Dingle Way – 8 Days – Self-Guided Walking Tour

8 Day Self-Guided Walking Hiking Vacation Dingle Way Ireland

The Dingle Way is one of Ireland’s finest walking trails and is along part of the Wild Atlantic Way. Taking in a distance of 179 km/111.8 miles, the Dingle Way reveals to you some of the most startling scenery that you will find in Ireland. While walking the Dingle Way, 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.

While hiking around the Dingle peninsula, you will enjoy amazing 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:  €829 per person sharing

Single Supplement: +€415

Solo Traveller Supplement: +€75

Tour Dates: 1 April to 15 October

Tour Grade: Easy to Moderate

Accommodation: Guesthouse or B&B

Included / Excluded

Day 1 - Transfer to Camp

You have the option to arrive at Dublin or Shannon Airport and take a bus or train to Tralee, where you will take a 25-minute journey by public transport to the village of Camp. We will supply you with the necessary timetables and information to get you safely to your first accommodation.

Day 2 - Camp to Annascaul

Your first walk will start in Camp and will take you across the hub of the Dingle Peninsula. Following a “Boirín” (a Gaelic word meaning small road) the walking trail leads you to a col between Corrin and Knockbrack Hills to reach a height of 235 m/705 ft. From here you will have some remarkable views of Baurtregaum Mountain, which is the highest mountain in the Slieve Mish range and an impressive megalithic fort that sits on the edge of Caherconree Mountain.

The trail then descends gently and eventually offers you some spectacular views across the wildlife sanctuary of lnch Beach. It was here that some of the scenes from the famous “Ryan’s Daughter” movie were filmed.

Distance: 18.5 km / 11.6 miles, Ascent: 568 m / 1380 ft, Approximate walking time: 6 / 7 hours

Day 3 - Annascaul to Dingle

From Annascaul, the trail takes you west to the town of Dingle along a series of minor roads that meander around the surrounding countryside and open mountains.

You will have a chance to visit the magnificent ruin of the 16th century Minard Castle and stop off for lunch in the beautiful village of Lispole. From Lispole the trail takes you northwest back towards the spine of the Dingle Peninsula. From here the views over Dingle Bay are simply awe-inspiring.

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

Day 4 - Dingle (Rest Day)

Officially this is your rest day, but we will give you some options of things to do. You can take a boat trip and swim with the famous dolphin “Fungi” or take a half-day historical bus-tour around the area. The town of Dingle is distinguished for its restaurants, most of which offer an excellent choice of local seafood. There is a large variety of pubs, 52 licensed premises to be exact. Traditional Irish music is played every night in many of the pubs around the town.

Day 5 - Dingle to Dunquin

The trail from Dingle takes you further westwards through the village of Ventry and onto the golden sandy beach of Ventry Harbour. A country lane leads you on to the medieval roads of Slea Head.

This area is dotted with a multitude of Clochans or more commonly known as beehive huts which date back to the Mesolithic Period of around 6000 BC. As your trail bends north around Slea Head, you will also have some stunning views back over the Great Blasket Island and your final view of Dingle Bay.

Distance: 25.3 km / 15.8 miles, Ascent: 683 m / 2050 ft, Approximate walking time: 7 / 8 hours

Day 6 - Dunquin to Boherboy village

Once again, another superb section of the trail awaits you which takes you north along the western foot of the peninsula by Ferriter's Cove and the rugged sea-cliffs of the Three Sisters. From here the trail swings east to take you along by the sandy beaches of Smerwick Harbour. Your day finishes in the village of Feohanagh.

Distance: 22 km / 15 miles, Ascent: 429 m / 1287 ft, Approximate walking time: 6 / 7 hours

Day 7 - Boherboy village to Cloghane

This is one of the most remote sections of the Dingle Way, offering you a combination of history and breathtaking scenery.

The walking trail follows a green road that crosses the shoulder of one of Ireland’s highest mountains “Mount Brandon” standing at 952 m. You will continue past a standing stone that dates back over 3,500 years which still displays the symbols of Ogham Writing and continue over an area of blanket bog where turf is still harvested in the traditional ways of our forefathers. Your walk today will finish in the quiet village of Cloghane that lies in the shadow of Mount Brandon.

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

Day 8 - Depart

After a hearty Irish breakfast, we will arrange transport for you back to Camp to get public transport to Tralee.

A few words from our customers...

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
My son and I just returned from our Dingle Way hike. One of our best trips ever. Better than the pictures can show. No problems at all with our stays and bag transfers. Great accommodations and caring people. Not only at the B&B's, but all the local people we met were fun to talk with: John, a shepherd with a flock of about 200 sheep he grazes on the public land and lives by selling some of the lambs. He was searching for sheep that still needed shearing to protect them from fly infestation, aided by his dog Kelly (who really wasn't that smart he said). Another herder who gave us a demonstration of his 3 dogs, calling out to them in Irish. A potter who explained loading his kiln...... I strongly recommend this tour by Footfalls.
Charlie J.
USA