Dingle Peninsula is one of the most beautiful parts of Co. Kerry, if we do say so ourselves. We are sure you will enjoy your time here, even if you just sit and stare at the beautiful landscapes. Yet Dingle has a lot more to offer than just that. Activities available here accommodate water sports junkies, outdoor enthusiasts, silent indoor types and of course foodies.
But we want to let you in on the things you shouldn’t miss if you want to experience the real Dingle. So if you want to know what real life is like for us in Dingle, here are the things that you need to make sure you put on your to-do list. Recommended by locals.
First things first, start your day off right with the breakfast of a lifetime, at Pantri Cafe. This small welcoming cafe will greet you with a smile and serve you with the most incredible dishes. The beauty being that all of their ingredients will be locally sourced. Seriously, we have never been disappointed with anything we have ordered here. The only drawback is that table space is limited but do not fear, we are lucky enough to have another fantastic option here in Dingle. In fact, at only a 3-minute walk from the Pantri, stands My Boy Blue, a cafe we love to spend time in. If for nothing else but their amazing coffee. The menu is so good here, it is often difficult to choose what to have. If you have the time, we suggest you try both of them. And as an added bonus, for those of you that prefer a simple coffee to wake you up in the morning, we recommend you walk yourself down to Bean in Dingle. Grab a hot cup of Joe, keep walking and soak up the Dingle Marina morning views.
Once fueled, you’ll have the energy to explore the Atlantic Ocean. We tell everyone they have to experience the water here in some way shape or form during their visit because it is like no other place in the world. Kayak around Dingle Harbour and meet one of our most prized attractions in Dingle, Fungie the Dingle dolphin, with our friends at Irish Adventures. Alternatively, try your hand at the water sport that people can no longer go anywhere without, Stand-up-paddle Boarding. Dingle Bay is a great spot for it and Dingle Surf Shop usually sort us out with boards. If you are more of an adrenalin junkie and want to explore the Ocean further, take a rib tour with Dingle Sea Safari and experience the beauty of our landscapes at epic speeds.
As we mentioned, we have our very own Dingle dolphin. Known as Fungie, he has been living in the Dingle Marina for over 35 years. You can snag a chance to see him with an up-close tour on the water. He may even come play with you if you chose to kayak or SUP in that area. However, if you prefer the feeling of solid land beneath your feet, you can catch a sighting of Fungie from the Dingle Lighthouse Walk. It is a short 10-minute hike that starts just left of Binn Bán Beach. And even if you don’t spot Fungie, you will get the chance to enjoy some of the best views in Ireland. We are sure you won’t be disappointed.
If you are more excited by whales, visit between April and September. The most common sightings are minke whales but there have been an increase in the sightings of HumpBack whales over recent years. Even more rare are sightings of Killer Whales as they make their way to their West-Coast Scottish base in June/ July. Clearly, encountering these mammals by boat is a unique experience, but if you want to see the, from land, try Slea Head as its elevation and viewpoint are a good spot for observations.
When it is not so warm outside, it’s raining, or we are feeling less energetic, we love to get out on the road and explore the Dingle Peninsula by car. Our favourite drives are Conor’s pass and the Slea Head drive. The Slea Head loop takes around 3 hours, depending on how often you stop. We love it not only because it provides great whale watching opportunities but because of its film set statue. Take a look around, and see if you recognise the scenery from Star Wars. Pay particular attention to Dunquin Pier which is a wonder in its own right. The second drive, over Conor’s pass is a drivers favourite. At 1,345 ft it is the highest mountain pass in Ireland, so if you love being behind the wheel, put this on your list. After you get to the pass, keep driving towards the Brandon bay cliffs and you will find some exhilarating natural sights, including waterfalls. On the other hand, if driving is really not your thing, you can easily book a tour that will take you to all of these sights too.
Mount Brandon stands at 952m (3,123ft) tall, forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way and proudly makes it into the 10 highest peaks in Ireland. If you only do one hike while you are in Dingle, make it this one. The 360-degree views of the coastline and the beautiful blue Atlantic Ocean are unforgettable. There are two main routes to the summit, the Saints’ Road and Pilgrims’ Path. The Saints Road is the shorter and easier of the two, at 3 to 4 hours. The majority of the route is fair, grassy terrain but it does get rockier near the top. If you are new to hiking, look out for the stacks of stones that formally mark the route. This is common in Ireland. The alternative route, Pilgrims’ Path, is longer and more difficult but hikers say the route is more scenic. You start at Faha Grotto, ascend along the Faha Ridge and face a steeper ascent in the second half of the hike that gets you to the summit. It will take around 5 hours, and be hard work, but once you get to the top you won’t regret it. The summit of Mount Brandon is home to some of the most spectacular views of the Blasket Islands and the Irish Wild Atlantic Way. Make sure to bring a sweater, as the weather up there is often hard to predict.
Although many others will give their Dingle beach stamp of approval to Inch Beach, we recommend Coumeenole beach. Yes, Inch beach is longer, at 5km, and boasts golden sands and wild-Irish dunes but in our eyes, it can’t quite rival the postcard views of Coumeenole. Our beach is uniquely sheltered by high cliffs and overlooks the Blasket Islands. In fact, it is so picturesque that filmmakers set scenes of Ryan’s Daughter here in 1970. If you fancy a short hike after your beach visit, you are in luck, as Coumeenole also marks the start of the Dunmore head walk.
Once you’ve climbed, kayaked or driven through the nature of the Dingle Peninsula, reward yourself with the best ice cream in the area, and possibly Ireland. Murphys sells artisan ice cream made from local cows milk, and even local sea salt from the nearby Atlantic you were just kayaking in. The flavours are constantly changing so be prepared to try something new. So far we have never been disappointed.
We are self-confessed foodies here in Dingle, and part of the reason is that everything is cooked from local, fresh ingredients. As we are surrounded by the majestic Atlantic Ocean, we are lucky enough to have our pick of fresh fish and seafood. So we consider it an absolute must for visitors to sample this local produce unless of course, you are vegan, vegetarian or allergic. We would never impose our opinions on anyone. If you wish to try the local seafood, there are multiple restaurant options in town for lunch and dinner. For a slap-up Michelin star dinner, we suggest Out of the Blue and for a more down to earth fish and chips style meal, we recommend the Fish Box.
This is a must-do on our list. When in Ireland, and especially Dingle, you have to come and experience some live Irish music. The best pubs in town to sample the real deal are The Dingle Pub, Curran’s and Nelligan’s. We spend many an evening tapping our feet along to the Irish sounds while catching up with friends. As we are here all year round, we tend to pick one venue and stay there. Yet, there is no reason you could not sample all three in one night. In fact, if you want to experience true Irish life, turn your evening into a pub crawl and drop into the Courthouse bar, Dick Macs and Foxy Johns too.
Ireland is famous for its whiskey, so why not check out how we make it here in Dingle as part of your visit. The Dingle distillery opened its doors in 2012 which may seem fairly recent to you. However, what many people don’t know is that for most of the 20th century, there were next to no distilleries in Ireland. This was as a result of American prohibition in the early 1900s as well as a combination of other political and technological factors. As recent as 1980, there were, in fact, only 2 Irish whiskey distilleries in existence. These days you will find many distilleries in Ireland, and the Dingle distillery is a perfect example of one that is staying true to their original roots. They are passionate about rekindling the art of Irish independent distilling. Book a tour and taste their whiskey, gin or vodka.
There is so much to love in Dingle, we only touch upon our favourites above. In fact, only a short throw away are the Blasket Islands, which are their own category of adventure. If you don’t make time for them on this trip, check them out next time. Once you visit the wonder of Dingle once, we know you will be back for more.
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