The Dingle Peninsula is one of Ireland’s most impressive coastal regions. The scenic route called Slea Head Drive is one of the most famous things to do around Dingle. During your 1-day road trip, you will find beautiful cliffs, beaches and charming villages. The route is also part of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. You might already know the more famous Ring of Kerry, however, I favour the Slea Head Drive! You are 100% in for an adventure including stunning landscapes and cosy pubs. As it is a driving route, it is best to be done with a rental car. Book your rental car here!
In this guide, I’ll take you through the best stops along the Slea Head Drive, including some bonus tips on other must-sees on Dingle Peninsula. Furthermore, I highlight where to eat and drink in Dingle as well as the best hotels to stay in to make the most of your time during this road trip!
Looking for another drive in Ireland? Read my guide to the Ring of Kerry!No car? It is also possible to explore the Slea Head Drive on a guided tour from Killarney.
Inch Beach House, Adam's Town House, The Grapevine Hostel, Dingle Garden Townhouse
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The Slea Head Drive is a 47-kilometre circular route starting and ending in Dingle. With stops at the main highlights, allow 3 to 5 hours. Important is that you must drive it clockwise. It is not allowed to drive in the other direction to ensure a good traffic flow and a safer driver experience.
As the roads are narrow, take your time when driving and be mindful of potential sheep on the road. Furthermore, make sure to follow the road signs with Slea Head Drive instead of relying on Google Maps. Lastly, in Ireland, you drive on the left.
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Parking is one of the most common practical questions about the route. Here is what to expect at each main stop:
Coumeenoole Beach and Dunmore Head: Large free car park above the beach (signposted as Slea Head Parking). The walk to Dunmore Head starts from here. There is a €1 honesty box donation for the Dunmore Head path. Arrive early in summer as the car park fills up quickly.
Dunquin Pier: No official car park but free off-road parking on the clifftops above the pier. Do not drive onto the pier itself, it is too narrow and steep for cars and gets blocked every year by tourists who try.
Caifé na Trá: Small roadside parking directly at the cafe.
Dingle town: Paid parking in the town centre. Follow signs for the main car parks on arrival.
1. Dingle Town
2. Hold a Baby Lamp
3. Caifé na Trá
4. Coumeenoole Beach
5. Dunmore Head
6. Dunquin Pier
7. Tig Bhric & West Kerry Brewery
Bonus:
1. Conor Pass
2. Inch Beach
3. Mount Brandon
These stops are listed in clockwise order from Dingle, which is the correct direction for the route. Allow around 3 to 5 hours for the full loop with stops.
As Dingle is the start and end point of the Slea Head Drive, this is the perfect place to kick off your day or to relax after your road trip. In Dingle. Some spots to include in your visit to Dingle are:
If you are visiting Ireland, you are probably already prepared to run into sheep on the road and everywhere around. A ‘unique’ experience (well, read one that is very popular on social media) is to visit a baby lamb farm. On the Slea Head Drive you will find the hotspot ‘Hold a Baby Lamp’. Just follow the signs along the road if you are interested! Nevertheless, we decided to skip this experience.
This cafe is a must visit! This lovely and cosy cafe offers the perfect coffee or lunch stop with incredible views over the ocean. The cute chairs, the view, the nice staff, the homey vibes, there is no reason not to visit. Well, only when they are closed, as in winter they close for business and the cafe shouldn’t be visited (as it is their home!). So, please make sure to check opening times before visiting.
When visiting Ireland, you might not in the first place think of beautiful beaches. Well, Coumeenoole is definitely worth visiting and is one of the most photographed spots on the drive. It is a perfect place for a scenic walk on the beach and to take in the coastal views. What surprised me most, was the bright blue water! Amazing. Park at the free Slea Head Parking car park above the beach and combine a visit to the beach with a walk up to Dunmore Head. Note that swimming is not recommended due to strong currents.
From the beach, you can hike straight up to Dunmore Head. This is the westernmost point of mainland Ireland and offers amazing views. From the parking area it is only a short hike up to the head, where you can overlook the cliffs and the ocean. In my opinion, this was one of the most beautiful spots on the Slea Head Drive. here is a €1 honesty box donation at the gate. Star Wars fans will recognise the location from The Last Jedi, where scenes of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi retreat were filmed here.
Another iconic sight in Ireland, that you might recognize from the post cards is the Dunquin Pier. The pier is the ferry dock for the Blasket Islands, but might be most popular for the twisting road descending towards the water. Even though you might not take the ferry, these views still make Dunquin Pier worth the visit. It takes some time wandering around to find the right photo spot, as unfortunately, when just walking down the winding path you won’t find it. Try to stay up hill and get close to the edge for the best shots. Parking is free on the clifftops above the pier. You cannot drive onto the pier itself.
On the Slea Head Drive you can also find the Tig Bhric & West Kerry Brewery, a must-visit for craft beer lovers. It is one of Ireland’s smallest breweries and worth a taste (or of course to take it with you!).
The Slea Head Drive is focused on the west of the Dingle Peninsula and offers the most beautiful coastle views. Nevertheless, Dingle Peninsula has more to offer! Prior to the drive, we visited the Conor Pass and afterwards we stayed at a lovely guesthouse overlooking Inch Beach.
As mentioned, before heading to the Slea Head Drive, it is possible to take a detour to Conor Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in Ireland. The drive offers breathtaking views over the Dingle Peninsula. At the top, you have multiple look-out points/parking spots. The first one, is next to Peddlers Lake. From the parking, you can climb up over the rocks and visit a beautiful lake, making up for a good break and adventure. A little further down the pass, you can hike up for views over Dingle Peninsula.
Also, be prepared for narrow roads and having to wait for passing cars. Drive carefully! I would advise to drive the Conor Pass towards Dingle.
This beach is a long and sandy beach, perfect for a relaxing walk. It is one of the largest and longest beaches in Ireland and makes up for a perfect stop on the way. We stayed the night in a guesthouse at the beach. Also, visit a pub called Foley’s Bar and Restaurant when staying at Inch Beach. We had a really fun night here including a lovely dinner.
If you want to add another hike to your Dingle Peninsula adventure, you can add Mount Brandon, one of the highest peaks of Ireland. We decided to not add this to our roadtrip as it costs quite some time to include this hike in the route. However, if you have more time available, it seems to be a lovely adventure!
We stayed at Inch Beach for the lovely views over the beach which gave a different perspective on Dingle Peninsula. Nevertheless, I would personally advise to stay the night in Dingle as there is simply more to do and we found it to be a lovely town. Unfortunately, we now had to skip the quirky pubs, which you don’t want to!
Inch Beach House near Dingle – Alternatively, you can continue your drive after the Cliff Walk to your next stop. Inch Beach House is the perfect place to start your tour around the Dingle Peninsula. Rooms start from €170 a night, with a minimum of 2 nights in peak season.
Adam’s Town House in Dingle – Centrally located in Dingle, this is the perfect base to further explore the area. You can book a room for €160 a night.
The Grapevine Hostel in Dingle – Offers hostel beds and private rooms (for 2 or 3 persons) for those looking for budget accommodation. A twin private room starts from €110 a night and a dorm-bed at €35.
Dingle Garden Townhouse in Dingle – A lovely bed and breakfast with beautiful rooms located near the city centre. Rooms start from €144 a night.
Check out all hotels in Dingle.
Without stops, the 47km loop takes about one hour. With stops at the main highlights including Dingle Town, Caifé na Trá, Coumeenoole Beach, Dunmore Head and Dunquin Pier, allow 3 to 5 hours. A full day gives you the most flexibility and time to add the Conor Pass before the drive.
In my opinion, yes. The Slea Head Drive is shorter, less crowded and the coastal scenery is equally dramatic. It covers a more concentrated area, which means you spend less time driving and more time at the actual stops. If you only have time for one, choose the Slea Head Drive. If you have two days, do both.
Yes. The Slea Head Drive is a driving route and cannot realistically be done by public transport. The best way is to rent a car in Dublin (if you are on a full Ireland road trip) or in Killarney. If you do not have a car, guided day tours from Dingle are available.
Clockwise only. Driving anticlockwise is not permitted on this route, both for safety reasons and to maintain traffic flow on the narrow roads. Starting from Dingle, drive west along the coast toward Ventry and continue clockwise around the peninsula.
