When Rob and I were planning our itinerary for Ireland, the Ring of Kerry, on the western side of Ireland, kept popping up as must see. The gorgeous views, the quaint towns, the sheep. Of course we had to do it.

However, the day before we drove the 111 mile Ring of Kerry, we drove the 30 mile loop of the Dingle Peninsula. If you ever find yourself in Ireland, I highly recommend skipping the Ring of Kerry and just exploring the Dingle Peninsula. Dingle is more beautiful, more peaceful, and only takes half a day.

Rob and I used this Smithsonian guide to help navigate our tour of the Dingle Peninsula. It was so helpful to have some knowledge about what we were looking at and suggested places to stop along the way.

The loop starts in the uber cute town of Dingle which has a bunch of places for breakfast and/or lunch for the start and end of your drive.

The loop starts in the town of Dingle and it is recommended that your drive it counter clockwise since the roads are so incredibly narrow.

From the start, Dingle just felt manageable. Thirty miles afforded us time to stop where we wanted, explore as long as we wanted, and just move at a slower pace.

Dingle is actually known for having more sheep on the peninsula than people. Though they didn’t seem overwhelming in number, you definitely noticed them.

One of our first stops was off a little side road that lead to a gorgeous beach. I was really surprised at how blue the water was! Families were body surfing, setting up picnics, and just enjoying a beach day at their local spot.

Another highlight was parking at a pull off and walking about a half mile to a small peak (really a hill if you live in Colorado) that gave us 360 degree views. We could see islands out in the ocean, the farmed and cultivated hillside, and a small town resting on the coast. It’s was the perfect way to stretch our legs and just enjoy the views.

The oratory, though not much to look at itself, was set on a peaceful hillside.

The best part about it was the honeysuckle lined path leading to the oratory from the secret parking spot. It felt almost magical.

The secret parking spot it just up the road from the paid parking spot. It’s a short walk to the oratory from there. Worth it to save 3 euros.

If you are an attractions person, than this is probably not the trip for you. The only attractions were a falling down fort, restored beehive huts, and a stone restaurant. Locals charged about three euros to see these things. Even though Rob and I didn’t go into them, I have to say that the views you get simply from driving are worth way more than what three euros would get you.

If you’re super lucky, you might encounter a runaway cow headed straight for your car as you head back towards Dingle. Nothing like ending the day with a little adrenaline rush!

Since Dingle only takes half a day to explore, we still had time to check out the Torc Waterfall in the Killarney National Park. Two gorgeous things in one day? Win.

RQ: Do you like to stop and explore on your own, or keep a schedule? What would you do about a runaway cow?

Brooke Selb

I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.