Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head Drive

What should you know before visiting Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head Drive?

Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €2 (Ireland).

• Visitors follow the one-way system clockwise through Ventry, while locals may drive both ways. Follow the road signs rather than the sat nav.
• Many tour buses use the route in summer. Driving clockwise is advised so you do not meet them head-on on narrow sections. Pull into lay-bys if traffic backs up.
• Conor Pass: vehicles over 2 tonnes are prohibited beyond the summit. The peninsula's guide also gives 7.2 m length and says campervans cannot get through. Check the signs.
• Wild camping is not simple in Ireland: you generally need the landowner's permission, and public land does not automatically allow camping. Campsites are the safe choice.

The drive

From Dingle the route runs clockwise through Milltown Bridge and Ventry, with its beach, to Dunbeg Fort and the beehive huts near Fahan. Next come Slea Head with its crucifixion scene, Coumeenole, Dún Chaoin pier, Ballyferriter and Gallarus Oratory. The road is often a cliff road, in places very narrow and single-lane, with a hairpin and a ford at Fahan. Expect livestock on the road at any time.

Planning

Allow at least half a day, more with stops. Summer is busiest. The ferry to the Great Blasket leaves from Dún Chaoin roughly between April and October. There are small parking areas near Dunbeg and Fahan. The peninsula's driving guide asks drivers not to travel in convoy. An Clasach is local access only, and on the Conor Pass vehicles over 2 tonnes may not continue north-east of the summit car park.

Camping

In Ireland you generally need the owner's permission to camp, and public land does not automatically allow camping. National parks and nature reserves set their own rules, and fires are often banned. For motorhomes, campsites are the simplest option. For overnight parking, ask the local authority or site operator beforehand and follow the signs.

FAQs