The Dingle Way in Ireland: map, accommodation, route, and more!

The Dingle Way (Irish: Slí Chorca Dhuibhne) is a long-distance trail around the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a 179-kilometer (101-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Tralee and is typically completed in nine days. 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.

The Dingle Way is located along the shoreline of the westernmost point in mainland Ireland and is situated north of the Kerry Way and the Beara Way. This breathtaking trail guides you through stunning archaeological sites, surrounded by coastal and mountain scenery. If you are looking for a trekking adventure, the Dingle Way is a great option for walking holidays Ireland has to offer!

Contrary to other treks in Europe, like the  Alta via 2 in the Dolomites  and the  Salzburger Almenweg  in Austria, where you can only trek during the summer months, you can walk the Dingle Way all year round.  The popular season is between March and October, May being the most recommended month. What you should know is that weather conditions are frequently wet and windy, regardless of the season that you choose, so pack the necessary wet/warm weather gear and always have an extra, dry pair of shoes to wear at the end of the day. A good rain jacket and overtrousers will be your best allies. 

The Dingle Way starts and ends in Tralee, the Couty of Kerry's main town and administrative hub. The Dingle Way trail starts at the Town Park Gate to the west side of the Ashe Hall at the end of Denny Street, near the Kerry County Museum. The Dingle Way is traditionally walked clockwise, from Tralee towards the north to Camp, and then southwest towards Annascaul.

How to get to Tralee?

The most convenient way is flying to Kerry Airport, which is located 12 miles/19 kilometers outside town, and gets flights from Dublin, London-Luton, London-Stanstead, and Frankfurt-Hahn.

You can also reach Tralee via train from Mallow, where you can get a connection to/from Cork and Dublin. Train services run every two hours almost every day, except on Sundays, when the services are less frequent. There are also direct buses that connect Tralee with Cork, and, with a change at Limerick, from Galway and Dublin.

On the Dingle Way, you can either spend the night in a cozy hotel or in a typical Irish B&B, where you will receive a warm welcome and a typical Irish breakfast. The accommodation options can be a bit limited at times. The Dingle Way is a popular trek in Ireland and it welcomes thousands of trekkers every year. Arranging the stages and booking the accommodation should not be taken lightly, since the hotels get fully booked months in advance.

The Dingle Way is a popular trek and attracts many tourists every year. The tourism industry in the Dingle Peninsula welcomes these visitors and has developed several services to make the trek around the peninsula easier and lighter. One of these services is that of baggage transfer, which is also very popular in other treks in the British Isles, like the Great Glen Way and the West Highland Way, both in Scotland.

There are several agencies that offer baggage transfers during the Dingle Way and most of them offer their service for about EUR 15,- per bag, per day. The Baggage transfer companies pick up your bags every morning from your hotel and make sure that they are waiting for you at your next stop when you arrive. That way, you can enjoy the trek without any extra weight on your shoulders. Quite convenient, isn't it?

Well, technically there is no law prohibiting camping or wild camping in the Dingle Peninsula and you probably find many stories of people who have done it. If you want to give it a try, you can do so. However, if you want to go camping on the Dingle Peninsula you should consider the following first: the terrain along the Dingle Way can be very exposed, which means that there is little or no shelter on higher ground from the strong winds and the rain. In Spring, much of the uplands can be very muddy, and finding a dry spot can be a difficult task. If you still want to go camping on the Dingle Way, make sure that you are prepared and have the right equipment for it, Ireland's weather is not exactly camping-friendly!

In terms of difficulty, the Dingle Way is an easy to moderate hike. There are some stretches on the way that are more demanding since they include some steep climbs and sheer drops. Visibility can also be a challenge at times due to fog and low clouds, especially on stage 6, from Feohanagh to Cloghane. Despite the occasional poor visibility, the Dingle Way is a safe trek. The path is wide and the trail is clearly marked with a yellow arrow on black background.