Dingle Way

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]

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
Elevation gain/loss+2,590 m (8,497 ft)[1]
Highest pointShoulder of Mount Brandon (640 m (2,100 ft))[2]
Hiking details
Trail difficultyStrenuous[1]
SeasonAny
SightsDingle Peninsula
SurfaceMountain, field and cliff paths; roads; beaches[1]
Websitewww.thedingleway.ie

Route

The trail begins in Tralee, following the towpath of an old 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
  • The old ship canal between Tralee and Blennerville
  • Tarmac road section, looking towards Ballydavid Head
  • Cliffs near Slea Head
  • Hillside pasture and residence
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References

Notes
  1. "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. 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
  • Bardwell, Sandra; Megarry, Jacquetta (2009). The Dingle Way (2nd ed.). Dunblane: Rucksack Readers. ISBN 978-1-898481-33-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Fewer, Michael (1996). The Way-marked Trails of Ireland. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 0-7171-2386-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • National Trails Office (2010). "Setting New Directions. A review of National Waymarked Ways in Ireland" (PDF). Dublin: Irish Sports Council. Archived from the original (pdf) on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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