We were lucky enough to spend a full week on the Dingle Peninsula. Would you believe me if I said it wasn’t enough? Dingle quickly became one of our favorite spots in Ireland. We explored each day and admired the sunsets every night. Below are some of our recommended stops and adventures on the Dingle Peninsula.
Slea Head Drive
Slea Head Drive is a must-visit when exploring Dingle. I dedicated an entire blog post to stops I would recommend here. To recap, some of the highlights are Dunquin Pier, Clogher Strand, and Dunmore Head (however, the entire drive is a highlight in my opinion).
If you have the time and the weather is nice, I highly recommend visiting Dunquin Pier at sunset. Most people complete Slea Head Drive in one day, and not many people are on this side of the Peninsula by sunset. We found the sunsets here to be mesmerizing and extremely peaceful with a remote feel.
Horseback Riding at Ventry Beach
Another great experience is booking a horseback riding tour.
We went on a 2-hour beach and mountain ride through Ventry Beach and up through the hills. We learned a little bit of history, saw the land from a different perspective, and had some fun animal time.
We ended up booking through Longs Riding Centre and would highly recommend them. We lucked out with the weather, but I believe it would be worth doing even in the rain.
Blasket Island Boat Tour
There’s something about seeing an area by boat. If you agree, you’d likely enjoy doing a boat tour out to the Blasket Islands.
We took a 4-hour eco tour with Dingle Boat Tours. The journey takes you to cliffs along the coast as well as the Blasket Islands. Stops are made to take in the views, learn about the history, and awe at the wildlife. On our trip, we saw many dolphins, a whale, puffins, red deer, and sea lions.
The boat itself was extremely comfortable. We didn’t have the best weather, so the waves were a bit rough, but I was impressed at how comfortable I was through it all. I will say, if you easily get seasick, you may want to reconsider if the weather looks rough. A few in our boat got seasick due to the rolling waves, which we were told by the owner is a rare occurrence.
Hike Mount Eagle
The Mount Eagle Hike is a 5.3-mile loop that takes you to a summit that provides views of nearly all of Slea Head Drive.
If you enjoy hiking, this could be a good addition to your itinerary. The actual loop takes you to the summit and loops around a lake before coming back down.
Instead of looping around the lake, we went directly to the summit and back. I had read complaints about the mud and safety, and decided that wasn’t something I wanted to attempt. Even without doing that section of the hike, you will likely encounter water puddles in the final section to the summit.
We hadn’t seen rain for a few days and we still had to go off-course to work our way around the water. I had read reviews of such, the severity of the pooling varying. Most reviews still said the same thing: muddy but still worth it. I agree.
Downtown Dingle
Downtown Dingle is a quaint town on the water full of shops, restaurants, and boats. It is a great place to wander around as well as grab some food and sit by the water.
Conor Pass
Conor Pass is a short drive away from downtown Dingle and is a stop worth adding. The drive takes you up the mountain and to an overlook at the peak.
Minard Castle
This castle is such a treat. I honestly didn’t imagine I would enjoy it as much as I did. You can’t get close to the castle, but you can walk on the beach and admire its beauty with the stream passing by. There isn’t much to do here other than relax or possibly swim, but definitely worth the stop.
Inch Beach
There are many beaches throughout Ireland, but what makes this one stand out is the size. It stretches 5km/3 miles and is a treat for swimmers, surfers, families, or people who just want to park their car on the beach and have a picnic. Another thing to note is that the cafe and restaurant here are actually good, so if you are in need of food, this could be a good option.