mike

I'll be in Ireland first part of August & <BR>our schedule will allow us to tour either Ring of Kerry or the Dingle Peninsula. <BR>I'm looking for your recommendations & thoughts on this.

Dawn

Hands down the dingle peninsula. I'm sure many others will agree with me on this. Hope you will be able to spend a couple of days there

herself

I agree with Dawn. Ring of Kerry is a day long trip.

Charlie

Hi Mike <BR>Dingle's the one.If you luck out with a clear cloudless day the view from Conners Pass is awesome.I'm jealous as can be,have a great trip !!

Kam

For sure Dingle. Next fall we'll spend 3 nights in Dingletown. Each time we go back to Ireland we increase the amount of time spent on the Dingle Peninsula. Ring of Kerry is pretty, but too developed and touristy.

Kris

Dingle is really beautiful. If you're looking for a B&B we stayed at Mt Eagle Lodge in Ventry, just west of Dingle town. Great B&B, hosts Eric & Eleanor are very knowledgeable about the area and what to see.

Deb

Hands down...Dingle. The Connor Pass is spectacular (regardless of the weather). Also Dingle Town has some very nice places to eat and stay.

Joan Doyle

Dear Mike: I'd vote for Dingle, too--but the time of year you'll be there makes it less desirable. Check out the Beara Peninsula--west of Kenmare. No tour busses and it's LOVELY. Good trip. Joan

mary

Another vote for Dingle.

marylouise

My family just returned from a week on the Dingle Peninsula.The scenery was absolutely spectacular. We rented a house overlooking Brandon Bay and had every intention of doing the Ring of Kerry but found so much in Dingle that we decided to focus our touring there.While I cannot compare the two I can say Dingle was breathtaking. The Conor Pass is not to be missed and we drove it several times. We were fortunate to see it with and without fog. The other road that bisects the Peninsula from north to south goes from the town of Camp to Inch and that was beautiful as well. The peninsula has no full "circle" as such so you could take the Conor Pass one way and the Camp to Inch road the other. Slea Head drive offered more oceanside beauty as well as having numerous sites of interest to stop and ponder along the way such as Gallarus Oratory that's so very old and looks as if the stone work was constructed yesterday. Kilmakedar Church, the stoneage beehive huts and the ancient Dunbeg Fort. <BR>These things were either free or just a couple of pounds to enter. Rick Steves website has a self drive tour description that gave super directions and an interesting commentary of what you would see as you go. I downloaded it and found it very helpful and informative.We loved Dingle <BR>Town and had one of our best meals at Murphy's Pub...on the corner across from the pier. Beginish Restaurant in Dingle Town offered lovely and delicious fine dining. Another pub in Ballyferriter offered a great supper as we toured late in the early evening. It is light until 11:00 pm in June. <BR>It was our first trip to Ireland so I'm no expert but while we were there(6/17 to 6/23 on Dingle) we saw a few tour buses on the Slea Head drive and in Dingle Town but no tour bus could fit on the Conor Pass road. The Blasket Center is another take in and if you had the time there are boats to the Blasket Islands. We never did get to do that or the boat ride to see Fungie the dolphin but that, I heard or the EcoBoat rides were nice. If you get stuck with rain ( as we did for only one afternoon)...the aquarium was small but interesting (we had our 2 children with us!) Another area to explore was where we were staying(inCastlegregory's Goulane area). The roads are just small off shoots of the main peninsula road on the north side...Brandon Head was barely a road leading to yet another breathtaking view of oceanside cliffs in a very remote setting and Brandon Bay has a TINY "center" at the pier where you can eat or watch the sunset from the pub there.The Mahareese Peninsula and Goulane area had beautiful beaches to take a refreshing walk amidst a beautiful ocean view and glorious mountains. Frommers' tour guide recommended one of them...Kilcummin Beach as a "best." It was across the road from our cottage. I could go on and on...you can see we had a wonderful time! Even a week there was not enough!!!!There is still more we would like to take in there. <BR>We had a night in Galway,one near Cashel and two nights in Dublin...all fun...but we all agreed that the week at Dingle was the best. Have a most enjoyable trip!!! <BR>marylouise <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

herself

Isn't it strange, we all agree on Dingle vs the Ring of Kerry. Have you noticed that all escorted tours include the Ring? Could it be a no brainer. You get the tourist on the bus, and keep them there for 6 hours. No need to do anything else for the day. <BR>I also vote for the Beara and Conor Pass. <BR>Tourist have not found Beara yet. It is a beautiful and strange site. <BR>Have fun.

Kathleen

I have to vote for Dingle too! This spring I spent five days there, then shortened my stay in Sligo so I could have two more days there! And I'll go back again and again. <BR>The Beara Peninsula is stunning too. I only had one day there, and will spend more time there on my next trip. Dursey Island is incredible, and I hope to take the cable car across next time! <BR>I did the Ring of Kerry last year, but I but nothing stands out in my memory. We had an early start from Dingle to get out to the Skelligs (worth the journey), so I zoned out for the ride to Kenmare!

cecelia

I have to vote for dingle also. Have done the ring of kerry twice and enjoyed dingle best. We where there in May it rained but just before we got to where we were going to get out it stopped raining. Had a very good time plan on going back in the future. So have a really great time.

jack

Another vote for Dingle Peninsula. Conor Pass interesting and spectacular. Dingle Town quaint. Agree the Gallarus Oratory interesting. See Slea Head. If you go to Ring of Kerry, check out Parknasilla, the have a hotel there that GBShaw stayed in and wrote one of his plays. Food excellent at the inn and views unsurpassed. Don't forget to see Kenmare a few miles away, and Lakes of Killarney. Enjoy.

Tom

The Ring of Kerry is beautiful -- especially if seen from above the motorway. Several years ago I did a self guided walking tour of the "Kerry Way". This is a well marked foot path that, in my case, began at Glenbeigh and ended five days later in Killarney. Even in July I experienced peace and quiet, beautiful uncrowded scenery, and friendly people. Each night was at a different B&B with my heavy pack sent ahead. I carried only a light day pack, a set of directions and an ordinance survey map. I walked on the "green roads" past lakes, throuigh pine forests, over mountains, and the by the seaside. The pubs were great as was the variety of people you can meet on the Way. I could eat and drink to my hearts content -- knowing I would work it off the next day. My only real imperative was to be at the next lodging sometime later that day. <BR> <BR>For a great non-structured holiday self guided walking tours are worth considering. I'll try Dingle later this year.

Dave Hutchinson

I have not been to Dingle. I am sure that from all of the comments it is great! My wife and I just returned from Ireland recently and enjoyed the Ring of Kerry immensely. You can check out my pictures of our memories of the trip at www.CrazyAboutTravel.com <BR>-Dave- <BR>

CGW

I recomend going to the Dingle Peninsula. The Conner Pass is great but you have to watch out for sheep in the road. If you go to Dingle you should go to a pub. Murphy's Pub has food and Irish traditional music. If you've watched the movie "Ryan's Daughter" you can see areas of the Dingle Peninsula that were in the film.You can also see the ancient Bee-hive Huts that were used by the Stone-age people as homes.Not far from these is an ancient seaside fort called Dunbeg Fort.It was used by the Celts.I hope you have a great trip in Ireland!

Mike

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions, I appreciate every response. I'll let you know how Dingle is when we return

Linda

Dingle is the place to see. The road to Slea Head has some spectacular vistas. Just be cautious about pulling over to photo or enjoy the scenery, not eveyone is prepared to have the car in front of them slowing down. Yes there are shhep in the road but to me that was part of the charm. Connor Pass is great, we crossed the road at the major over-look parking area and climbed up the hill among sheep and had a photo opportunity looking directly down the valley into Dingle! We enjoyed clear weather and it made the scenery more spectacular. The Dingle Pub for music and we had a good meal at the Smokehouse,sitting out on the patio. We have been home for 3 days and I envy those going to Ireland in the near future. The people were terrific and we had many enjoyable pints!

JohnM

We loved Dingle Peninsula. We stumbled upon a book called something like the 'Motorists Guide to Dingle'. It is a locally printed book and is just great. If you are driving, I can not recommend this book enough. It contains a number of excursions through the peninsula. It leads you down some seriously tiny rural roads throughout the peninsula on a quest to find some pretty off-the-beaten-path sites.