Where To Go

Scenic Tours on the Dingle Peninsula

The Connor Pass.

The Connor Pass road is without doubt the most dramatic route to take to Dingle. It is not suitable for heavy vehicles or caravans and can be difficult in bad weather. As it swings towards the south, the road rises with mountains on one side and a wide valley on the other.
From the top of the pass there are breathtaking views in fine weather of lowlands, mountains and sea. The viewing staitions provide car parking and are in the best positions from which to take in the sweep of the landscape. Looking south you can see Dingle Bay and, to the north, Brandon Bay and the Seven Hog Islands (Magharees). The road then drops towards Dingle with continuous views over Dingle Bay until the town is reached.
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Cloghane and Brandon - are situated on the northern side of the Dingle Peninsula, tucked in at the base of Mount Brandon and washed by the sparkling surf of Brandon Bay.
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Slea Head Drive.

The Dingle peninsula west of Dingle is largely an Irish speaking area (Gaeltacht). English is universally spoken however.

Starting from Dingle town take the road for 4 miles to the village of Ventry. Here there is a beautiful cresent shape beach. From there, continue on towards Dunquin, passing Dunbeg Fort and the Fahan Group of Beehive Huts and enjoying the beautiful coastal scenery along the way. Here you will get your first view of the Blasket Islands, which look awfully pretty in the summer but which can be a very inhospitable place to be in less good weather. Amazingly the islands were inhabited until 1953.

At Dunqiun, there is the opportunity of visiting the Blasket Islands in the summer by boat from the pier, or going to the Blasket Island Interpretive Centre. From Dunqiun you continue on towards Ballyferriter which boasts the famous Louis Mulcahy Pottery. From here the next stop is Riasc monastic settlement which is interesting and well worth a visit. After that, Gallarus Oratory, a simple yet stunning building dating from the 7th century and Kilmalkedar Church from the 12th century, both of which are musts for those interested in early Christianity in Ireland. Continue on back to Dingle town.

Places To Visit

Dingle

Dingle is an attractive small town by the side of Dingle Bay beside a hugely impressive natural harbour which is home to a fishing fleet, a modern marina and Fungi the dolphin.

The houses in the town are solidly built and attractively colour-washed and hint at Dingle's historical importance as Kerry's leading port and also a centre for smuggling!

Nowadays, Dingle is a fishing port and a target for tourists. In its crowded and winding streets can be found a rich selection of shops featuring the usual tourist mementoes and also local craft products, restaurants of all sorts, sizes and price ranging from one of the best seafood restaurants in Ireland, to cheap and simple food, click here for a guide to Dingle's restaurants, and many, many pubs often with music in the season. click here for a guide to Dingle's pubs.

The Dingle Oceanworld aquarium concentrates on showing off the fish and other sealife from the local area.

Tralee

Tralee lies on the scenic south west coast of Ireland at the gateway to the Dingle Peninsula. It is the capital town of County Kerry, an area of spectacular beauty. Tralee is almost 800 years old. It is a smallish town but has the most comprehensive shopping in Kerry. It has a wide selection of hotels, restaurants and pubs. Click here for a guide to Tralee's restaurants and click here for a guide to Tralee's pubs.

Its many attractions include:

The Blennerville Windmill
The Tralee - Dingle Steam Railway
The National Folk Theatre of Ireland
Kerry the Kingdom Museum which includes a ride where visitors are seated in time cars and brought on a fascinating journey through the reconstructed streets, houses, Abbey and Castle of medieval Tralee complete with sounds, smells and animatronic figures.
The Aquadrome
The Rose of Tralee Festival which is held annually in August has grown from a beauty contest into a fully-fledged festival.

Killarney

Killarney is without doubt the tourist capital of Kerry. Accordingly it is well supplied with hotels, restaurants, shops, pubs and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of jaunting carts to take tourists on trips through the surrounding countryside. Generally, everything is set up to serve mass tourism The countryside sourrounding Killarney is however peerless with its romantic combination of lakes and the surrounding Macgillycuddy's Reeks mountains and should not be missed.

Killarney can be reached by road in about 45 mins from the Anchor Caravan Park.

Ring of Kerry

The 110 mile Ring of Kerry encircles the Ivereagh Peninsula and can be driven around in a day. It offers spectacular scenery which can be enjoyed without necessarily leaving the car. The evening can be particularly rewarding as the bulk of the tourist traffic will have abated and the lingering Atlantic twilights and sunsets are long, slow and fabulous.

Killarney is the gateway to the Ring of Kerry

What To Do

Outdoors

Walking

This is a walker's paradise.

The Dingle Way actually passes the Park entrance on its 110 mile trail to Dingle and back to Tralee. On its way it crosses a shoulder of Mount Brandon (Ireland's second highest mountain) and offers every kind of terrain including beach, mountain and glorious scenery.

The tradition of pilgrimage to Brandon Mountain dates back to the earliest times. The Pilgrims Route follows the Saints' Road from Ventry Strand to the grotto at the foot of Brandon Mountain and winds its way among the fuchsia hedged fields between the sea and the mountain. The area is rich in bird and plant life, and heritage sites along the route include the famous Gallarus Oratory. Although the traditional pilgrimage extended to the summit of Brandon Mountain, the route ends at Ballybrack. The mountain is hazardous, has steep cliffs and is prone to sudden disorientating mists, and walkers proceed to the summit entirely at their own risk.

In addition to these two way-marked routes, there are many other walks all around the peninsula that will suit every ability and age. Information and locally-produced maps and booklets on these walks can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centres in Camp, Annascaul, Dingle, Cloghane and Castlegregory

Cycling

Cycling the Dingle Peninsula has always been recognised as the ideal way to experience the area's breathtakingly beautiful views while pedalling through a combination of dramatic mountain climbs or flat valleys that stretch for miles.

There are a number of established bicycle rental outlets dotted around the peninsula where bicycles can be hired by the day or for longer periods. You'll be happy you left the car or bus behind as you explore the many ancient archaeological ruins and savour the superb coastal scenery at a leisurely pace.

Mountain Climbing / Hill Walking

Caherconree, one of the highest of the Slieve Mish Mountains, can be climbed from Camp.

Beenoskee and Stradbally Mountains can be conveniently climbed from Stradbally village, three miles from Castlegregory.

Cloghane is the best centre for climbing Brandon Mountain.

Click here for useful information and contacts.

Fishing

There are opportunities to participate in several kinds of fishing not far from the Park. With its long coastline, many beaches and rocky outcrops, the Dingle Peninsula offers plenty of locations where beach and shore fishing can be undertaken.

For the game fisherman there are also multiple opportunities. Lough Slat, Doon Lough and Lough Caum in the Glanteenassig forestry development (which is less than 4 miles from the Park) attract local anglers. Lough Caum in boasts a large stock of wild brown trout and is stocked with rainbow trout. The shore is almost entirely fishable.
Permits are required and boats are available.

The Owenmore River is also good for game fishing, with permits available in Cloghane.

Click here for some information on game fishing.

For offshore angling, shark fishing and island tours contact Maharees Islands Angling on +353 66 7139003 (ask for Danny or Bridgie) or E-Mail info@mahareesangling.com.

Watersports

With all the coastline around the Dingle Peninsula, it will be no surprise to know that there are lots of ways to enjoy the water apart from just being on our splendid beach!

On the Maharees, for wastersports, you can contact Jamie Knox Watersports on +353 667133941 or E-Mail jamieknox@eircom.net. For diving you can contact Waterworld on +353 66 7139292 or E-Mail dive@iol.ie.

For a very comprehensive guide to all water-related activities click here.

Golf

For the keen golfer, there are several opportunities to play nearby. The nearest is CastleGregory Golf Club, bookings on +353 66 7139444, which is a nine hole course within 3 miles of the Park. The mood is relaxed and the sea and mountain views are so appealing that you almost wish your opponent would keep losing his ball so you have time to just stand and stare!

For information on golfing click here.

Horse riding and Trekking on beaches

On the Maharees, you can contact O'Connor's Horse Riding on +353 66 7139216 or Goodwin's Horse Riding on +353 66 7139106.

Indoors

After a full day of touring, shopping, sightseeing, outdoor exercise or just relaxing, the mind often turns to eating and drinking. In this area, too, we are very well provided for.

The following list was accurate as of January 2006 but new places are often springing up. The owners will be happy to advise you of the latest situation.

Hotel
Crutch's Hillville House Hotel	Fermoyle Beach Castlegregory	(066) 7138118
Restaurants (licenced)
Tomasíns Bar & Restaurant	Stradbally Castlegregory	(066) 7139179
Spillane's Bar	Fahamore Castlegregory	(066) 7139125
Ned Natterjacks	West Main St Castlegregory	(066) 7139491
The Village Bistro	Castlegregory	(066) 7139878
The Cottage Restaurant	Cappaclough Camp	(066) 7130022
Ashe's Restaurant	Camp	(066) 7130133
Tralee Bay Holiday Village Bar & Restaurant	Aughacasla	(066) 7139033
O'Connor's Bar & Restaurant	Cloghane	(066) 7138113
Mullalys Bar & Restaurant	Brandon	(066) 7138154
Pubs Annascaul
Dan Foley's Pub	Annascaul	(066) 9157252
Herlihy's Pub	Main st, Annascaul	(066) 9157418
Anthony S O'Sullivan	Garrynadur Lispole Annascaul	(066) 9157108
South Pole Inn	Annascaul	(066) 9157388
Pubs Castlegregory
Boland's	Main St, Castlegregory	(066) 7139112
Michael Fitzgerald's Bar	Castlegregory	(066) 7139225
Bowler's Bar	Castlegregory	(066) 7139201
Ferriter's Bar	Main St, Castlegregory	(066) 7139914
Green Room Bar	Kilshanig Castlegregory	(066) 7139153
Spillane's Bar	Fahamore Castlegregory	(066) 7139125
Jimmy's Bar	West Main St Castlegregory	(066) 7139599
Tomasíns Bar	Stradbally Castlegregory	(066) 7139179
Ned Natterjacks	West Main St Castlegregory	(066) 7139491
Tadgh Og's Bar	Castlegregory	(066) 7139522
Pubs Brandon
Mullalys Bar	Brandon	(066) 7138154
Kathy's Bar	Brandon	(066) 7138145
Murphy's Bar	Brandon	(066) 7138189
Pubs Camp
Railway Tavern	Camp Junction	(066) 7130188
The Junction Bar	Camp Junction	(066) 7130120
Ashe's Bar	Camp Junction	(066) 7130133
Daly's Bar	Camp Junction	(066) 7130125
Pubs Cloghane
O'Connor's Bar	Cloghane	(066) 7138113
Tigh Tomsi Bar	Cloghane	(066) 7138299

The Anchor Caravan Park   CastleGregory   Nr.Tralee   Co.Kerry   Ireland

Telephone: +353 66 713 9157       E-Mail: anchorcaravanpark@eircom.net