Moderate
The Dingle Way Walk
The Dingle Peninsula, or Sli Chorca Dhuibhne, stretches for 80 miles westwards into the Atlantic Ocean, with a mountain range as its spine. The Dingle Way is a long-distance walking route of 153km or 95 miles that follows old tracks, mountain trails and green roads, often along the foothills of the mountains. Your tour starts and finishes at the village of Camp on the north side of the peninsula. This walk loops around one of the most beautiful peninsulas in Ireland offering spectacular views of mountain, sea and islands. This walk takes you through the Dingle Gaeltact where Gaelic is the spoken language and live music, dance and culture is part of everyday life. Your walking holiday along the Dingle Way can be tailored to be a 5, 8 or 10 day tour.
The Dingle Way Walking Tour Itinerary
DAY 1:Arrival in Camp The gateway to the Dingle Peninsula, overlooking Tralee Bay, at the seaward end of Glen Fas. A stone promontory fort on the mountain slopes at the height of 625m (2,050 ft) lies above the village, the highest fortification on the western fringe of Europe. Apart from the archaeological interest the fort is well worth a visit for the magnificent, extensive view of the Dingle peninsula. In the Irish legends the fort is known as Cathair Chonroí. Camp is a small colourful settlement with a short circular walk to prepare for the week ahead!
DAY 2:Camp to Annascaul:17 kms/10.6 miles; ascents 430m; 6 hours approx. Walk on turf-cutter roads through the glorious bogland of Slieve Mish, punctuated with conifer and stacks of drying turf. Climb the side of Ardroe Hill overlooking eight kilometres of sand dunes and beach at Inch with magnificent views across Dingle Bay to Ireland's highest mountains at the centre of the Ring of Kerry. Follow the pass down to Annascaul for overnight.
DAY 3:Annascaul to Dingle: 19 kms/11.9 miles; ascents of 410m; 7 hours approx. Walk among wild fuchsia hedges passing lovely Annascaul Lake to skirt Acres Hill to the remains of 16th century Minard Castle before turning inland to Lispole. Up to An Cnoc Maol Mor and then down following the old green road to the most westerly town in Europe with the mighty rampart of Brandon to the north and marvellous coastal scenery to the west. Overnight Dingle.
DAY 4:Dingle to Dunquin: 22 kms/13.75 miles; ascents 350m; 6 hours approx. Mostly minor roads and beaches today and some of the finest scenery of the week. Walk along Ventry beach and then through fuchsia hedges to climb an old track on the foothills of Mt. Eagle, passing the early Christian beehiive huts at Fahan.Wonderful views as the way opens up to Slea Head and the Blasket Islands, the most westerly point of Europe. Overnight in the Irish-speaking village of Dunquin.
DAY 5:Dunquin to Ballydavid:14 kms/8.75 miles; ascents 180m; 4 hours approx. A visit to the Blasket Islands Interpretive Centre is recommended before setting off on the route around Smerwick Harbour and a detour to Dun an Oir, the 'Fort of Gold', where Italian and Spaniard soldiers were besieged by troops of Elizabeth I. The thriving fishing village of Ballydavid is a Gaelic-speaking community. Overnight Ballydavid.
DAY 6:Ballydavid to Cloghane: 18 kms/11 miles; ascents 750m; 7 hours approx. Here you are in the cradle of early Christian civilization, with as many as sixty notable sites of cultural and religious development. Today walk up to the saddle of Mas an Tiompain ('The Pass of the Drum') below Brandon, Ireland's second highest mountain at 950m. Wonderful scenery that is thrilling on a clear day, before the descent to Cloghane for overnight.
DAY 7:Cloghane to Camp:22 kms/13.75 or 32/ kms/20 miles; ascents 30m; 6 or 8 hours approx. Back to sea level with a walk following the coast. Either follow the whole Castlegregory promontory or cut across the neck of it via Lough Gill, home to Bewick swans and Natterjack toads. From Castlegregory village, mudflats and turf cuttings give way to farmland and a climb through Gleann na Gealt ('The Valley of the Mad') back to Camp for overnight.
DAY 8: Departure.
Tailoring Your Dingle Way Walk
10 Day / 9 nights walking tour: days 1 - 6 as above and then:
DAY 7: Free Day in Cloghane with a number of possible walking routes, coastal and mountains. Visit Loch a Duin Valley rich in archaeological heritage.
DAY 8: Cloghane to Castlegregory along Fermoyle Beach 13 kms/8 miles. Option to follow full Dingle Way route around Brandon Bay and the Isles of Magharee 28 kms/17.5 miles
DAY 9: Castlegregory along the coast via Aughcashla Strand and back to first guesthouse in Camp. 11 kms/6.5 miles Via Glan Lough and Knock Beg 25 kms/15.6 miles
DAY 10: Departure by bus or taxi from guesthouse
Details
Price
Option 1: 5 Day: £495 per person sharing. £125 single supplement
Option 2: 8 Day: £795 per person sharing, £185 single supplement
Option 3: 10 Day: £945 per person sharing, £245 single supplement
Included
4, 7 or 9 nights B&B or guesthouse accommodation; luggage transfers each day; detailed route descriptions and maps.
Not Included
Other meals; transfers to and from Camp; entries or excursions.
SUGGESTED EXTRA OPTIONS Extra night in Dingle, a fishing town with interesting streets, shops, restaurants and pubs. Or an extra night in Dunquin to visit the Blasket islands off the western end of the peninsula. We can upgrade to hotel at extra cost in some places. Please ask.
Difficulty Of The Dingle Way Walk
10 day tour - moderate. 8 day tour - moderate to difficult. 5 day tour - moderate
Additional Information
Accommodation
B+B accommodation in guesthouses usually with ensuite bathroom.
Getting There
Cork or Shannon, bus to Tralee. Kerry Regional Airport with taxi transfer to Tralee
What To Take
Sturdy walking boots and walking socks (with a change of socks in rucksack), rucksack/day pack, 1 x water bottle with 1 litre capacity, insect repellent, sun glasses, sun hat, sun block/cream, compass, torch, first-aid kit
When To Go
Mid-April to mid-September. Accommodation will be difficult to obtain on UK national holidays unless booked well in advance (and may require an alteration to the programme).
Insurance
We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.