Ireland: Driving the Beautiful Dingle Peninsula
- That's How We Travel
- Sep 20
- 3 min read
Summary. Driving the Dingle Peninsula is a "must do," in Ireland. True, we had perfect weather, but it is hard to imagine a more beautiful part of the Country. From Galway, we made our way down to the Dingle Peninsula where we made five stops in total: Clogher Head (Ceann Sraithe), Donquin Pier, Coumeenole Beach, Dingle Sheep Dogs (experience), and the Town of Dingle.
[This blog is part of our 15-days in the British Isle trip].
Limerick. From Galway, we traveled to the Dingle Peninsula, with a stop in Limerick along the way. The entire drive takes around 3 hours. If you're pressed for time, we suggest skipping this stop. For us, it was just alright. We did enjoy a brief walk and a nice cup of coffee.
Arriving at the Dingle Peninsula. Don't repeat our mistake. We drove around the Peninsula in the wrong direction and didn't notice until it was too late (oops!). For those planning to follow our route, just do it in the reverse order (clockwise). Fortunately, our trip in May was before the big crowds, but if it had been peak season, we would have had to drive all the way around the loop as required by local regulations to help manage traffic issues.
Clogher Head (Ceann Sraithe). Our first stop on the Peninsula was a quick hike to Clogher Head. Just 10 minutes from the parking area, walk up to this vista point to enjoy beautiful views. Tip: we brought a packed lunch and enjoyed a picnic here.
Donquin Pier. Our next stop on the Peninsula was Donquin Pier. Walk down to the pier from the road for scenic views of the water below and beyond.
Coumeenole Beach. If you love spending time at the beach and the weather is favorable, this location offers a chance to relax on the sand. In our case, we chose to talk with a local artist and purchased one of his stunning prints. We also took a short walk along the beach before moving on to our next destination.
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Sheep Dog Experience. We made around the Peninsula just in time for our pre-booked tickets to Dingle Sheepdogs. This fun stop includes a demonstration of sheep dogs rounding up their herds. Guests also get to interact with farm animals, including feeling them by hand if you wish.
The donkeys were so cute!
Time for a show. The highlight of course is watching these athletic and smart dogs so effortlessly work the sheep.
The best part about watching them is seeing just how much they love to work!
Beehives. A little bonus piece of the sheep dog spot was a tour of some Beehives Huts located on the property. These ancient Celtic structures housed the original inhabitants in the area. The exact age are unknown but they are believed to date back to the 5th-8th centuries.
Dingle. The final stop of the day was in the town of Dingle. This little town of less than 2000 residents began as a port town in the 12th Century during the Norman invasion of Ireland. Today, it is charming little tourist spot with lively pubs, ice cream parlors, and plenty of fish and chips. Here, we took a stroll through the central district looking for a pub with live music.
Dinner at Dingle Pub. This place offered live music earlier in the evening, which suited us better given our drive to Kenmare that evening. Both the music and the food were excellent.
We had to wait for a table but who cares when you get to listen live Irish pub music and enjoy a pint while waiting?
Drive to Kenmare. We concluded the day with an almost two-hour drive to Kenmare, the next destination on our journey. This adorable Airbnb was ideal for a couple and provides a romantic getaway atmosphere.
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