Slea Head Drive

We begin our journey on the Slea Head Drive, a thirty-mile circuit that encompasses the rugged western tip of the Dingle Peninsula. This route is a highlight of the Wild Atlantic Way, a journey through a landscape where the…

Our first major landmark is Ventry Harbor, or Ceann Trá. This wide, crescent-shaped bay has been a site of human activity for millennia. …

As we continue westward, we encounter the Fahan beehive huts, or clo-kawn. these remarkable dry-stone structures date back centuries, with some potentially originating as early as 2000 BC. …

A unique and charming aspect of the Slea Head Drive is the opportunity to engage with the local agricultural traditions, specifically the feeding and holding of baby lambs. In several locations along the route, local farmers open…

As we approach the tip of Slea Head itself, the road undergoes a dramatic transformation. It narrows significantly as it has been literally carved into the face of the towering cliffs. …

Moving inland slightly on the return leg of the loop, we find the Gallarus Oratory. This ninth-century structure is perhaps the most famous example of early Christian architecture in Ireland. …

The final stage of our journey takes us away from the coast and up into the mountains via the Conor Pass, the highest mountain pass in Ireland reachable by car. The road winds its way up a glacial valley, flanked by dramatic…

Our journey around the Slea Head Drive concludes as we return to the shelter of Dingle Town. We have traversed thirty miles of history, geology, and culture, moving from the Neolithic to the modern era. …