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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 01:16 AM
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Dingle peninsula

Is the Dingle Peninsula a good place to appreciate the greenery and castles of Ireland?
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 02:39 AM
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Why isn't anyone replying
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 03:08 AM
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Perhaps people suspect that you are trolling.
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 03:33 AM
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I'm not...I'm just passionate about travel and like talking about it. I hope people answer this one
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 03:39 AM
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The Dingle P. has the greenery your looking for and stunning views with many places to stop and enoy. I don't remember castles though.
It's also has much less traffic that tne Ring of Kerry.
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 03:43 AM
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You will LOVE Dingle. Be sure to take the road around the tip of the island, there's a full length or half way route. Honestly, my family and I all agree that Dingle was much better in our opinion then the hyped Ring of Kerry. If you are entering the peninsula from the north, Tralee area, and the weather is nice, you MUST travel through Connor's Pass, stunningly beautiful. (You will notice carve out areas along the side of the mountain where you will pull off into letting oncoming cars go by, and they'll do the same for you. Don't worry because traffic is generally light and rather slow, everyone is enjoying the view. You can take the coast road back into the mainland if you want after your visit.) The residents in Dingle still speak Gaelic. Enjoy the easily walkabout town, the pubs are wonderful where locals play Irish music, there are nice restaurants as well. We stayed at the Lighthouse B&B, beautiful location, and Mary & Denise were great. We traveled the south portion of Ireland from Galway to Dublin and just loved it, and Dingle is considered to us one of the main highlights. I recommend when you come out of Dingle go northeast through Killarney National Park (Muckross house is very interesting so take a tour)and skip the ring of Kerry. Enjoy your trip.
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 03:47 AM
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Oh! I forgot to mention, I do not recall any castles in Dingle. There are ancient small ruins along the coast with good history. We drove the half route around Dingle, perhaps someone else can advise better on this topic. If you are going near Waterford, treat yourself and stay a night at Waterford Castle, it's rather expensive but really nice. Enjoy!
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 04:16 AM
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There are castles at Dingle:
http://www.megalithicireland.com/Minard%20Castle.html
http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction...nty_Kerry.html
http://www.britainirelandcastles.com...us-Castle.html

The drive-by visitor might miss them.
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 04:23 AM
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Wow thanks everyone!!
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 08:26 AM
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Was out doing stuff this morning. not to worry always lots of answers on Dingle questions.

Dingle has a small tower house and the remains of 2 more small towerhouse's However depending on your arrival airport there are many good examples of Tower House and walled castles before you hit the Peninsula. From Shannon you pass Bunratty and King Johns castles which are two of the main tourist castles, Adare has the walled Desmond (Adare) Castle, Listowel castle is a fine towerhouse and for a Castle stay you could opt for Ballyseede in Tralee.

Had you opted for the Cliffs on your list then Clare boasts 100 castles in various states of repair http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coc...of_castles.htm

Dingle: If dropping in from SNN via Limerick, Adare, Listowel and Tralee take the northern route past Castlegregory and over the Connor Pass into Dingle. With a couple of hours you can drive the Slea Head loop (Clockwise).

If you want to get out from the car and do some Walking Castlegregory is a good base for hill and beach http://www.castlegregorykerry.com/ac...y-walking.html the northern part of the peninsula on Tralee bay and the Maharees gets very little of the overseas tourist trade so is little mentioned but is possibly some of the best of the peninsula. Glentenassig Forest is also worth a look if you have the time.
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Old Jul 16th, 2015, 09:14 AM
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Tony's dedication to discouraging Dingle tourism is impressive: drive in; drive around; get out.

Don't set foot on the beaches like the sweeping ones at Ventry or Smerwick, or the beautiful smaller ones at Coumeenoole or Clogher. Don't look at the antiquities like Gallarus oratory, or the monastic remains at Riasc, or the beehive huts, or Dunbeg fort, or the Ogham stones at Burnham, or Gallarus castle. Don't get out of the car to look at Dunmore Head, or to descend to the harbour at Faill Mor. Don't visit the Blasket Centre, or consider a boat trip to the Great Blasket. Don't drive over the Mam Clasach from Ventry to Dunquin despite the great views it offers. Don't walk up to Ballydavid Head or down to Brandon Creek. Don't go looking for the lake on Mount Eagle because it involves a walk on a mountain.
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