Ireland Dingle Peninsula Travel Guide: Join our 3-day journey through Ireland’s spectacular Dingle Peninsula, from the ancient wonders of Killarney National Park to the dramatic coastal vistas of Slea Head Drive and the rewarding summit of Mt. Brandon.
Day 5: From Kinsale to Dingle with Killarney National Park
After bidding farewell to the charming fishing town of Kinsale and our luxurious stay at Perryville House, we set our sights westward toward the Dingle Peninsula. Rather than taking the direct route, we opted for the scenic journey through County Kerry, with Killarney National Park serving as our perfect midway point.
The drive from Kinsale offered stunning vistas of the Irish countryside, with rolling green hills gradually giving way to more dramatic landscapes and rain clouds as we approached Killarney.
Killarney National Park welcomed us with its ancient oak woodlands and magnificent mountain views. As Ireland’s first national park, established in 1932, it’s home to the last surviving native herd of red deer in Ireland and spans over 26,000 acres of diverse ecosystems.
It was raining when we first arrived at the park so our first stop was at the iconic Muckross House,a 19th-century Victorian mansion nestled along the shores of Muckross Lake. The elegant architecture stood in beautiful contrast against the wild backdrop of the surrounding mountains.
After completing the tour of Muckross House the rain seemed to let up so we took the opportunity to visit the Muckross Traditional Farm. The incredible tour immerses you in what it was like to live and work on a farm in Ireland in the 1930s and 1940s. The tour takes you to visit different sized farm houses, demonstrations of traditional trades, and finishes up with a stop at the single room schoolhouse.
After a morning of driving and sightseeing, we were ready for lunch and decided to visit the Muckross House Garden restaurant on-site. Once we completed our delicious traditional Irish lunch, the rain let up some and we geared up in our rain gear to stroll through the meticulously maintained gardens.
We then continued deeper into the park to explore the enchanting Torc Waterfall. The short hike through moss-covered woodlands revealed the 20-meter cascade, tumbling dramatically down the mountainside.
Leaving Killarney National Park, we continued through more stunning area of Irish countryside. As we got closer to Dingle the landscape started to open up and gifted us with breathtaking panoramas of the Atlantic ocean.
We arrived at Milestone House in Dingle by late afternoon, where owners Barbara and Michael greeted us with the warmest of Irish welcomes. Unlike our previous hotel stays, this vacation rental offered ample space to spread out and the convenience of laundry facilities – a much-appreciated amenity at this point in our journey!
Barbara spent nearly an hour with us, unfolding maps across the dining table and marking her personal recommendations for restaurants and scenic spots that only locals would know. This personalized introduction to Dingle proved invaluable in the coming days.
Dingle Dining & Pub Recommendations from Barbara and Michael
Pub’s w/ Traditional Music:
For dinner, we wandered into town and found ourselves at the Marina Inn, a family-run restaurant and pub. Their beef and Guinness stew was the perfect meal after a rainy day exploring Killarney National Park.
As twilight descended on Dingle Harbor, we took a leisurely stroll along the waterfront before returning to Milestone House. After a full day of travel and exploration, we were ready for a good night’s sleep before the next day’s adventure around the Dingle peninsula.
Day 6: The Scenic Slea Head Drive
This day of our trip, was dedicated entirely to one of Ireland’s most spectacular coastal routes – Slea Head Drive. After a hearty breakfast, we set out clockwise around the circular route as recommended by Barbara, to avoid getting stuck behind tour buses on the narrower sections.
Slea Head Drive forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way and offers an intoxicating mixture of dramatic cliffs, ancient history, and stunning beaches – all within a compact 30-mile loop around the westernmost point of the peninsula.
Our journey along the peninsula revealed a landscape steeped in history, from prehistoric stone structures to early Christian monuments. The road itself hugged cliff edges with the vast Atlantic spreading out below us, offering spectacular views at every turn.
Our first stop was the ancient Beehive Huts (Clocháin) at Fahan offered a glimpse into prehistoric Ireland. These stone dwellings, dating back potentially 2,000 years, stood as testament to the ingenuity of ancient builders. The circular stone structures with their distinctive domed roofs have survived centuries of Atlantic storms.
The route was scattered with pristine beaches, where crystal-clear turquoise waters crashed against golden sands. Despite the sunny day, the Atlantic remained characteristically brisk, but that didn’t stop a few brave souls from wading in the shallows at Coumeenoole Beach. This included Clogher Head with views of Clogher Beach, Sybil Point (where scenes from Star Wars The Force Awakens was filmed), the Three Sisters and Mount Brandon.
Our afternoon included a stop at the Blasket Centre, where we learned the poignant story of the island community that inhabited Great Blasket until their evacuation in 1953. The interactive exhibits brought to life the harsh yet rich culture that produced some of Ireland’s most significant Irish-language literature. It’s incredible to see how this community continued to live on the island into the 1950s without modern-day conveniences. This included rowing to and from the mainland, making it difficult for the older residents as more of the younger generations moved away from Great Blasket Island. We were surprised to learn that many of the Great Blasket Island immigrated to Springfield, MA. If you’ve purchased the Heritage Pass it will cover your entrance fee.
After the Blasket Centre we took some time to take hike out and taken in the views at Clogher Head before navigating away from the shoreline and through the town of Ballyferriter. We wrapped up our Slea Head drive by visiting several of ancient structures and monuments.
The Gallarus Oratory, an early Christian church built over 1,000 years ago. What makes this small stone building remarkable is its construction technique – perfectly fitted stones without mortar that have kept the interior dry for over a thousand years. There is a small entrance fee of ~$4.
One of our final stops on the drive was at St. Brendan’s Oratory. There isn’t a visitor center like Gallarus Oratory, so it’s a little trickier to find. Trip Advisor has excellent photos to help you find the path out to the Oratory. Viewing this oratory is free, it dates back to the sixth century, making it older than Gallarus Oratory.
Kilmalkedar Church, an early Christian and Medieval ecclesiastical 10 acre complex. The Romanesque style church was built saround 1134 AD. There is other interesting structures within the 10 acre complex include an alphebet stone dating back to 550 AD and a sun dial.
Down the road from Kilmalkedar Church is the Chancellor’s House, a medieval building that was likely the home of the Chancellor of the diocese of Ardfert. Many of the stone walls are still standing and you have even make out the bread oven that was built into the fireplace in the kitchen.
We returned to Dingle as evening approached, marveling at how much history, natural beauty, and cultural heritage we had experienced in a single loop drive. For dinner, we ventured into town, after not being able to get a table at The Fish Box we grabbed a late dinner at Danno’s Restaurant & Bar.
As we walked back to Milestone House under a canopy of emerging stars, we reflected on the timeless quality of this special place, where ancient history and natural beauty seem to exist in perfect harmony.
Day 7: Mt. Brandon Hike and Downtown Dingle
Our final full day in Dingle started out clear and bright – perfect weather for our planned hike up Mt. Brandon, one of Ireland’s highest peaks steeped in both natural beauty and religious significance.
Named after Saint Brendan the Navigator, who reportedly fasted on the summit before setting sail to discover the “Promised Land” (possibly North America), Mt. Brandon has drawn pilgrims and hikers for centuries. We chose the Saints Trail that is marked by 15 white crosses on your way to the summit.
The initial ascent through farmland quickly gave way to open mountainside with increasingly spectacular views. Large crosses marked our way upward as the landscape transformed from lush green to more rugged terrain.
The final push to the summit required more scrambling over rocky terrain, but the 360-degree panorama at the top was worth every step. Standing at 3,122 feet above sea level, we could see the entire peninsula spread out below us, on a clear day you can make out the distant shapes of the Skellig Islands, the Ring of Kerry, and even the mountains of Cork on the southeast horizon.
Check out our other detailed post on our Mt Brandon hike.
Back at Milestone House by early afternoon, we got cleaned up and headed into Dingle town to explore the local crafts and shops on our final day.
Our explorations led us to Fiadh, an exquisite handwoven textile studio. The beautiful scarves and wraps, created using traditional techniques with contemporary designs, captured the essence of the surrounding landscape in their rich colors and textures. It was a perfect stop to pick up gifts for our friends and family back home.
Next, we wandered through the colorful streets, stopping at various local shops with crafts unique to the region. We stopped at Kerry Views, a local photograph’s shop, to pick up some photographs of the incredible landscapes and sites across the Dingle Peninsula. This was another one of Barbara and Michael’s recommendations, and after falling in love with some of the photographs in their rental unit from Kerry Views, we had to make a stop.
After the morning hike and walking around town, we were ready for an early dinner and got a table at The Fish Box before the dinner rush. We had an incredible dinner of fish tacos and burgers. If you’re not going for an early dinner, in our case 4:00 PM, we’d recommend getting a reservation.
All the activity for the day called for a well-deserved treat at Kool Scoops of Dingle, another one of Barbara’s recommendations. While we were in Dingle, I had ice cream from the more well-known Murphy’s Ice Cream and Kool Scoops, again, Barbara provided a top-notch recommendation.
Walking back to our accommodation under a star-filled sky, we reflected on our three days in Dingle – the perfect balance of adventure, culture, history, and relaxation. From the dramatic coastline to the mountain summit, from ancient monuments to vibrant pubs, Dingle had shown us the very best of authentic Ireland.
Ireland Dingle Peninsula Travel Guide Tips
- Take local advice seriously: Barbara and Michael’s recommendations helped us experience Dingle like locals, not tourists.
- Drive the Slea Head loop clockwise: This insider tip helped us avoid traffic issues on narrow roads.
- Balance activities: Our mix of hiking, driving, history, and cultural experiences gave us a comprehensive taste of what makes Dingle special.
- Stay at least three nights: Having three full days allowed us to explore thoroughly without feeling rushed.
Planning your own trip to Dingle Peninsula? Check out our video below and drop us a comment below with any questions. Be sure to check out our next post as we continue northward to Galway and the Sea Breeze Lodge B&B!
