| Exploring the Heart and the Sole of the Dingle Peninsula | ||
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Day 1 Pick-up at Shannon or Kerry Airports and drive to The Old Anchor Guesthouse in Annascaul. Relax before dinner, then enjoy a briefing from your guide, Maeve Kelly, along with a short slide show. Time to ask questions and chat about the week ahead! Day 2
Today we will drive west of Dingle, near to the village of Ventry. The
walk today will firstly be along part of the Dingle way under the slopes of
Mount Eagle passing ancient early stone huts called Clochans. With spectacular
views over the Dingle Bay looking to the Skellig and Valentia Islands. Reaching
Slea Head the westerly tip of the Dingle Peninsula we will climb to the top of
Mt Eagle and take in the breathtaking views 360 degrees. We descend the mountain
passing by Lough Mt Eagle and returnvia quiet lanes to the van. Day 3 A short trip west to the village of Lispole,
where we start a climb to Banoge North, through the Fairy Glen. At
the top we continue onto Knockmullane, with spectacular views over
Annascaul village and lake. We descend via a rough track to the lake,
where we pick up a quiet country road to the village.
This evening we take a trip to a show at Day 4
From
Dunquin Harbor we take a boat to the Great Blasket, where we will
walk through the old village then along the spine of
this beautiful island to Croaghmore (292 m). There are
glorious views of the other Blaskets and the mainland the entire way.
The Blasket Islands are the most westerly point in Europe, and have
not been inhabited year-round since 1953.
Day 5
We
travel to Brandon Point on the north side of the penisula and start
a coastal walk over An Buacin to the heady slopes of Sauce Creek.
We follow part of the Dingle Way, climbing steadily to the summit of
Masiotompan, then descend the cliff path to Brandon Creek, where
St. Brendan the Navigator set sail for America in the 6th century in
a calf-skin boat. Day 6
We go
East to the middle of the Slieve Mish mountains for a horseshoe
walk, taking in Bartregaum and Caherconree with its stone ringfort.
The climb is steady and steep but with rewarding views north and south
over the Peninsula. Day 7
Mount
Brandon, or St. Brendan's mountain, is the highest on the Dingle
Peninsula at 952 m and is our final challenge for the week. Our route
takes us along the Paternoster lakes to just below the summit and a
short, steep climb takes us to the top. Continuing on to Brandon
Peak and Gearhane, we descend to the valley of Glanshanacuirp and
O'Connor's Bar, Cloghane. Day 8 Time for farewell! Transport to Shannon Airport arriving by noon, or Kerry Airport en route to Shannon.
Note:The above itinerary may change
if weather conditions
May the road rise to meet you |
