Our @Ease programmes are designed to give walkers an opportunity to unwind, relax and recover with less unpacking and longer stays. This gives you more time to experience each location, helps ease the pressure on our accommodation providers, and offers a more fuel-efficient option.
The Dingle Way is a circular route of 179km (112mi) circumnavigating the Dingle Peninsula west of Tralee in County Kerry. It follows minor roads, traditional access routes to turf cutting areas and forest paths. The only high ascent is 600m, crossing the shoulder of Brandon Mountain between Ballydavid and Cloghane. This route is well marked and achievable by all walkers.
The Dingle Way walking route skirts the mountains of the Slieve Mish range, which form the spine of this long peninsula, jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. The mountains are rounded, not as high as their nearest neighbours on the Iveragh Peninsula, and formed from a beautiful old red sandstone that is always visible. Glaciation in the last Ice Age left coums and valleys, the natural harbours of Dingle and Ventry and a gentleness that never fails to impress. The western end is breathtaking – the Blasket Islands rear from the Atlantic calling to the sheltered haven of Dunquin (Dun Chaoin) before the mountains rise to the impressive bulk of Brandon, St. Brendan’s Mountain.
The peninsula is littered with remains from the early Christian period, oratories, beehive huts, megalithic tombstones, monastic enclosures, high crosses, to name a few. It is a spiritual awakening. Beautiful white sandy beaches, a temperate Gulf Stream climate and the profusion of strong colours in the flora – montbretia, fuchsia, purple loosestrife to name a few – make the Dingle Peninsula a wonderful location.
The town of Dingle retains its essential character attributed to a working fishing harbour. The steep streets have been reinvented with colourful tourist shops, craft outlets and a host of restaurants and pubs. There are still many local niches to enjoy the town behind the scenes. It is also the centre of one of Ireland’s most popular Gaeltacht regions, where 43% of households are predominantly Gaelic speakers, which adds a wonderful flavour to the local supermarkets!
Overnight stops (apart from Dingle) are in villages, allowing an opportunity to experience life with the locals and a chance to try Guinness and Gaelic.
Price Includes
Optional Extras
Pricing
The 13-day tour is a relaxed version of our Dingle Way tours, incorporating more free days so you can choose how often and how much you walk. This walking tour begins in Annascaul and roams along the Dingle Peninsula to end in Castlegregory.
This tour is rated STRENUOUS for one day and RELAXED for all other days.
See how we determine levels of difficulty for each of our hiking tours by visiting our FAQ page.
Travel to Annascaul village by public transport.
Overnight accommodation in Annascaul.
Free day to explore Annascaul’s lovely Lake Loop Walk or Mweelin Ridge.
Distance 13km (8mi). Approximate walking time 4 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Annascaul.
Walk to Dingle, passing the 12th century Minard Castle through sheep farming country before climbing An Cnoc Maol Mor and descending the old green droving road into Dingle town.
Distance 23km (14mi). Ascents 460m. Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Dingle.
Free Day in Dingle with numerous options, including the Dingle Harbour Path. Save time in the evening to experience Dingle’s live music scene!
Distance 12km (7mi). Approximate walking time 4 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Dingle.
It is mostly minor roads and beaches today, but beyond the village of Ventry is some of the most spectacular scenery you could hope to find. The Way weaves through fuchsia hedges and climbs an old track on the foothill of Mount Eagle past the early Christian beehive huts at Fahan. Behind are views of Ventry Harbour and south to the Ring of Kerry and Valentia Island. Ahead the Way opens up to Slea Head and the Blasket Islands. Beyond this is America!
We included an alternative route over Mount Eagle, which is a gorgeous walk but is demanding and requires navigation skills. It is not advisable in poor weather conditions.
Distance 25km. Ascents 650m. Approximate walking time 7 hours.
Optional extra hike over Mount Eagle: 5km (3mi) and 2 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Dunquin.
Free day in Dunquin. Relax, there is nowhere more beautiful to spend a day. Make sure to visit the Blasket Heritage Centre.
Overnight accommodation in Dunquin.
Today’s route follows the Norse named Smerwick Harbour and a detour takes you to Dun an Oir, the Fort of Gold where Italian and Spaniard soldiers were besieged by troops of Elizabeth 1 in 1580. Ballydavid is a thriving fishing harbour and a Gaelic speaking community.
Distance 16km (10mi). Ascents 180m. Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Ballydavid.
Free day in Ballydavid, home to 80 pre-Christian sites such as Gallarus Oratory and Castle, Reask Settlement and Kilmalkeadar. Explore at will! Local Link bus services are available for getting around.
Overnight accommodation in Ballydavid.
Walk to Cloghane, climbing up to the saddle of Mas an Tiompain (the Pass of the Drum) below Mount Brandon. Take in the superb scenery of Tralee Bay and the Magharees against the hues of the Slieve Mish Mountains.
Distance 22km (14mi). Ascents 30m. Approximate walking time 7 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Cloghane.
Free day in Cloghane, a quiet corner under the brooding peak of Brandon. A nice scenic route along Cappagh mudflats is the perfect antidote to yesterday’s exertions.
Overnight accommodation in Cloghane.
Walk the edge of Brandon Bay to Castlegregory, a traditional village serving this region of the Dingle Peninsula.
Distance 12km (7mi). Approximate walking time 4 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Castlegregory.
Free day in Castlegregory. Follow the coast of the Castlegregory promontory to Scraggane Bay and the limestone Isles of Magharee. A cross slab bearing the Greek Chi-Rho symbol of Christ is in the 15th century Kilshannig Church.
Distance 15km (9mi). Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Castlegregory.
Depart by transfer to Camp for public bus service to Tralee.
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August 2021 – Guido & Alicia, Switzerland
We just went back from Ireland yesterday and let me tell: We really enjoyed our hiking tour around the dingle peninsula! Everything was perfect and well organized. Thank you so much.
July 2021 – Marie & Hans, Holland
Thank you for making our stay in Ireland so well. The last day we had to take the bad weather tour from Bally David. Everything we was wearing was wet. We got a lift to the pub with the owner and the dinner was super. We took a sticky toffee pudding, we were really worth it. The B&Bs were all very good. The food at Dunquin was excellent.
June 2019 – Joan & Angelika, NY
Thanks for your note and even more so for arranging the trip. We had an absolutely amazing time. As you know the weather was perfect, as we we heard from everyone we met along the way very unusual and special for Ireland. This made for easy walking and brilliant scenery. It was not hard to imagine really needing “gaitors” along the way from Tralee to Camp! I think the only day that we had even the slightest bit of overcast was as we climbed Mt Brandon. This in fact, was much appreciated as the trails in the US generally have switchbacks, so the breeze and overcast skies made walking straight up just a little easier. (BTW we had full sun by the time we reached the top!) It did not keep us from dawdling a bit along the way, and we had time enough to take over 250 pics along the way to prove it! I can’t imagine deleting anything that we saw!
June 2019 – Anna & Dirk, Belgium
Just wanted to let you know that we had wonderful holidays in Ireland. Walking “the Dingle Way” was an amazing experience- we truly enjoyed it. This is really a gorgeous part of Ireland and the weather couldn’t be better.
May 2019 – Debbie & Peter, Auckland NZ
We did have a great trip!!!
We enjoyed hearing spoken Irish which is one of the things we felt made The Dingle peninsula particularly special. The weather was fantastic and we very much enjoyed all our hosts.
August 2018 – Tamburro Family, Colorado USA
The trip was great. Really lovely country, great weather, the people at the B&Bs were very nice and welcoming. Thanks much for your help on the trip. It was reassuring knowing we could contact you if there were problems.
June 2018 – Karin & 3 friends, Koblenz, Germany
Thank you a lot for the wonderful days in Ireland. It was great! Good description, helpful guide. Nice B&B´s and pubs. Very friendly people! The weather was breezy first, but then very warm. Only 6 hours raining in 8 days!!! We even went into the sea last day- wonderful fresh!
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