The Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry is one of my favorite spots to vacation in Ireland. Dingle Town is a thriving port where visitors enjoy warm hospitality, delicious meals, traditional Irish music, and even a chance to see “Fungi”, the resident dolphin, who lives in the bay and performs alongside the boats out for a tour.
Dingle Peninsula is just north of the well known and heavily traveled Ring of Kerry. A scenic car, bus or bike trip on Slea Head Drive takes us along a winding road with spectacular views of the bay leading to the Atlantic. As we near the western tip of the Peninsula, the Blasket Islands can be seen just off shore. The main island was home to a few hundred natives until the 1950s, when the last of them were moved to the mainland; many relocated to the eastern U.S. and primarily to the Boston area. Ferries travel daily to tour the Blaskets, weather permitting, offering a taste of the isolated yet peaceful life the islanders must have lived.
Dingle Peninsula offers golfers a chance to play a round of eighteen holes at its Dingle Golf Links (Ceann Sibal), just around the western tip of the Peninsula. A shorter route cuts across the Peninsula just west of Dingle Town. It is well worth the drive for a genuine Irish golf experience. You will enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding hillsides and of the sea and even have a chance to cross a stone bridge reminiscent of the world renowned bridge at the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Bikers and hikers will have no shortage of possibilities on Dingle Peninsula. The “Dingle Way” walking trail goes through fields and hilly terrain as well as more level areas of the countryside. Mount Brandon is one of the highest peaks in Ireland and is a satisfying trip for the ambitious hiker. Bicycle enthusiasts travel the roads for a closer look at the beauty seen at a faster pace from a car.
Conor Pass, which starts in Dingle Town, is a roadway you won’t want to miss. It winds higher and higher adjacent to Mount Brandon and down again leading to the village of Castlegregory on the north side of the Peninsula. At many spots along the Pass, two cars cannot pass together. One driver must pull off and wait for the other to make their way past. The mountainside leading up on one side of the road and leading down the cliff on the other side is great motivation to cooperate with fellow drivers. The spectacular scenery and the harp player next to the parking area at the peak make the trip well worth the effort.
You will find traditional Irish music nightly in many of the pubs and restaurants in Dingle. It’s great to have a meal of fish and chips and stay for the music. Visiting with the people of Ireland is always the highlight of any trip to the Emerald Isle.
On your next trip, visit the Dingle Peninsula. You won’t be sorry!
Editor’s Note: Also published here.
…
Written by: Patricia G. McKinney-Lins. Take the worry out of booking your own special trip to the Emerald Isle. Get free travel advice and tips for your next escape to Ireland and claim your free newsletter at Patricia’s castles in ireland website at: http://www.majestic-castles-in-ireland.com/.
Read more articles written by Patricia G. McKinney-Lins
Related posts:
- Plan Your Irish Castle Wedding
It’s classier than Las Vegas and easier than doing what your in-laws tell you. Consider tying the knot with a marriage at a majestic castle in Ireland. With a little advance planning, you and your fiancee can marry in an Irish castle fit for fairy tales. While it seems more... - Visit the Historic Rock of Cashel in Ireland
Your whole family will enjoy a trip to the historic Rock of Cashel in Ireland. It is located above the town of Cashel in County Tipperary. It is one of the most historic and spectacular heritage sites in Ireland. Cashel is one hour by car from Waterford, Kilkenny, Limerick and... - Ireland Bed and Breakfast: Is It the Best Lodging Choice for You?
Will you stay in a Bed & Breakfast on your trip to Ireland? Are you worried that staying in an Irish Bed & Breakfast is like sleeping in a stranger’s home? Are you asking yourself, “Why would I want to stay in someone else’s house? And in a bedroom next... - Cheap Tattoos Cheapen The Tattooing Experience
Many of my girlfriends have “girl nights” around getting tattoos, as if it were as casual as getting a haircut or a manicure. The casual attitude toward tattoos bothers me for two reasons; there is the age old argument that tattoos are permanent and not a decision to make lightly.... - Lessons from Authentic Marketing
I’ll be honest with you from the get-go: I cancelled the Focus on Marketing class. Although some of you stepped forward to take me up on the haggling, the class wasn’t full, and it didn’t feel right to me. I want to explain my experiences here, because this is of... - The Best Traditions And Advice For The Tattooing Experience
The ritual of tattooing and adorning the body with ink and color has been a tradition for centuries. Tattooing is definitely not a fad, or a practice reserved to any particular element of society. It is a tradition that has been found in all parts of the world, in different... - Sarasota Florida: Top Ten Reasons to Visit in 2009
An abundance of visitors from around the world visit Sarasota each year to enjoy all of the amenities this small city on the Gulf Coast of Florida has to offer. Each year, Sarasota’s warm climate attracts “snowbirds” down to the Sunshine State for its high season from January through March.... - Take a Hike in Howth, Ireland
My first visit to Howth, Ireland was not planned. I had just arrived in Ireland the evening before from London. I got on the DART train and headed for a day in the city center. I intended to browse a few museums and have lunch. My plans changed when I... - Longboat Key Florida: How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Longboat Key Florida is an 11-mile long island that borders the Gulf of Mexico to its west and the calm waters of Sarasota Bay on to its east. The 8,000 permanent residents of Longboat Key live in a variety of residential styles from condominiums, townhouses, small single-family homes to luxury... - Visit the Newgrange Passage Tomb in Ireland
Have you ever heard of a Megalithic necropolis? I hadn... - Bunratty Castle in Ireland
Irish Castles are structures from ancient history, when armies with bow and arrow fought for power. But one historic Irish castle is located just minutes from the modern convenience of Shannon Airport. Bunratty Castle is easily accessible from Shannon, and makes a great starting or ending point for your Irish... - The Book of Kells
The Book of Kells is a beautifully illustrated work which was hand-written around the year 800 A.D. The book has been divided into four volumes and is a Latin copy of the four gospels of the Bible. You can see an excerpt of the Book of Kells in a year-round... - An Introduction To The Paradise Coast of Florida, Surrounding Fort Myers, Florida
A Guide to Must-See Beaches in SW FLA: A wonderful place to visit and enjoy is southwest Florida, using Ft. Myers as a base for your explorations. Ft. Myers is 90 minutes south of Tampa on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Ft. Myers and the surrounding communities boast... - Take The Dating Scene One Step At A Time, After Divorce
After divorce, the word “dating” scares a lot of people. If you’ve been married a long time you probably have lost track of all the unwritten rules or even how to go about meeting new eligible people. Many people immediately take off for the clubs thinking that that is the... - Springtime in Boston
Spring is always a welcomed time of year especially after a long, cold winter. In Boston, springtime is a chance to forget all about the snow and ice and instead embrace the numerous outdoor activities the city has to offer. First and foremost is the Boston Marathon. The world’s oldest...