The Dingle Peninsula is one of the top attractions of Ireland’s famous Wild Atlantic Way, and it’s easy to see why. Located on the southwest coast of Ireland and stretching 30 miles into the Atlantic Ocean, the Dingle Peninsula is home to rich Irish culture and spectacular scenery, from dramatic headlands and award-winning beaches to majestic mountains and rugged cliffs. The Dingle Peninsula loop takes about one hour to drive, without stopping or traffic. However, here at Wild Rover Tours, we recommend taking your time travelling the route to enjoy the incredible scenery, beautiful wildlife, culture and numerous activities the circuit offers. Read on to find out the Dingle Peninsula highlights and best places to stop…
Dingle
No trip to the Dingle Peninsula would be complete without a stop in the beautiful seaside town of Dingle. Enjoy the great outdoors by surfing on Inch Beach or walking the Dingle Way to experience some incredible views. After your day of adventuring, treat yourself with a scoop (or two!) of Dingle’s legendary Murphy’s Ice Cream before spending your evening getting cosy and enjoying some traditional Irish music in one of Dingle’s many pubs. Whatever you’re in the mood for, Dingle has it.
The Blasket Islands
One of the most popular Dingle Peninsula highlights, and a great place to stop on your trip, is the Blasket Islands, an archipelago of seven islands located off the coast of Kerry. The Great Blasket Island is the largest and most famous of the seven and can be found 3 miles off the tip of the Dingle Peninsula.
The Great Blasket Island is famous for its rugged landscape, boasting incredible wildlife and scenery as well as superb walks on the green road and mountain tracks. To visit the island, take a 20-minute ferry from the beautiful Dunquin Harbour, located a 30-minute drive from Dingle town.
Mount Brandon
If you’re searching for places to stop on the Dingle Peninsula with scenery, then grab your hiking boots, because the views from the summit of Mount Brandon are unbeatable. The mountain, which is the highest peak in Ireland outside of The MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, offers several hiking routes, but the most scenic of these begins in Faha, located 20 minutes outside of Castlegregory. This challenging hike can take between 4-5 hours but is well worth the effort as you will be rewarded with impressive views throughout the trip.
Conor Pass
The Conor Pass is one of the highest mountain passes in Ireland and is often considered one of the Dingle Peninsula highlights. Boasting dramatic views of glaciated landscapes, mountains, corrie lakes and a sweeping valley spread out below, Conor Pass is the most scenic way to travel from the north to the south coast of the Dingle Peninsula. The narrow, twisting road runs for 12km, connecting the town of Dingle on the south with Kilmore Cross on the north of the Dingle Peninsula, where you can continue on to Cloghane or Castlegregory. It’s important to stay vigilant when driving and be prepared to stop at the wider sections.
There are two main viewing stops, one is on the north side of Peddlar’s Lake and the other is at the top. Pull in here to enjoy beautiful views north and south of the Dingle Peninsula and Wild Atlantic Way – don’t forget your camera!
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