The Dingle Way
The Dingle Way
The Dingle Way
9 Days Starting and ending in Tralee
Visiting: Tralee, Camp, Annascaul, Dingle, Dunquin, Ballydavid, Cloghane, Castlegregory
Tour operator:
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Physical rating:
Medium
Age range:
21-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
The Dingle Way is a long distance self-guided trail in the South West of Ireland on the Dingle Peninsula. It is 179Km in length and takes approx 8 -9 days to walk. We break the walk up into manageable walking days of approx 15Km — 20Km per day. The trail is traditionally walked in a clockwise direction around the Peninsula starting in either the town of Tralee or Camp. This is a wonderful walking trail staying close to the coast all the way around the Peninsula, although it does enter inland from time to time. The Dingle Peninsula sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean so from walk you can get incredible views across its coastline and Islands, such the Blasket or Skellig Islands. The Blasket islands were inhabited up unto recently and the Skelligs was used for the latest Star Wars film.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Tralee
Location: Tralee
Accommodation: Irish Tourism Board approved accommodation Guesthouse or B+B
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrive in Tralee — Receive Information Pack
Day 2 : Walking From Tralee To Camp
Location: Camp
Accommodation: Irish Tourism Board approved accommodation Guesthouse or B+B
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tralee to Camp
Walking Distance 22Km — ascent 200m — Time: Approx 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.
Day 3 : Walking From Camp To Annascaul
Location: Annascaul
Accommodation: Irish Tourism Board approved accommodation Guesthouse or B+B
Meals Included: Breakfast
Camp — Annascaul
Walking Distance 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 (0.11 km) long and 14 feet (4.27 m) 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
Day 4 : Walking From Annascaul To Dingle.
Location: Dingle
Accommodation: Irish Tourism Board approved accommodation Guesthouse or B+B
Meals Included: Breakfast
Annascaul — Dingle
Walking Distance 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.
Please be careful here, follow your map and do not follow The Tom Crean Trail.
Day 5 : Walking From Dingle To Dunquin.
Location: Dunquin
Accommodation: Hotel, Irish Tourism Board approved accommodation Guesthouse or B+B
Meals Included: Breakfast
Dingle to Dunquin
Walking Distance: 20Km — Ascent 370m — 7hrs
Watch out for: As you leave Dingle, on the left you’ll see a row of humble “two up and two down” flats from a 1908 affordable housing government initiative. Today, even these little places would cost more than €250,000.
The Milltown River B&B was where Robert Mitchum stayed while filming Ryan’s Daughter.
Look out for Fungie, the Dolphin.
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.
Day 6 : Walking From Dunquin To Ballydavid
Location: Ballydavid
Accommodation: Irish Tourism Board approved accommodation Guesthouse or B+B
Meals Included: Breakfast
Dunquin — Ballydavid
Walking Distance: 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.
Following the signs, you are soon crossing grasslands with the pretty Clogher Beach on your left. The Dingle Way follows some cliffs with the powerful Atlantic waves below your path. Arriving back on tarmac and proceeding in a north-easterly direction, the trail soon comes to a T-junction where there has been a change recently.
Day 7 : Walking From Ballydavid To Cloghane
Location: Cloghane
Accommodation: Irish Tourism Board approved accommodation Guesthouse or B+B
Meals Included: Breakfast
Ballydavid — Cloghane
Walking Distance: 19Km — Ascent 670m — 8 hrs.
Leaving Ballydavid, 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. Once 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.
Day 8 : Last Day, Walking From Cloghane To Castlegregory
Location: Castlegregory
Accommodation: Irish Tourism Board approved accommodation Guesthouse or B+B
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cloghane to Castlegregory
Walking Distance: 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.
Watch out for The Maharee Islands in Brandon Bay on your left
Fermoyle House, an 18th C estate house where Sarah Miles and Robert Bolt (screenwriter) stayed while filming Ryan's Daughter in Dingle.
Be careful on this beach because several streams flow across the beach and can be deep and fast after rain.
Day 9 : Castlegregory, Return To Tralee
Location: Tralee
Meals Included: Breakfast
After you stay the night in Castlegregory, we can arrange a transfer back to Camp or Tralee.
All Public transport timetables and arrangements are given to you in your notes.
What's Included
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Maps and books are supplied for your walk.
Maps and books of the Wicklow Way are supplied for you.
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Accommodation
The accommodation is in Irish Tourism board approved Guesthouses with en-suite bathrooms.
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Free Wi-Fi at Accommodation
Wi-Fi is availble is most restaurants, bars and accommodations on the Dingle Way.
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Meals – Breakfast Only
There is a wide selection of breakfast to choose from.
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Your Luggage is forwarded to the next accommodation for you.
Your Luggage is forwarded so you can just walk with a smaller backpack.
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No but they can arranged at an additional cost.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes, you will some free time in the evening after your walks.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We have been operating tours now for over 10 years.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes and the single Room Option has an additional, which is specified in the tour rates.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We follow all the Irish Governments guidelines in regard to COVID19 and only use partners such as accommodation who also follow such guidelines.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Our company follows the guidelines of Leave No Trace to help preserve our counryside and it's natural beauty.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Before you travel. You will have a full list of your accommodation, travel documents if required your Itinerary. Other documents will be waiting for you when you arrive.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you let us know in time, then we can arrange an updated travel date to suit you.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes, we have checked all the accommodations we use and they follow all the Irish Healthe service guidelines.
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Low Deposit
Hilltoptreks requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 42 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of hilltoptreks charges.
Up to 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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