Visiting Dingle From Killarney: The Perfect Day Trip

Planning A Day Trip To Dingle from Killarney

Much of Ireland’s countryside is absolutely beautiful. The rolling green hills, peaceful farmland dotted with grazing sheep, and majestic sea cliffs, such as those at the Cliffs of Moher, contribute to the stunning scenery.  The scenery here reminded of us when we were in New Zealand.

But the coastal area of County Kerry is some of the most spectacular that we have ever seen. We tend to agree with National Geographic, which once called this “the most beautiful place on earth”.

The Dingle Peninsula is located on the southwest coast of Ireland, extends 48 kms into the Atlantic Ocean and is very easily reached from Killarney. This stretch of mountains and rock formations provides a wild and dramatic landscape that you don’t want to miss.

Surprisingly, we didn’t have Dingle on our itinerary at the start of our trip, but we followed the advice of a wonderful local guide and made a last-minute decision to change our plans and spend the day visiting Dingle from Killarney. It was the right choice and made this part of Ireland, one of the major highlights of our whole trip. 

Now, we are going to share our experience and invite you to join us to see what you can expect on this day trip. Since this is the area where the Irish come to vacation, you know it has to be fantastic!

Best Things To Do On The Dingle Peninsula

Dingle Peninsula Tour from Killarney

We hired a private local guide to provide us with a tour of the Dingle Peninsula. In our opinion, this is the best way to experience this incredible area. We had the option to stop anywhere along the drive and spend as much time as we wanted at our favourite locations. And considering some of the drive was precarious, we were very happy with our choice to sit back and take in our surroundings in a relaxed way.

✅ If you are interested in a private guide for this day trip, be sure to check out this amazing 5-star tour with Mary. We spent an amazing day with her exploring this beautiful region. She was our best tour guide in all of Ireland!

Inch Beach

Coming from Killarney, your first notable stop is Inch Beach, a remarkable stretch of sand dunes along the Dingle Peninsula. Providing easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, this stretch is defined as a Blue Flag beach, meaning that it meets safety and environmental requirements for swimming during the summer season.

Many people come here for fishing, and it is a popular location for surfing due to the great swells that build from the open sea. 

The flat ground is great for walking, but keep in mind that this is a dynamic sand dune. Here, the sand leads into a salt marsh, so the sand can quickly become very deep and wet. Oftentimes, people will drive their cars on the beach, but we don’t recommend this since it isn’t obvious where the compacted section ends.

My son (on a separate trip) drove his rental car on the beach here and ended up needing a tow that wasn’t inexpensive, so perhaps stick to walking!

Be sure to drop into Sammy’s cafe for a snack and hot chocolate. This was a nice start to our drive.

Slea Head Drive

To explore the coastal drive, you will need to join the Slea Head Drive to see the sandy beaches, high cliffs and glimpses of the islands offshore. This road provides the best access, but keep in mind that it can be very narrow at points and you will be sharing the road with other cars, tour buses, farm vehicles and bicycle riders.

It is also important to follow the road in a clockwise direction so you don’t come up against large buses on some sections where it is a one-lane road.

Given that the road can be tricky in sections, we opted to have a professional, local guide handle the drive. This way, we could sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery, feeling safe along the way. 

✅ If you prefer a small group tour, this 5-star tour would be a great option. It stops at many of the best locations along the Dingle Peninsula and picks up from Killarney.

Beehive Huts

Along the drive, there are stone structures, called clochan or commonly known as Beehive Huts. It is thought that the huts date back approximately 1400 years and were used as homesteads by monks.

The construction of these huts is interesting because they feature layered stones on top of each other and were built without mortar. This is an ancient technique known as dry stone corbelling, which has enabled these structures to remain standing for so long. Be sure to check out these fascinating structures.

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Aedan’s Farm – Hold A Baby Lamb

A great activity along this route is stopping in at Aedan’s Farm to hold a baby lamb. Aedan’s family has been farming this challenging land for generations. With a flock of 260 sheep, it is a working farm, but he keeps 30-40 pet lambs on the farm that must be bottle-fed.

It was decided to open the farm to visitors, and for a small fee, you can pet and hold the lambs. Depending on the time you arrive, you may also be able to feed the lambs.

They are soft and cuddly, and it was a real treat being able to hold one. This is a wonderful Irish experience, and we highly recommend adding this to your itinerary while visiting the Dingle Peninsula.

Blasket Islands

From the farm, you can get amazing views of the Great Blasket Island. This is the largest of a series of uninhabited islands just off the coastline. There are boat rides available to explore the area surrounding the islands and wildlife, where visitors often see whales, dolphins, seals and puffins.

If you are looking for something a little different, there is a ferry that can take you to the biggest island, where there are some self-catering options available should you wish to stay on the island overnight in this rugged terrain.

✅ This small group tour is very highly rated by guests who rave about the crew and the variety of wildlife they saw while on the boat. What a great experience!

Coumeenoole Beach

The road becomes a little trickier here with narrow passageways and a sheer drop off the high cliffs. This is a gorgeous location to see from above and below. There is parking at the top of the beach, and you can walk down a winding path to make it to the expansive sandy cove. It is a steep incline, so make sure you have proper footwear.

Taking a walk along the beach to see the waves and feel the spray from the sea makes for a wonderful stop. This location was reminiscent of our stop at Gibson Steps Beach in Australia although this was easier to access.

While the beach here is beautiful, it is important to know it isn’t safe for swimming due to the strong currents. This is similar to Reynisfara Beach in Iceland where you can’t swim due to the sneaker waves.

Dunmore Head

Dunmore Head is the westernmost point of mainland Ireland, and it is said to be one of the most western parts of Europe. The scenery here is spectacular and, on a clear day, provides some stunning views.

Many people will enjoy hiking in this area on the 2.5km loop trail.

Dunquin Pier

This picturesque pier, in Gaelic called Dhun Chaoin, is also accessed by a steep road that brings you down to a great vantage point just above the water.

The craggy black rocks paired with the green of the hills and blue of the sea make for a magical landscape. 

Aside from offering some incredible scenery, this is also a spot where a ferry operates over to Blasket Island. It runs several times a day during the season (Easter to the end of September).

Clogher Beach

This is a smaller beach, but still beautiful. With its cliffs covered in green, it offers great views and is a nice spot to visit.

There is a trail along the top of the cliffs that is well worth walking since the beach below is not suitable for swimming due to the strong currents.

Town of Dingle

The tiny fishing village of Dingle is the only town on the Peninsula. It is a darling little place and is known for its eclectic mix of artisan shops, restaurants and pubs. In fact, we were told there are more than 50 pubs here, and once you see the size of the town, you will realize that is an impressive number!

The pubs here are well known for offering traditional Irish music and good craic (how the Irish describe good fun). We found this to be a similar vibe to the pubs in Belfast.

We stopped here for lunch, had a delicious meal in one of the pubs and enjoyed walking along the quaint streets. And of course, make sure to stop in to Murphy’s for an ice cream.

Conor Pass

After heading out from Dingle, our guide took us on a cut through across the Peninsula on what is called An Chonar Pass. It is a narrow, twisty 12km road that takes you along the edge of the highest mountain in the area.

The views of the lakes and valley below are extraordinary. There are a couple of viewpoints where you can pull over to admire the vistas.

At some points, the road narrows to barely one lane, so it is critical to stay aware of the road ahead since some people don’t follow the rules and try driving the wrong way. Suffice to say, we were very pleased to have someone else take care of the driving!

FAQs

How Far Is Dingle from Killarney?

Driving from Killarney to Dingle is less than 65km. However, there are so many stops along the way that you need to spend a full day exploring this area. 

Is It Worth Going To Dingle, Ireland?

We thought Dingle was a charming town, and it makes for a great stop during the day. The area on the Peninsula is truly breathtaking and makes the drive completely worth it.

Where To Stay To Visit The Dingle Peninsula

We stayed in Killarney, which we found to be a perfect base for touring around County Kerry. The following are some hotel options that you can consider.

We stayed at the Arbutus Hotel Killarney and found it to be a great choice. The rooms were comfortable, the breakfast was varied, and the staff was very helpful. It was in a great location in town and had lots of restaurants and pubs within walking distance.

Another option where we had a very nice meal in their restaurant is the Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa. This is a full-service hotel with a pool and spa onsite. In a perfect location to fully experience all Killarney has to offer.

The Final Word: Visiting Dingle From Killarney

If you will be in Southwest Ireland, we would highly recommend visiting Dingle from Killarney. Whether you decide to pick up a rental car or take a tour, it makes for a perfect day tour.  We guarantee it will be some of the most astonishing scenery that you will see on your trip in Ireland!