The Dingle Way

Walk Camp to Annascaul via Inch Strand

17km, ascents 430m, approx. walking time 6 hours
Optional extra hike over Brackaloon Hill, 5km (2 hours)

Leaving Camp to the south, through the glorious bogland of Slieve Mish, on turf cutting roads, the wilderness of the blanket bog is punctuated with conifer forest and the stacks of drying turf. The Way climbs the side of Ardroe Hill overlooking the 8km of sand dunes and beach at Inch, with views south to the Ring of Kerry and Ireland's highest mountain range, before following the Maum or "Pass" down to Annascaul village.
Overnight Annascaul.

Walk Annascaul to Dingle

19km Ascents 410m, approx. walking time 7 hours

Leaving Annascaul passing the lovely Annascaul Lake, you skirt Acres Hill to the remains of 16th century Minard Castle before turning inland again to the railway village of Lispole. All the way you are within scent of the seas of Dingle Bay and encircled by the Kerry Mountains. From Lispole, the Way follows mostly sheep farming country before climbing An Cnoc Maol Mor and descending the old green road into Dingle town.
Overnight Dingle

Walk Dingle Town to Dunquin

22km. Ascents 350m, approx. walking time 6 hours

It is mostly minor roads and beaches today, but beyond the village of Ventry, is some of the most spectacular scenery you could hope to find. The 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 to the Ring of Kerry and Valentia Island. Ahead the Way opens up to Slea Head and the Blasket Islands. This is the most westerly point in Europe, beyond is North America!
Overnight Dunquin

Walk Dunquin to Ballydavid Village

14km, ascents 180m, approx. walking time 4 hours

A visit to the Blasket Island Interpretative Centre is recommended, to grasp the harshness of life on the islands, until the last inhabitants resettled on the mainland in 1953. Other than fishing, and sheep farming on the wind blown hills, there is little else 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 1 in 1580. Ballydavid is a thriving fishing harbour and a Gaelic speaking community
Overnight Ballydavid

Walk Ballydavid to Cloghane

18km, ascents 750m, approx. walking time 7 hours

You are in the cradle of early Christian civilization here, with as many as sixty notable sites of cultural and religious development from the 5 th to 9 th centuries. Today's hike takes you up; up to the saddle of Mas an Tiompain, (the Pass of the Drum) below Brandon, Ireland's second highest mountain at 950m. The scenery is superb, Tralee Bay, 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!
Overnight Cloghane

Walk Cloghane to Camp via Castlegregory

22km, ascents 30m, approx. walking time 6 hours
Diversion via Castlegregory promontory 32km, 8 hours

Back at sea level, today's walk follows the coast, all the way around the Castlegregory promontory if you desire, or across the neck of it via Lough Gill, home to Bewick swans and natterjack toads. From Castlegregory village, mudflats and turf cuttings give way to farmland and a climb through Gleann na Gealt "The Valley of the Mad" back to Camp!
Overnight Camp

Departure from Camp by public transport

Departure from Camp.