Kilgarvan: Classic Cars, Forest and Remembrance

Kilgarvan brings together a range of interests to explore: the Motor Museum focuses on classic and vintage vehicles, the Michael J Quill Centre commemorates a trade union founder from Kilgarvan, and nearby Rossacroo Wood invites you to enjoy a nature outing along its walking trails. During your stay, you can choose between motoring history, remembrance and woodland walks.

Walking Trails and Nature at Rossacroo Wood

Rossacroo Wood is located near Kilgarvan. The Millennium Forest Site there covers 40 hectares. For a walk, there is a short 1 km circular trail and a longer 1.5 km circular trail; both are rated easy. The different lengths give you a clear choice if you would like to include a shorter or longer circular walk in your travel plans.

You may occasionally spot sika deer, red deer and hybrid deer at Rossacroo Wood. These three species are a distinctive part of the woodland's natural character, although sightings are not guaranteed. In addition to the Millennium Forest Site, Rossacroo Wood has a car park and picnic facilities. If you would like to include time in nature and an outdoor break during your stay, you will find both walking trails and picnic options there.

Motoring History at Kilgarvan Motor Museum

Kilgarvan Motor Museum displays classic and vintage vehicles. The marques represented include Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Alvis and Austin. The collection also includes a wide selection of automobilia. This means the museum showcases not only vehicles, but automobilia as a distinct part of its offering. If you are interested in a range of classic car marques, you will find specific examples here, while the automobilia adds to the collection's character.

The museum is a private collection run by the Mitchell family. This gives the exhibition a different setting from a public vehicle collection: you can explore a private collection cared for by a family. For travellers more interested in motoring history than woodland trails, the Motor Museum is a distinctive option for your time in Kilgarvan.

Michael J Quill Centre: History and Crafts

The Michael J Quill Centre commemorates Michael J Quill, who was from Kilgarvan and was the founder and first president of the Transport Workers Union of America. The Centre is housed in the building that was formerly St Peter's Church of Ireland. Here, the story of Quill's origins and work meets the history of the former church building.

The renovated building and landscaped gardens look out over the Roughty Valley and towards Ardtully Castle. The Centre is 1.5 km on the Kenmare side of Kilgarvan. You can buy high-quality craft items at the Centre; many are made there. Light refreshments are also available. Its combination of remembrance, historic building, landscaped gardens and crafts makes a visit here quite different from spending time at the Motor Museum or in the woods.

More Places to Explore

The Kilgarvan Agricultural Show also features sales and trade stands. When choosing holiday accommodation in Kilgarvan, consider which interests you would most like to shape your stay: nature at Rossacroo Wood, classic vehicles, or the history and crafts at the Michael J Quill Centre. For more destinations, you can also explore Valentia Island, Inch, Gunsborough, Sneem, Cahersiveen, Knight's Town, Fossa and Dunquin.

For the wider travel overview: County Kerry.