Dingle Way

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Description

The Dingle Way is one of over 30 Irish long-distance walking trails. Situated in the south-west of the Ireland, the walk completes a circuit of the Dingle Peninsula, starting and finishing in Tralee, the capital of Kerry. The trail is 179km long and takes an adult who is reasonably fit an average of 8-9 days to walk.

The diversity of different landscapes is the reason why the Dingle Way is such a popular trail. It never takes long before a turn in the path reveals a dramatic change of scenery. From walking in the foothills of Slieve Mish to crossing the shoulder of Mount Brandon, from the crashing waves of the Atlantic at Slea Head to the tranquil setting of pastoral farmland and on to lonesome strands of golden beaches on the Maharess. The Dingle Way invigorates the senses.

Some of the finest archeological sites in Ireland can be encountered on the Dingle Way. Standing stones, ogham stones and a multitude of beehive huts are the most obvious structures to be spotted en-route. The iconic oratory of Gallarus is highly-recommended detour for those with enough energy. Another favourite stop-off point is the South Pole Inn in Annascaul, which is a shrine to local Antarctic explorer Tom Crean.

The Dingle Way is a well-serviced trail, as it passes through the centre of many picturesque villages and towns. Tralee and Dingle are the two largest town centres, where more specialist items needed for the journey should be bought. There is never more than a few hours walk between villages so food and drink can be bought along the way.

The level of difficulty is easy to moderate for most of the Dingle Way except for when the path reaches the foot of Mount Brandon where the going becomes hard. If weather conditions are poor and visibility is bad then serious consideration should be given to finding an alternative method of transport to get around the mountain.

Anyone setting out to walk a long distance trail such as The Dingle Way is embarking on a serious test of physical endurance.