Dingle Way – 5 Days – Self-Guided Walking Tour

Dingle Way 5 Day Walking Hiking Vacation

We offer two Dingle Way 5-Day tours, this one is more challenging than our other 5-day Dingle Way tour.

The Dingle Way is one of Ireland’s premier long-distance walking trails and is along part of the Wild Atlantic Way. Taking in a distance of 179 km, the Dingle Way trail reveals to you some of the most startling scenery that you will find anywhere in Ireland. You will encounter an array of archaeological monuments dating back from the Mesolithic Period of around 6000 BC including Standing Stones, Ogham Stones and a multitude of beehive huts, evidence of the rich culture of a bygone age.

Around the Dingle peninsula, you will enjoy views of lush green pastures sweeping down from the heather-clad mountains above to reach a wild and rugged Atlantic Coastline. The National Geographic Traveller has described The Dingle Peninsula as “the most beautiful place on earth”.

Prices / Dates

Price:  €589 per person sharing

Single Supplement: +€295

Solo Traveller Supplement: +€45

Tour Dates: 1 April to 15 October

Tour Grade: Moderate

Accommodation: Guesthouse or B&B

Included / Excluded

Day 1 - Arrive Dingle

We will supply you with all the travel details to get you from Dublin or Shannon Airport to Dingle Town.

Day 2 - Dingle to Dunquin

Your first day of walking along The Dingle Way is mostly along minor roads and beaches, but beyond the village of Ventry is some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland.

The Dingle Way weaves through fuchsia hedges and climbs an old track on the foothill of Mount Eagle past the early Christian beehive huts at Fahan. Behind are views of Ventry Harbour and south are some amazing views of the Ring of Kerry and Valentia Island. Ahead, the Dingle Way opens up to Slea Head and the Blasket Islands. Beyond this is America!

Distance: 25.3 km / 15.5 miles, Ascent: 685 m / 2247 ft, Approximate walking time: 7 / 8 hours

Optional extra hike over Mount Eagle:

Distance: 7 km/4.3 miles, Ascent: 365 m/1197 ft, Approximate walking time: 3 hours

Day 3 - Dunquin to Boherboy Village

We recommend a visit to the Blasket Island Interpretative Centre to learn about the harshness of life on the islands. The last inhabitants resettled on the mainland in 1953. Other than fishing and sheep farming on the windblown hills, there is little else in this area to maintain the local communities. The route follows the Norse named Smerwick Harbour and a detour takes you to Dun an Oir, the Fort of Gold where Italian and Spaniard soldiers were besieged by troops of Elizabeth I in 1580. Ballydavid is a thriving fishing harbour and a Gaelic speaking community.

Distance: 22 km / 13.6 miles, Ascent: 429 m / 1407 ft, Approximate walking time: 6 / 7 hours

Day 4 - Boherboy Village to Cloghane

You are in the cradle of early Christian civilization here, with as many as sixty notable sites of cultural and religious development from the 5th to 9th centuries.

Today’s hike takes you up to the saddle of "Mas an Tiompain" (the Pass of the Drum) below Brandon, Ireland’s second-highest mountain at 950m. The scenery here is simply superb, with Tralee Bay and the Magharees against the hues of the Slieve Mish mountains. The descent to Cloghane is nothing short of thrilling on a clear day and well-earned respite is available in the village!

Distance: 27 km / 16.7 miles, Ascent: 750 m / 2460 ft, Approximate walking time: 7 / 8 hours

Day 5 - Depart

Today you will depart Cloghane. A complimentary taxi transfer will take you from your guesthouse to Camp Village where you can take public transport for your onward journey.

A few words from our customers...

Footfalls Walking Holidays takes care of all of the details of your trip: they plan the route; they help you figure out buses and trains (if needed), they book the b&bs, they arrange to have your luggage sent on ahead, they send maps and guides and all kinds of supplemental information. All you have to do is show up and hike--and how glorious is that. We have used them twice--once in Wicklow (their home base), and then this year in Dingle Both trips were amazing--gorgeous hikes, wonderful cozy b&bs, great food. If you enjoy hiking and want to visit Ireland, this is the way to do it.
Laurie
USA
We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary by going on two self-guided hiking tours in Ireland, the Dingle Way and the Wicklow Way, and we hired Footfalls Walking Tours to schedule our walks for us. I found Footfalls Walking Tours after doing some research on different companies, looking at their websites, etc. I was attracted to Footfalls for two reasons. 1. Their website wasn't "glitzy" and overly positive; rather, it was simple and clear. 2. They grew their business slowly, out of a love for hiking in Ireland. The more I learned about this company, the more I liked them. It’s family run, they research and write their hiking notes by themselves, and much of their business is repeat customers - that is important. All in all, we could hardly be happier with our experience with Footfalls Walking Tours. We can’t wait to go back to Ireland and sign up for more of their walking tours.
John & Diane
USA