Once cited as 'the most beautiful place on earth' by the National Geographic, Dingle Peninsula is the northern most of the three major peninsulae of Kerry. The peninsula is very mountainous with little villages nestled amongst the slopes and fishing villages dotted between cliff faces. The number one thing to do in this area is taking in the breathtaking views, tour the area by walking, cycling or by car. To get an eagle eye view over the peninsula and over North Kerry climb to the top of Mount Brandon. The narrow winding road of the Conor Pass also offers spectacular views as it weaves its way past high corrie lakes, it is the highest pass in Ireland.
Towns and villages on the peninsula include; Annascaul, Ballyferriter, Camp, Castlemaine, Castlegregory, Ventry and the principle town is Dingle.
Dunmore Head on the tip of the peninsula is the most westerly point of Ireland. The remoteness of the peninsula insured that it retained strong cultural traditions. Irish is spoken as a first language in many parts. There is plenty of opportunities to hear Irish music and singing either formally or you can catch a group playing at the local pub.
The most famous character on the island is a bottle-nosed dolphin that goes by the name of Fungie. The playful dolphin has been living at the mouth of Dingle Harbour since 1984. People come from all around the world to swim with him.
DinglePeninsula has a wide range of quality accommodation to suit all budgets, ranging from hotels and bed & breakfasts to hostels and self catering accommodation. DinglePeninsula has a nice variety of pubs which are well worth a visit on a warm summers evening or a cold winters one!.
For diners there are a selection of restaurants
The peninsula has been inhabited for almost 6,000 years. There are nearly 2,000 archaeological sites the highest concentration in Ireland, which are well preserved due to the remoteness of the area and the use of traditional farming practices. Excavations at Ferriter's Cove have unearthed a Mesolithic (8,000 – 4,000BC) seasonal settlement site of the fist settlers. One of the most dramatic sites on the peninsula overlooking the Village of Camp, is Cathair Con Rí. It's one of the finest examples of a promontory hill fort in the country. The earliest evidence of written Irish is Ogham stones, there are almost 70 of these engraved standing stone on the Dingle Peninsula. The Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne in Ballyferriter gives a great overview of the archaeology of the area.