This 8 day itinerary is designed for anyone who wishes to fully experience the beautiful Dingle Peninsula, but with shorter daily distances. It is a circular route; starting and finishing in Dingle town and includes the best of the western end of the peninsula in short bite sized chunks, allowing plenty of time for exploring and pictures. It is especially suited to mixed age groups and families. Longer daily alternatives are easily built in if required.
Tour Highlights
An opportunity to explore Dingle town, steeped in history with a colourful presence.
Homely country B&B’s and their fabulous hosts.
Itinerary
A chance to explore the local shops, do a little shopping, take a ferry to the Great Blasket Island, read a book or simply sit back and relax by the harbour and watch the world go by.
Optional local circular walk on Ballysitteragh Hill 11km, Ascent, 630m Approximate walking time 4 hours or Dingle harbour walk 6km, no ascents, 2 hours
Overnight accommodation in Dingle town centre.
Day 2: Dingle town to Ventry Harbour
Meander the lanes from Dingle harbour, over the hill to Ventry village for morning coffee by the pier. Watch the lobster boats in the bay before setting off across the beach for the fuchsia lined trail through Cahertrant townland to Cill Mhic a Domhnaigh.
Distance 9km. Ascents 210m. Approximate walking time 2.5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Ventry village.
Optional extra loop walk, Siúiloid Cholmain, Ventry village & 15th century Rahinanne Castle. Add 5km and 1.5 hours.
Day 3: Ventry Harbour to Dunquin
The most spectacular scenery you could hope to find. The Way 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, Valentia Island and the Skelligs. Ahead the Way opens up to Slea Head and the Blasket Islands. Beyond this is America! A visit to the Blasket Island Interpretative Centre in Dunquin is recommended, to grasp the harshness of life on the islands, until the last inhabitants resettled on the mainland in 1953.
Distance 18km. Ascents 360m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation at Dunquin townland. Your host will transfer you to Ballyferriter for your evening meal.
Day 4: Dunquin to Ballydavid / Murreagh
The 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. The views are simply splendid; Sybil Head, the Three Sisters, and Ballydavid Head, frame the north, against a backdrop of hills to the south. Ballydavid is a thriving fishing harbour and a Gaelic speaking community.
Optional extra loop walk at Clogher Beach & Cliffs. Add 4km and 1 hour.
Distance 16km. Ascents 240m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation Ballydavid / Murreagh townland
Day 5: Ballydavid to Cuas/Ballycurrane
You are in the cradle of early Christian civilization here, with as many as sixty notable sites of cultural and religious development from the 5th to 9th centuries. Take your time, explore them, see the sea. St. Brendan left for America in 6th century from here and brooding Brandon mountain is on the doorstep.
Distance 9km. Ascents 120m. Approximate walking time 2 hours
Optional extra loop walk on Ballydavid Head. Add 6km, Ascents 250m 3 hours.
Overnight accommodation An Bothar Pub, Ballycurrane.
Day 6: Cuas to Cloghane
Today’s hike takes you up; up to the saddle of Más an Tiompáin, (the Pass of the Drum) below Brandon, Ireland’s second highest mountain at 950m. The scenery is superb, Tralee Bay, the Magharees against the hues of the Slieve Mish mountains. The descent to Cloghane is nothing short of thrilling on a clear day, and well-earned respite is available in the village!
Distance 17km. Ascents 430m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation Cloghane village.
Day 7: Walk Connor Hill to Dingle.
Your transfer can leave you at the top of the famous Connor Pass for an amble down to return to Dingle town for a final day of relaxation and catch up with civilisation. Distance 7km. No Ascents. Approximate walking time 2 hours
Maybe today is the day for Ballysitteragh Hill! Add 5km and a 220m ascent to do this climb.But what a view!
Overnight accommodation Dingle town centre.
Day 8: Depart by bus from Dingle for Tralee.
Scheduled bus services from Dingle to Tralee, Killarney or Cork for onward connections.
Prices & Booking
€210 single supplement.
What’s Included
* Luggage transfers each day;
* Detailed route descriptions;
* Relevant 1:50000 maps.
What’s not included
* Other meals.
* Entries or excursions.
* Transfers to or from Dingle.
Guest Reviews
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 lovely. The last day we had to take the bad weather tour from Ballydavid. 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, it was 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.
June 2019- Ron & 5 friends, Utah USA
I highly recommend the Dingle Way. Just when you start wondering if a 15-mile day is a little much, you become immersed in the landscape, the history, people, beaches – it goes on and on. I think it’s important to realize how your mind can be engaged in what you’re seeing for the first time, and that more than makes up for any physical issues. This is not to mention getting a hot shower and a cold Guiness at the end of the day! We loved your food! Lots of smoked salmon for breakfast and seafood chowder and fish & chips for dinner.
Thank you again for arranging perfect weather, probably once in a lifetime – seemed to be the talk of the country.
May 2019 – Helen & Tony, Barcelona, Spain
I’ve been meaning to write since we got back to say how much we enjoyed our trip. We were amazingly lucky with the weather, just the one drizzly morning, and for the last three days we had glorious sunshine and even came home with a tan! All the B&Bs were great, though I would like to specially mention Ceann Sibéal at Clogher. Nothing was too much trouble, Aine came to pick us up in Dunquin as we were running late, ran us back there next morning so we could visit the Blasket centre, and left us keys to the house so we could pop in for a loo stop and a cup of tea when we walked past there again later. And, although the competition was stiff, her’s was definitely the prizewinning breakfast – including porridge with baileys!
Thanks once again for organising a very enjoyable week – and we would definitely be happy to recommend the holiday!
May 2019 – Lindy & 2 daughters, Buffalo NY, USA
Dear Deidre, The Dingle Way trip you planned with Emily was the Best Birthday gift ever…..We walked about 65 miles, enjoyed all the bed and breakfast hosts and their homes, And the weather was grand. Thanks for everything.
