Dingle Peninsula Drive in Ireland
Near the Ring of Kerry in the West of Ireland, Another Scenic Drive
The west coast is a magical part of Ireland. Here between Killarney and Tralee the Dingle Peninsula has beautiful mountain scenery and the popular harbor town of Dingle
The Dingle Peninsula sticks out of County Kerry into the Atlantic Ocean in southwest Ireland, with Dingle Bay to the south and Tralee Bay to the north. On the far side of Dingle Bay are the famous Macgillcduddy's Reeks mountain range, and one of the most famous scenic drives in the country: the Ring of Kerry.
There's no such thing as a 'Ring of Dingle', but you can create one if you head off the one main road, the N86. This takes most people from Tralee and out past the Slieve Mish Mountains to end at the busy and well-loved port of Dingle. Dingle is a great center for traditional Irish music, and became famous recently for being the home of Fungie the dolphin, who could often be seen swimming and playing in the waters offshore.
Dingle's fishing harbor features in many people's holiday photos, as do the narrow streets which wind back up into the town, lined with craft and souvenir shops, excellent restaurants and those lively pubs whose rafters ring with the sounds of live Irish music.
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Facts About the Dingle Peninsula Drive
- A round tour from Tralee via Dingle and around the whole Dingle Peninsula is about 100 miles (160kms).
- The Dingle Peninsula Drive can be made in half a day, but allow a full day at least to explore the byways. Even better would be two days, with an overnight stay in Dingle for the great fresh seafood and the Irish music.
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Route for the Dingle Peninsula Drive
From Tralee drive on the N70 south towards Castlemaine, and from there take the R561 west. Be sure to stop and take a break at Inch Strand, surely one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It was seen in the movies Ryan's Daughter and The Playboy of the Western World.
Beyond Inch Strand the R561 joins with the main N86 road which you can follow all the way into Dingle. You are now in the Gaeltacht, the heart of the Irish-speaking part of Ireland, and most road signs will be in Irish only
From Dingle take the R558 west, marked 'Slea Head Drive', which takes you out to Slea Head and Dunquin at the end of the Dingle Peninsula. Dunmore Head near here is the most westerly point of the mainland of Ireland. Offshore are the Blasket Islands, referred to as 'the last parish before America'.
Continue on Slea Head Drive to Ballyferriter, then follow signs for the Gallarus Oratory, a curious stone church built in the 7th or 8th century. A road across the peninsula leads back to Dingle, where you shouldn't miss the chance to spend a night if at all possible.
To return to Tralee by a different – and spectacular – route, leave Dingle on the road that's signposted for the Connor Pass. At the top of the pass you will be 1509 feet high (460m) and if the weather is good you'll have unforgettable views over Dingle. Descend to Brandon Bay, where St. Brendan the Navigator is said to have set sail on his voyages to the New World in the 6th century. From here continue along the north coast of the Dingle Peninsula through Castlegregory and back to Tralee.
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