IDEAS FOR A SLEA HEAD DRIVING TOUR
Imagine yourself walking along high sea cliffs and taking in the sweeping viewing points of the Slea Head Drive. You could also wander through ancient Celtic monuments, walk along green hills, and learn about Gaelic culture. Sit in a typical pub tasting the local brew and listen to live Irish music.
Pick one of our tailor-made tours of Ireland to immerse yourself in the stunning scenery and historic sights. The ideal Irish holiday consists of exploring the cities as well as the countryside, to take in the culture, history and beauty of the Emerald Isle.
Good to know: Our travel experts have designed these Ireland trips so you’ll get the most out of them. But you can also customise your itinerary. For instance, you could add extra nights, optional activities or upgrade your accommodation. Personalise your tour online or speak to your travel consultant.
What is the Slea Head Drive and its points of interest?
Slea Head Drive is a circular road that makes up the westernmost edge of the Dingle Peninsula in the southwest of Ireland. Beginning and ending in the town of Dingle, it is only 47 kilometres (30 miles) long and an easy day trip. Some call it the most scenic drive in Ireland!
The Dingle Peninsula is famous itself as being part of the Wild Atlantic Way and perfect for a road trip. In fact, did you know that National Geographic once declared the Dingle Peninsula “the most beautiful place on earth”?
The peninsula stretches from Tralee all the way to Dunmore Head. And it is known as one of the Irish-speaking regions of Ireland, or Gaeltacht.
If you want to discover Slea Head and the Dingle Peninsula, you can expect steep sea cliffs, windswept islands, friendly dolphins, ancient monuments, and more. You can make this journey in a day, or take longer to explore as much as you wish.
Here are the top things to visit during your Slea Head tour, Ireland:
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Step into history at the Gallarus Oratory
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Stop by Dunquin Harbour with views of the Blasket Islands
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Visit historical sites, such as Dunbeg Fort
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Discover the mythical beehive huts, also named clochán.
On a clear day, you may also be able to admire the Skellig Islands on the horizon. You may recognise Skellig Michael, the largest of the islands, as it was recently featured in the Star Wars film series. We offer boat tours to the islands from the Ring of Kerry as an optional activity.
In the greater Dingle Peninsula, there are also a few more highlights you shouldn’t miss while you’re here. This includes hiking up Mount Brandon for majestic views, spending a sunny day on Inch Beach, and taking on the impressive Conor Pass.
Want to go on an Ireland road trip?
Did we tickle your curiosity with all these fun highlights? Ireland is ripe with them! There are so many areas to discover and scenic drives to experience. For a round trip around the country, we recommend at least 6 to 8 days to make the most of your time here.
Here’s an example of a two-week tour around Ireland, including the Slea Head Drive:
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Day 1 – Arrive in Dublin and explore the city.
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Day 2 – Pick up your rental car and drive north to County Donegal. Overnight in Donegal.
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Day 3 – Start your adventure on the Wild Atlantic Way coastal route. Overnight in Donegal.
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Day 4 – Wander through a Stone Age cemetery and visit majestic sea cliffs. Overnight in Westport.
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Day 5 – Drive around Achill Island. Overnight in Westport.
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Day 6 – Explore the Connemara National Park. Overnight in Galway.
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Day 7 – Sail to the Aran Islands to learn more about Gaelic language and culture. Overnight in Galway.
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Day 8 – See the Cliffs of Moher. Overnight in Doolin.
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Day 9 – Visit the highlights of the Killarney National Park. Overnight in Killarney.
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Day 10 – Tour the Ring of Kerry. Overnight in Killarney.
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Day 11 – Take in the highlights of the Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head Drive. Overnight in Killarney.
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Day 12 – Admire Ireland’s south coast and explore the city of Cork. Overnight in Cork.
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Day 13 – Kiss the Blarney Stone and visit the Rock of Cashel before dropping off your rental car. Spend your last night in Dublin.
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Day 14 – Depart from Dublin Airport.
The best part? You won’t have to worry about where you’re going or sleeping, because your Nordic Visitor travel consultant will plan your trip and sort all the details before you arrive.
We’re with you every step of the way. You’ll receive our Ireland Travel Guide, a hand-marked map with your route, and other useful documents. These include tips for driving in Ireland, such as making you aware that you may encounter road signs in English and Gaelic.
We reserve your accommodation, rent a car for your trip, and can book day tours to fill your itinerary with more adventures. You’ll also have access to our 24/7 emergency helpline should you need to call us at any point.
When is the best time to visit Ireland?
Ireland is a beautiful country all year long. This means you can’t go wrong when you book your Irish getaway. That said, we recommend the summertime or its shoulder months for the best experience.
The summer, consisting of the months of June, July and August, is the high season. It is marked by long daylight hours and the best (and most stable) weather of the year. Attractions also operate under longer hours and more availability than in winter.
However, you may find that top attractions are very popular at this time. Indeed, Ireland attracts visitors from around the world especially in summer.
If you would rather have a quieter holiday, visit during the spring or autumn. These shoulder months include April, May, September and October. During this time, you’ll find the best of both worlds: quieter attractions but plenty of good weather and daylight to explore.
Are you interested in exploring Scotland too?
Combine a tour of Ireland with a road trip around Scotland for an epic Celtic itinerary. We recommend a minimum of 10 days for this, however, so you can have enough time to have a taste of both countries.
To include Slea Head Drive and the Dingle Peninsula in your combination itinerary, we recommend our Ultimate Tour of Scotland and Ireland. This tour is 25 days long, giving you ample time to dive into both cultures and their magnificent landscapes.
You would spend the first 8 days in Scotland, touring the rugged Highlands and even discovering the Isle of Skye. Following that road trip, you would then fly to Dublin to drive around the entire island of Ireland.
Or you could ask your personal Nordic Visitor travel consultant to tailor one of our combination tours with extra days to visit the Dingle Peninsula. Don’t hesitate to ask!
Scotland is a great destination to complement a tour to Ireland. Their cultures and history are so closely linked and you’ll be able to meet the locals and get immersed in both.
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