Dingle Way

The Dingle Way is one of Ireland’s most popular long distance trails and it’s easy to see why. On your 116 mile circuit of the Dingle Peninsula you’ll discover a landscape rich with archaeological and cultural heritage. There are numerous well-preserved examples of standing stones, dolmens, ring forts, clocháns and perhaps the most intriguing of all, Ogham, an ancient alphabet cut along the flat edges of stones. The western Dingle Peninsula is part of the Gaeltacht, a place where the Irish language is spoken and Irish culture is honoured, notably in dance, song and crafts.

Located on Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast the Dingle Way is renowned for its dramatic and atmospheric scenery. Prepare yourself for awe-inspiring landscapes as you traverse the lower slopes of the Slieve Mish Mountains, climb the shoulder of Mount Eagle and cross the flanks of Brandon Mountain. Off the mountains there are miles of beautiful expansive sands to be enjoyed. Add to this, quiet country lanes, picturesque farm tracks, woodlands and wetlands, and you have a hugely varied and rewarding walking experience.

The Dingle Peninsula is home to a variety of habitats and wildlife. Bell heather and the pink-flowering ling carpet the moors. Skylarks, kestrels and peregrine falcons fly overhead. Hedgerows are coloured with yellow primroses, pink and white wild dog rose and purple foxgloves. Oyster catchers, ringed plovers and redshanks can be found on wetlands and off the coast look for seals and the occasional dolphin.

The Peninsula has a fascinating geology and there are stunning rock formations along much of the coastline. Separated from the peninsula by a narrow strip of water are the Blasket Islands. Abandoned in the early 1950’s the islands lie on the westernmost edge of Europe. Consider factoring in a rest day at Dingle or Dunquin, and weather permitting, take a boat trip to spend time exploring the abandoned village and outlying buildings.

At the heart of your Dingle Way holiday is hospitality. From the quiet charm of rural guesthouses to lively inns filled with the sound of traditional music and laughter, you are guaranteed a warm welcome and good craic wherever you go.

Our Holidays

We offer 3 holidays on the Dingle Way. We have The Whole Dingle Way, a 116 mile circuit walked over 8 days starting and finishing in Tralee. We also have the option to walk the 81 miles from Tralee to Cloghane over 6 days. Finally we have the option to walk the 59 miles from Annascaul to Cloghane over 4 days.

Due to the nature of the locations on the Dingle Peninsula, each of the holidays have a daily average of between 14 and 15 miles with some days on The Whole Dingle Way being as much as 17 and 18 miles long. If the thought of walking an average of 15 miles over 8 days seems too much of a challenge, then consider one of our two shorter holidays. Although the days remain lengthy, there will naturally be less of them.

Please bear in mind that the distances each day are trail distances only. They do not take into account walking to your accommodation. On some days the accommodation might be on or close to the trail but on other days you may need to walk one or two miles to get to your overnight stop.

Please note that almost half of the route is on tarmac road, albeit scenic along quiet lanes with very little traffic other than occasional agricultural vehicles. It is also worth noting whilst your guidebook has a detailed route description with maps in English, your Ordnance Survey Ireland 1:50k maps will be in Irish, not English. It is recommended you study them and familiarise yourself with the route and the maps ahead of your holiday.

Our colleague Lynne has walked the Dingle Way. Read Lynne’s blog Dream Days on the Dingle Way