Dingle Way – 6 Days – Self-Guided Walking Tour

6 Day Self-guided walking tour Dingle Ireland

We offer two Dingle Way 6-Day tours, this one is more challenging than our other 6-day Dingle Way tour.

The Dingle Way is one of Ireland’s finest walking trails and is along part of the Wild Atlantic Way. While walking along the Dingle Way, you will encounter an array of archaeological monuments which date back to 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.

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

Prices / Dates

Price:  €709 per person sharing

Single Supplement: +€355

Solo Traveller Supplement: +€60

Tour Dates: 1 April to 15 October

Tour Grade: Easy to Moderate

Accommodation: Guesthouse or B&B

Included / Excluded

Day 1 - Arrive Annascaul

We will supply you with all the travel details to get you from Dublin or Shannon Airport to Annascaul village where you will stay overnight. 

Day 2 - Annascaul to Dingle

You will be walking on minor roads today as you skirt Acres Hill to the remains of 16th century Minard Castle before turning inland again to the railway village of Lispole. While walking today, you are within scent of the seas of Dingle Bay and encircled by the Kerry Mountains. From Lispole, the Dingle Way follows mostly sheep farming country before climbing An Cnoc Maol Mór and descending the old green road into Dingle town where you will stay overnight.

Distance: 22 km / 13.7 miles, Ascent: 568 m / 1704 ft, Approximate walking time: 6 / 7 hours

Day 3 - Dingle to Dunquin

The Dingle Way is mostly on minor roads and beaches today, 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 / 15.8 miles, Ascent: 683 m / 2050 ft, Approximate walking time: 7 / 8 hours

Day 4 - Dunquin to Boherboy

We recommend a visit to the Blasket Island Interpretive 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 the 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 / 15 miles, Ascent: 429 m / 1287 ft, Approximate walking time: 5 / 6 hours

Day 5 - Boherboy to Cloghane

You are in the cradle of early Christian civilisation 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 a Tiompain, (the Pass of the Drum) below Brandon, Ireland’s second-highest mountain at 950m.

The scenery 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: 28 km / 17.5 miles, Ascent: 750 m / 2250 ft, Approximate walking time: 8 / 9 hours

Day 6 - Depart

After a hearty breakfast, you will depart Cloghane for home.

A few words from our customers...

Everything worked out just fine including only one day of serious rain on the Dingle Way and no rain in the Wicklow area. The lodgings were nice and comfortable, and our hosts were very helpful. At each place we stayed, we said we said we could see spending more time there. The scenery in both areas could not have been better. The maps and directions were great, and we did not get lost or misplaced, only momentarily uncertain! We took our time and enjoyed the sounds and sights of birds and watched lambs cavorting in the pastures. We have highly recommended your tours to family and friends and we hope someday to return to the beautiful Emerald Isle. ☘️
Fred & Lisa
USA
Alaskans here. First Footfalls self-guided walks in April 2017- Dingle Way and Burren. Second walks - April 2019 - Kerry Way and Antrim Glens/Coast Causeway. We have been very pleased with Footfalls. Great response time to questions. Helpful maps and notes for directions, guesthouses, options. Adjustments to hikes to allow for rest day or extra time in a location was easily accommodated. Terrific support along the way if needed. All correspondence was friendly with a personal touch. The guesthouses were lovely, and luggage transfer seamless. We've never met in person, but I feel like we know Christopher, Theresa, and their staff. Highly recommended.
Leigh
Alaska