While there is a lot of activity in Dingle town, with the pubs, the shops and the cafes. The biggest attraction of this part of the world is really the nature around it. The Dingle Peninsula is a wonderland of mother nature with landscape views that will leave you speechless. The only thing you need to choose is the way you want to see it because there are four ways and they are each unique in their own way.
Driving is the most comfortable and relaxing way to explore the Dingle Peninsula. Jump in your car (or rental car), switch on your favourite playlist and explore the open roads of Dingle. No matter the weather, come rain, snow or shine, you’ll be able to drink in the sights of County Kerry.
We prize these as the best driving routes on the Peninsula:
A circular route that starts and ends in the town of Dingle. It is home to the most amazing scenery since it forms part of the West Highland Way. To drive the full loop with no stops will take you around one hour. Yet we recommend you allow for about three to four hours for this drive so that you can stop at the beautiful sites and attractions along the way.
Travel the route clockwise, starting at Dingle, take the left-hand turn on to the R559 and head towards Dunberg Fort as your first stop along the way. You can take the route in either direction but you will get the best views and avoid the most tour groups, in the height of summer, if you head clockwise.
This 12km road is a wonder for people who love driving. It is narrow, often a single track road, with many twists and turns. At points, the road hugs the edge of the surrounding steep cliff. This is definitely not territory for the faint of heart.
At its highest point, 1,345 feet, there is a car park that allows you to stop and take in the breathtaking views. You can see as far North as Kerry Head, and as far south as Dingle. Surrounded by mountains, lakes and valleys below, this highest mountain pass in Ireland is one of the best views on the Wild Atlantic Way.
You can equally explore these routes by bike. The sights are just as beautiful plus you get the added benefit of burning all the calories. Just be careful on the rainy days as the roads may be more slippy and we don’t want to be responsible for any bumps or bruises.
Slea Head Loop and Connor Pass actually form part of an official race. So if you want to aim for a personal best, check out Ride Dingle, which is set for 15th August 2020.
We figure as a cyclist, you may be less interested in stopping for the historic sites and scenery that we mentioned on the driving route above. After all, you can catch a glimpse of the Gallarus Oratory and that scene from Star Wars while you’re on your bike. However, every good cyclist needs fuel. So here are our recommendations for the best refueling food stops along the way.
The hills around Dingle town are virtually a playground for cyclists. The winding roads coupled with the Atlantic views make the experience an incredible adventure. Over and above the Slea head road and Conor pass, there are few even more exciting roads for bike enthusiasts. These routes are longer but achievable with adequate training. Try Dingle to Killorglin at 104km round trip or Dingle to Killarney at 128km round trip. Each has its own attractions and sites to see along the way. You may even decide to stay overnight in either town. Obviously we prefer Dingle but Kilarney has its own national park with the beautiful Lough Leane and Killorglin is a cute little Irish town that has even more Irish pubs to explore.
There are hiking routes to match any fitness level on the Dingle Peninsula. And realistically walking is the best way to soak in the true essence of Ireland. By that we mean, you can stop at all the local pubs along your route if you are walking, without worrying about driving home. In fact, you can even drop by Dingle’s whiskey distillery and sample their finest malt.
The main routes we mention in the drive section are achievable for dedicated hikers and by foot you may see even more. We recommend starting early. Outside of the drive routes, however, are the places that simply cannot be reached by car. Check them out.
While two feet will take you further than four wheels on the island. There is a limit to what can be seen when you restrict yourself to just the land of the Dingle Peninsula. Some of the most remarkable views here are at sea. Not to mention the once in a lifetime encounters that occur off the coast of our little peninsula.
If you are a fair-weather sailor and prefer to limit the amount of time you spend on deck, we suggest you take the ferry to Great Blasket Island. The journey is quick, at under an hour, giving you just enough time to get a different view of the peninsula and spy on some local wildlife. You have two options, to take the ferry from Dingle harbour (40-50 minutes) or from Dún Chaoin Pier (20 minutes). So it is up to you how much time you want to spend at sea. On most days the crossing is smooth but do check the weather and the swell before you go, especially if you are prone to seasickness.
On the other hand, if you already have your sea legs, there is a world of opportunity open to you in our surrounding waters. There are numerous tours, and you can even hire a boat yourself, assuming you have your skippers license. We have compiled some of the options open to you:
Jump in a fully fuelled rib with Dingle Sea Safari and get your adrenaline fix speeding past the peninsula cliffs and caves. Choose from a few route options, some concentrate on wildlife, others on scenery and some on just the essence of being out on the water at high speed. There is something to suit every group and every budget.
Test your balance while you adventure across the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. Dingle bay is the perfect place to start, as it’s shelters keep the water calm.
The most expensive way to see the coastline. But if you are a sailor or you just love getting out on those waters on your own, you can certainly hire a yacht here. Usually you can rent the boat with or without a skipper for a minimum of two days.
Explore Dingle the way that you want to. Whichever way you do it, we promise you will fall in love with it.
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