Dingle Slea Head Drive
It’s often said that a visit to the Dingle Peninsula has the feeling of experiencing the edge of the world. Whatever the season, when you visit this beautiful and captivating place, its vibrant colour palette will greet you, from the fuchsia fringed roads of the summer to the seaweed green fields of winter. This quintessential Irish circular driving route starts and ends in the town of Dingle, where pubs, music, shopping, and sea cruises have charmed generations of visitors. Dingle is the only town on the Dingle Peninsula. This magical fishing port is a must-visit along the Wild Atlantic Way.
The 47 km Slea Head Scenic Drive on the Dingle Peninsula is one of the best and most spectacular driving routes in Ireland with breath-taking views of the coastline, offshore islands, cliff top roads and awe-inspiring things to see and do along the way. Drive or hire a bike from Dingle and take your time exploring and soaking in the stunning views along Ireland’s most westerly point on the Wild Atlantic Way. The most westerly point in Ireland is Garraun Point, located on the Dingle Peninsula, county Kerry which is 2.5 km northwest of Slea Head.
The Slea Head road trip is a must for any visitor to Kerry, but please remember the advice to travel clockwise so as to avoid oncoming buses. The Slea Head Drive (Slí Cheann Sléibhe) is not only one of the best drives in the world, the area itself is one of Ireland’s biggest concentrations of heritage including ancient monuments and forts, standing stones, megalithic tombs, early Christian sites, ancient neolithic paths, ancient pilgrim paths and the famous Gallarus Oratory built between the 6th and 9th century.
This route is full of interesting places to stop and enjoy local food, culture and magical places such as Coumeenole Beach where the famous movie Ryan's Daughter was filmed. From Dunquin - Dún Chaoin, you can take a ferry to visit the Great Blasket Island.
As you travel by some of Dingle Peninsula’s famous villages including Ballyferriter, Baile na nGall and before you begin to make the final journey on the loop back to the town of Dingle, you will reach Cuas an Bhodaigh or Brandon Creek, overlooked by the Brandon Mountain range, the second highest in Ireland. It is said that the voyage of St Brendan 'The Navigator' to America started at Brandon Creek around 520 AD nearly 1,000 years before Columbus.
A little piece of Heaven on Earth!
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