Travel

Rugged, Scenic Dingle, Ireland

Dingle, is a small port town on the southwest coast of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. It sits right at the edge of Dingle Peninsula. It is a charming town that is wild and rugged yet truly beautiful. Scenic coastlines are just waiting for you to explore. It is well worth a visit and will not disappoint. Read on to learn more.

Where to Stay

Heaton’s Dingle is “The Best Small Hotel In Ireland 2020” and is my top recommendation. It is a lovely place nestled right at the water’s edge with magnificent views of Dingle Bay. It is also just a 5 minute walk to the heart of town, so is really the best of both worlds. The breakfast menu is delightful.

Experience the Culture

Visit the harbor, explore the downtown, and learn about Fungie the dolphin legend. Such a charming town with cute shops, cafe’s, restaurants, and bars. Many of them play live music too, so be sure to stop in. Especially after a long day on the road.

Local humor is so charming and has me laughing for days. Pay attention to details and how they use it in signage, advertising, language, etc. The Irish are very funny people!!

Picked up The Pogues & Irish Music for the drive

When in another country, take every opportunity to get cultured. Listening to local or cultural music is a great thing to try. Found this charming music shop along the way and stopped in to get some tunes. I encourage you to take every opportunity here.. Go to concerts, see live music, etc.

See the Sights

This is the first stop on the way into the Dingle Peninsula. The beautiful Irish countryside right along the coast. So windy, but worth it to get out and look around. This is only a glimpse of the scenic beauty that lies ahead.

Slea Head Drive is a must do. It is one of Ireland’s most scenic drives that winds along the coast, through historic sites, and Irish speaking villages. It is truly rugged. Allow for half a day, drive slow, and stop along the way. It is a circular route, travel clockwise as many lanes are very narrow and only single lanes. I came to Dingle through the Ring of Kerry, checked-in to Heaton’s and went out for this drive. SO amazing!!

Conor Pass is another must do. It is one of Ireland’s highest mountain passes and offers very dramatic scenery. The slopes of the roads alone make for a dramatic experience. It feels at times you have to lean forward to keep the car from flipping backwards! Many times it is closed due to high winds, so make sure to plan as best as possible. This too is a narrow road, so drive with care and stop for the scenic views. I took Conor Pass on my way out of Dingle and continued on to Cliffs of Moher.