Dingle Way
Section of the Dingle Way near Smerwick Harbour and Ballydavid Head
Length162 km (101 mi)[1]
LocationCounty Kerry, Ireland
DesignationNational Waymarked Trail[1]
TrailheadsTralee[1]
UseHiking
Elevation gain/loss+2,590 m (8,497 ft)[1]
Highest pointShoulder of Mount Brandon (640 m (2,100 ft))[2]
DifficultyStrenuous[1]
SeasonAny
SightsDingle Peninsula
SurfaceMountain, field and cliff paths; roads; beaches[1]
Websitewww.thedingleway.ie
Map overview

The Dingle Way (Irish: Slí Chorca Dhuibhne)[3] is a long-distance trail around the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a 162-kilometre (101-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Tralee and is typically completed in eight days.[4] It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by the Dingle Way Committee and Kerry County Council.[5]

Route

The trail begins in Tralee, following the towpath of the Tralee Ship Canal to Blennerville, after which it follows the road for a while before climbing up to a mountain track along the northern flanks of the Slieve Mish Mountains. From here it descends towards Tralee Bay and the village of Camp.[6] The next few stages – Camp to Annascaul, via Inch Strand; Annascaul to Dingle, via Lispole; and Dingle to Dunquin, via Ventry – mainly follow minor roads and boreens.[7] The latter section of the stage between Dingle and Dunquin follows a cliff path around Slea Head.[8] The section between Dunquin and Ballycurrane follows a mixture of roads, beaches and cliff paths.[9] The most mountainous stretch of the Way now follows as the trail ascends a saddle between Brandon and Masatiompan mountains.[10] At 640 metres (2,100 feet), this is the highest point reached by any of the National Waymarked Trails in Ireland.[11] The Way then descends to Brandon village and follows a trail to the village of Cloghane.[12] From Cloghane, the trail follows Fermoyle Strand, Ireland's longest beach, to Fahamore, before following roads to the village of Castlegregory.[13] The final stage follows the coastline to Camp before retracing the outward route to Tralee.[14]

Usage

A review of the National Waymarked Trails in 2010 found both multi-day and day usage of the Dingle Way to be high and recommended that work should commence to upgrade it to a National Long Distance Trail, a proposed new standard of trail in Ireland intended to meet international standards for outstanding trails. It also recommended that the development of looped walks off the main route should be considered.[5]

Views along the Dingle Way
  • Ship canal and quay, bordered by houses and a paved road. On the horizon in the distance, a high mountain ridge can be seen.
    The old ship canal between Tralee and Blennerville
  • Winding tarmac road disappearing over a crest, surrounded by rolling green fields and dry stone walls. In the distance is a sea bay surrounded by hilly outcrops.
    Tarmac road section, looking towards Ballydavid Head
  • A small sea bay bordered by steep cliffs, which are topped with wild grass. On the opposite side of the bay are some green pastures surrounded by dry stone walls, and a collection of small, brightly coloured houses.
    Cliffs near Slea Head
  • New-looking grey house in front of a high green hillside, which is lined with dark hedgerows.
    Hillside pasture and residence

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Dingle Way". IrishTrails. Irish Sports Council. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  2. ^ Fewer 1996, p. 1.
  3. ^ Bardwell & Megarry 2009, p. 1.
  4. ^ Bardwell & Megarry 2009, p. 10.
  5. ^ a b National Trails Office 2010, p. 34.
  6. ^ Fewer 1996, pp. 98–100.
  7. ^ Bardwell & Megarry 2009, pp. 34, 37, 41.
  8. ^ Fewer 1996, p. 107.
  9. ^ Fewer 1996, p. 111.
  10. ^ Fewer 1996, p. 115.
  11. ^ "Guide to the National Waymarked Ways of Ireland". IrishTrails. Irish Sports Council. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  12. ^ Bardwell & Megarry 2009, p. 52.
  13. ^ Bardwell & Megarry 2009, pp. 53–55.
  14. ^ Fewer 1996, p. 121.

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dingle Way.

52°16′01″N 9°42′22″W / 52.267°N 9.706°W / 52.267; -9.706

Lists of long-distance trails in Ireland
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