The Dingle Way • Ireland

Arrive in Tralee — Receive Information Pack.
All the details of where you are staying will be sent you before you leave home.

Tralee– Camp 22Km — ascent 200m — Time: 7hrs

The Dingle Way starts in Tralee at the Kerry Museum, winner of the prestigious Museum of the Year award in 2009. In front of you, on the park railings, you will see the sign for the official start of The Dingle Way.

A quick walk through the park to Princes Street then a left turn continues along Princes Quay and on to a busy roundabout. Turning right here will send you on the Dingle Way as the trail quickly joins the gentle curve of the canal path for 2km to Blennerville.

This section ends at the bridge opposite the Windmill and continues through Blennerville on the N86 (Dingle Road) and crosses the canal. Take the second left turn, following some quiet country roads, gradually rising up the Slieve Mish mountain range. Watch out, after 3kms, you will come to Tonavane Cross, turn west and onto open moorland.

Camp — Annascaul 17Km — ascent 270m — 7 hrs

This next section is along local roads, and we re-join the trail to the west of the Finglas river crossing, gradually emerging out of the valley.

Views of Caherconree Mountain (835m) and an impressive megalithic fort perched close to its top are behind you to the east.

Caherconree is a stone fortress with a defending wall 350 feet long and 14 feet thick. Tradition tells how the fort was built and magically defended by Cu Raoí, a magical figure who carried off Cu Chulainn’s girlfriend, Blathnaid.

Watch out for turf cuttings by local farmers in this area. Small coniferous forest

Annascaul — Dingle 19Km — Ascent 220m — Time: 8hrs

Leaving Annascaul along the busy Tralee Dingle road before taking a much quieter road for 4 km before descending to the sea and the ruin of 16thC Minard Castle. This quiet beach has fabulous views across the sound to the Ring of Kerry.

Departing the strand, up a steep narrow path and onto some classic Kerry boreens through farmland for about 6kms.

Bothair (Bow-her) is the Irish for road and boreen is a small road — een being the diminutive in the Irish language.
Minard Castle, mostly destroyed by Cromwell’s army in 1650. They detonated three corners of the building and it remained standing. However, all the inhabitants were killed and the structural damage was such that it was uninhabitable.

Dingle is a great small old fishing town and a great place to explore and take in the sights. There are quite a few things to do. You could visit the Blasket Islands or do an Eco Tour.

Dingle to Dunquin 20Km — Ascent 370m — 7hrs.

Departing Dingle, heading west over the Milltown River bridge, you will only be on this main road (R559) for one km when you turn off into a farming area. Please take notice at this point. After about 3kms, the Dingle Way signposts and the OSI map diverge. Please follow the signposts.

Now you take the quiet back road to Ventry heading in a north-westerly direction, cross-country for 1.5km. After passing over a saddle at Mám an Óraigh, the trail descends to meet a minor road which approaches Ventry from the north. This is the first of the Dingle Way beaches which you will walk on this trail. Ventry beach is 2.5km long before you reach firmer ground.

Dunquin — Ballydavid — 16Km — Ascent 100m — 7 hrs.

The road leading out of Dunquin starts with a brisk uphill walk. Heading due north the trail turns into a gravel path and then rounds the shoulder of An Ghráig at 120m above sea-level. The route then descends and joins back up with the main road.

Watch out for: The pottery studio of Louis Mulcahy is on this road and is certainly worth a visit.

Ballydavid to Cloghane — 19Km — Ascent 670m — 8 hrs.

Leaving Ballydvid, the trail takes in a larger section of cliff-walk for about 3 kilometres in total before it starts to head back inland, rejoining the road at Glashabeg. Having passed through the area of Feohanagh, the Brandon Mountain now dominates the next section of the Dingle Way as the cliffs of Ballydavid Head rise up above the road to the north-west and block the view of the sea. The quiet country road gradually weaves its way to the base of this majestic mountain.

Following the trail, you now have a long stiff climb up to the saddle between Masatiompan (763m) and Piaras Mor (748m).

Cloughane to Castlegregory: 29K — Ascent — 50m — 7 hrs

The Dingle Way leaves Cloghane via a quiet road that briefly makes its way inland and skirts Drom hill to the north, with impressive views of glacial valleys to the south. After about 3.5km, this road goes through Drom and Farrendalouge and emerges back on the sea-front at Fermoyle Beach. Contrasting to yesterday’s mountain terrain, this stunning beach is your route for most of the way to Castlegregory.

Today is your last day on the Dingle Way, and we can organise a transfer from here back to Camp or Tralee