you can pick your own pumpkin, get lost in the corn maze and even meet their very own witch! Spooky fun for all the family. Or head to Wetlands in Tralee for the Halloween Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt on the 19th, 20th and then 26th-31st October. The Kerry Homecoming Festival (taking place from the 18th of October to the 1st November) will also be featuring a variety of Halloween/Samhain events such as street spectacle parades, Jack-o-lantern carving and Samhain mask making workshops throughout a number of towns and villages in the region.
CLICK HERE to book your autumn escape.
