One of Ireland’s (and the world’s) most beautiful locations is the Dingle Peninsula. It’s likely that images of Ireland’s verdant countryside, quaint villages, and rugged coastline immediately spring to mind. All these, including the legendary Irish warmth, may be experienced on the Dingle Peninsula. Debating whether or not to include it in your plans? Here are 5 of the most exciting things to do in Dingle:
1. Travel the beautiful roads of the Dingle Peninsula.
Taking a vehicle and driving is the greatest way to explore the peninsula and everything it offers. Several picturesque paths are available to you. Slea Head is one of the most westerly places in Europe, and the trip there is one of many people’s favorites since it follows the shore of the peninsula for most of the way. On the other hand, a trip across Conor Pass will not disappoint you, as it offers stunning panoramas and the chance to see sheep and even a waterfall along the way.
Location: Take the N86 to Camp, then turn left onto the R560 towards Conor Pass, or go west along the R559 in the direction of the Slea Head road (Sl Cheann Sléibhe).
2. Visit Inch Beach
Ireland isn’t precisely a tropical paradise due to its location and mostly rocky coastline. But Dingle’s Inch Beach is well worth the trip; it’s a beautiful place to walk any time of year. (Don’t worry; the name “Inch” is misleading; the beach is many miles long.) In the summer, you may swim, surf, or bask in the rare Irish sunlight on the beach, which has beautiful golden sand and some wild-looking dunes.
Directions: Head east on the N86, and then take a right onto the R561. To get to the beach, just stick to the coast. Driving there and back shouldn’t take more than an hour and a half. A bus leaves from outside the Quay Super Value in Dingle at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5 p.m. daily and returns at 12 p.m., 3:45 p.m., and 8 p.m. Each trip takes around 40 minutes.
3. Hike to the top of Mount Brandon.
One of the finest ways to see Ireland’s stunning scenery is on foot. You don’t have to be in the best physical condition to trek up Mt. Brandon and take in the scenery, even though it’s one of the tallest peaks in the region. The whole trail may be covered in a couple of hours. On a clear day, you can see the Atlantic Ocean, other mountains, and miles of flat Irish landscape from the summit. That’s extraordinary, to say the least.
Directions: Leave town in a westerly direction as if you were going to get on the R559. However, take the northern exit towards Feohanagh (An Fheotanach) at the traffic circle before the Dingle Distillery. You need to keep going north till you reach Mt. Brandon.
4. Go to Great Blasket Island.
Since they sit at Europe’s very edge, the history of the Blasket Islands is intriguing. Great Blasket Island is a long, thin outcropping of rock in the ocean that has fascinated people for centuries. The island was inhabited intermittently from prehistory to the early 1950s when its remaining residents were forced to leave due to a lack of infrastructure. Only 30 people lived there then, and none worked in healthcare, education, or commerce. This area still has a wide variety of plant and animal life, formerly home to some of Ireland’s most famous authors.
If you want to visit the Blasket Islands, you may catch a ferry from Dingle’s port every day at 11 a.m. (weather permitting). To better facilitate your visit, you may make reservations online. If you complete the Slea Head drive first, you may easily make a detour to the Great Blasket Heritage Center in Dunquin, which is conveniently located along your route.
5. Go see the beehive huts.
