Ireland is in possession of more than 30 designated long-distance walking trails, however, Dingle Way – in the south-west of the country – ranks as arguably it’s most astonishing and ultimately most beautiful. The circuit begins and ends in Tralee, Kerry’s main town, clocking in at around 180km taking most adults approximately nine days to complete. Along the way you will be awestruck by the diverse landscape that greets you; from the crashing waves of the Atlantic, the dominant magnificence of the Slieve Mish foothills and Mount Brandon, the serene and rolling farmlands to the unspoilt golden beaches of the Maharess – Dingle Way will truly inspire and amaze.
Getting there is easy even if you don’t have your own transport. Car Hire Ireland is cheap and straightforward these days. If car hire is not a viable option then there is always public transport to fall back on. Though public transport is good, with car hire you are able to travel at your convenience and get more out of your visit to Dingle, stopping at some of the scenic hotspots on the way to the starting point at Camp – a beautiful town in Kerry overlooking the picturesque Tralee Bay and the Slieve Mish mountains.
The first leg of the walk sees you ascend to 430m above sea level across the atmospheric boglands of the Slieve Mish and into the unblemished serenity of the blanket bog and a dense conifer forest. Here you will ascend the Ardoe Hill, which yields picture-perfect views of the beach at Inch as far as the famous “Ring of Kerry” and some of Ireland’s tallest mountains before descending down to the village of Annascaul where you will stay overnight.
The next morning, let the Way take you past the wondrous Annascaul Lake and through the mysterious ruins of the 16th-century Minard Castle and into the village of Lispole where you can sit down for a bite to eat. After a short stop you will cross seemingly endless sheep farming territory before you climb 410m of the An Cnoc Maol Mor which looks down upon the pretty town of Dingle where you will find numerous accommodation options, pubs and restaurants.
The next day will find you taking in some of the most spectacular scenery the Way has to offer. The route takes you past some of Kerry’s most golden beaches before finding the village of Ventry where you will ascend the foothills of Mount Eagle and find intriguing ancient Christian beehive huts at Fahan. Slowly, an astonishing panoramic view will begin to unfold; with Ventry Harbour, the Ring of Kerry and Valentia Island surrounding you, before the Way opens up views of the Slea Head and Blasket Island – truly mesmerising. At this point you will find yourself at Europe’s most westerly point, with only the Atlantic separating yourself from America! From here, the Way routes you to the village of Dunquin to rest for the night.
The next leg of the walk can be completed in a modest four hours, so detour from the Way in the morning to go and visit Blasket Island and drop into the visitor’s centre to gain an understanding of how early inhabitants coped with the – at times – harsh weather and remote conditions. The Way itself takes you to Smerwick Harbour where you should make a worthwhile detour to Dun an Oir – a ‘Fortress of Gold’ where Italian and Spanish soldiers were once defeated by troops under the rule of Elizabeth I in the 16th-century. The bustling fishing town of Ballydavid brings this short leg of the Way to an end. Be sure to go to one of the excellent fresh seafood restaurants in the area.
The next day, you will see some of the earliest sites of Christianity in Ireland, with no less than sixty points marked out which detail the evolution of the religion from as early as the 5th-century. The trek quickly takes you up ‘The Pass of the Drum’ mountain, just below Brandon (the country’s second-highest mountain) to 750m. The view here is inspirational, where you can make out Tralee Bay and the Slieve Mish in the distance. The descent is a true pleasure to walk, with the downhill allowing you to relax in this simply stunning backdrop, ending your day in Cloghane.
Whilst in Cloghane, you should definitely go and conquer The Valley of Loch a Duin for an unforgettable day of discovery. The Valley has been inhabited since as far back as 2500 B.C. Incredibly, evidence of this can still be seen today, where you are able to visit a number of fascinating stone structures, tombs and rock art. However, if you are keen to press on with Dingle Way, you will begin your day crossing the wonderful beaches of Brandon and Scraggane Bay, also taking in the dramatic limestone cliffs of Magharee. Grab a bite to eat in the quaint, traditional town of Kilshannig before ending your day walking the coastal route as far as Castlegregory where you should stay overnight before taking on the last leg of this incredible journey.
The Way keeps you on the coast along Tralee Bay, although if you want an elevated route, you can climb the foothills of Gleann Nagealt for nice views of the coast. This route will also bring you through the eerily deserted town of Killelton and a 12th-century oratory, where the route then elevates you a little higher for a postcard view of the surrounding Tralee Bay before you bring to an end this unforgettable 180km trek.
