Places to visit in Ireland: Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry
Updated: Jun 12, 2020
For those of you whom are unfamiliar with Ireland’s geography and make up - County Kerry, located on the South West Coast of the country, known to some as ‘The Kingdom’ of Ireland is renowned for its rugged coastline, majestic mountain ranges and breath-taking scenery. The county really has so much to offer visitors from far and near, anyone contemplating a trip to Ireland should think about allocating a week explore the magical Kingdom or you might risk missing out on some of the best bits. This post however, is dedicated, not to County Kerry itself (as I will need to break that into at least a few posts for you to digest all your options and I will, in time) – but this post is dedicated to the stunning Dingle Peninsula, otherwise known as ‘The Ring of Dingle’ and all it’s wonder. The little town of Dingle has a world-renowned music and arts scene, a rich history and over 50 pubs to sample Guinness, below is a summary of my top travel tips and recommendations for spending a few glorious days in Dingle.
Take a scenic drive around ‘The Ring of Dingle’
The ‘Ring of Kerry’ is a very famous drive for anyone visiting Kerry from both locally or abroad but Dingle has its very own miniature version of this circular loop. The scenery is breath-taking and the Dingle Peninsula loop trip is about 30 miles long and must be driven in a clockwise direction (drive on the left hand side of the road). Please be mindful that roads are very narrow so take it at a slow pace and enjoy the views stopping off for a picnic at the various view points. To begin your journey - leave Dingle town west along the waterfront at Oceanworld. Make sure you stock up on snacks before you set off. The trip could take a half-day if you stop off at all the right view points. Don’t miss the views at Dun Chaoin - from here you can see the Blasket Islands, the westernmost point in Europe.
Take a Boat trip to meet Fungie the Dolphin
No trip to Dingle is complete without at least trying to get a glimpse of Fungi the Dolphin. Fungie is a friendly bottlenose dolphin who swims playfully alongside the boats in Dingle Harbour. He has been swimming solo around the Dingle Peninsula for 30 years according to local fishermen. Boat trips run from Dingle Harbour all year round and this is a great way to see the stunning scenery from the water.
Climb Mount Brandon
Mount Brandon which takes its name from St. Brendan The Navigator is Ireland’s second highest mountain standing at 3000 feet. The hike is approximately a 5 hour return trip (depending on which route you take). This looming, glorious mountain offers 360 degree spectacular views from the summit of lakes, islands and miles and miles of the spectacular Wild Atlantic Way coastline. I would suggest starting your ascent from from Baille Breac (Ballybrack) which is is 6 miles north west of Dingle Town and is the most direct route and a moderate hike. This route follows the western pilgrims path and is marked out by the 14 stations of the cross.
Sample Local craft Beers
In Dingle’s tiny streets there are many many bars to chose from. Most smaller, traditional bars competing for the ‘Best Guinness in Town’ but some also offering local craft beers. If you are short on time and don’t have time to do a ‘pub crawl’ of the town then my top three bars to visit are An Droichead Beag meaning ‘The Little Bridge’, is renowned for good music, pints, and plenty of craic but the best part – they have nightly ‘trad sessions’ (traditional Irish music) all year round. You must visit Dick Mack’s pub when you are in town. This is a traditional Irish pub with now a brewhouse serving local craft beer. The bar is always busy so get down early to get yourself a spot in one of the little snugs. Try the Dingle Pub for weekly live music sessions. There is pretty much a great atmosphere in most of the bars in town!
Beautiful Beaches
Dingle is the gift that keeps on giving, but for me, its variety of beautiful, clean sandy beaches is one of its main draws, especially in summer months (even though my latest trip was in winter they are still spectacular. You must visit Inch beach on your trip. Inch is a Blue Flag beaches and is one of the most popular beaches on the peninsula - a long sand spit stretching into the sea between Dingle Harbour and Castlemaine Harbour, it’s popular with surfers and swimmers alike. You might also stop off at Coumeenole Beach Famous as one of the locations in the film "Ryan’s Daughter" (1970), Coumeenole is a small beach near Slea Head. It boasts dramatic views, but also at times dramatic currents, which make it generally not recommended for swimming so do take care.
Fresh seafood in abundance
Surrounded by the Atlantic, it is no surprise that seafood is the food of choice in Dingle. You can get a fresh catch of the day in most restaurants. I’m a big fan of lobster myself but it wasn’t the right season for my latest trip so I tried a hearty fish and chips at the Fish Box (Flannery’s Seafood Bar) and also had a lovely romantic meal one evening at Doyle’s Seafood Restaurant which was delightful.
Cycle the scenic Slea Head Drive trail
The 46km Slea Head Cycling Loop from Dingle is one of the most spectacular cycle routes in Ireland if not the world with breath-taking views of the coastline, offshore Blasket Islands and cliff top roads. Hire a bike from Dingle and take your time exploring and soaking in the stunning views along Irelands most westerly point on Wild Atlantic Way. It is also home to the set of Star Wars on the Dingle Peninsula and you can take the official Star Wars Tour if you are that way inclined.
Seafront Accommodation
Dingle is a popular tourist destination pretty much all year round but especially during peak summer holiday season and popular central accommodation in the town or seafront get booked up quickly. For accommodation right smack in the middle of town we stayed in Dingle Garden Town House which is a quaint town house / 3 star hotel and was just perfect for our needs. If you want to stay right on the sea front over-looking the blue waters of the peninsula I would recommend staying at Waters Edge House which is Luxury Self-Catering accommodation at the edge of Dingle.
Admire the artwork
Dingle has a rich artistic culture and a variety of art galleries showcasing some of the best of Irish artists and artwork. You could spend half a day walking through dingle town and stopping off at the various galleries and exhibitions. One of my personal favourites is the Greenlane Gallery which showcases vibrant and distinctive contemporary Irish Artwork and hold seasonal exhibitions.
Outdoor Activities for the Intrepid Traveler
Dingle is perfect for anyone who seeks a sense of adventure on their travels especially if you love the great outdoors. There is everything from Horse Riding to Sea-Kayaking there are outdoor activities suitable for all abilities. Hiking, Biking and surfing are some other activities available in Dingle and paddle Boarding into the sunset is one of my personal faves.
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