Driving the Conor Pass
Aug 18th, 2004, 09:12 PM
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Driving the Conor Pass
Is the view while driving the Conor pass better driving TO Dingle town or AWAY from Dingle town? Or does it not matter? I have two different days on which I can make the drive,and want to choose the most impressive route. Thanks for any advice you can give.
Aug 18th, 2004, 09:57 PM
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It's impressive either way. Going up you're on the inside, whereas going down you're on the outside (sheer drop side), and the road is narrow enough to be daunting when you meet oncoming traffic when you're on the outside, so if that thought makes you nervous it's best to drive up the Pass rather than down it. It's worth a stop at the top, too, which might be easier going up.
Aug 18th, 2004, 10:07 PM
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twoflower....what a helpful answer! We're both nervous about sheer dropoffs,so we'll take your advice and go "up" the pass. Just to make sure I understand this....going "up" means heading FROM Dingle towards Cledhane,right? Thanks so much for a very insightful reply.
Aug 18th, 2004, 10:24 PM
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Sorry, I confused you there. To hug the inside of the road, go from Tralee to Dingle. The other way, from Dingle to Tralee, will have your left-hand wheels hovering over the cliff edge when you meet oncoming traffic! And you will meet oncoming traffic, because it's a popular spot. If you like guinness and a bit of craic, try Dick Mack's pub. The drive around Slea Head is picturesque too.
Aug 19th, 2004, 06:50 AM
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We did it leaving Dingle, and whoa! I was scared! It didn't help that we were driving through soup-thick white fog--no views for us, sadly. But when we emerged from the pass we had sunny blue skies and beautiful beaches to greet us.
Aug 19th, 2004, 08:36 PM
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Budman....I'll plan to make a photo stop at the parking lot at the top. Thanks for telling me about it. I'm going to be posting a few more questions about my upcoming trip, and I'll be in some of the areas you visited earlier this summer. I'll look forward to your help on those matters.
Martha
Martha
Aug 20th, 2004, 02:11 AM
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Going north out of Dingle, heading down the other side of Connor Pass, there is another small parking area. Hike up a short distance over the rocks and you'll discover an amazing hidden mountain lake. Very magical!
Apr 19th, 2006, 06:37 AM
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Hello marthag,
Some time has passed since your posts regarding driving the Conor Pass. I was searching for information on this subject because, in a couple of weeks, my wife, Kathleen, and I will be driving over the pass on our way to Dingle from Adare, where we hope to do some horseback riding on the beaches.
Can you please let us know how you fared during your drive over Conor Pass? We both have the same trepidation that you expressed after reading a book by Kevin O'Hara, "The Last of the Donkey Pilgrims", where he described his journey over Conor Pass.
BTW, Kevin lives in Pittsfield, MA, where we also live. We hope to get to talk to him before our vacation in Ireland.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Some time has passed since your posts regarding driving the Conor Pass. I was searching for information on this subject because, in a couple of weeks, my wife, Kathleen, and I will be driving over the pass on our way to Dingle from Adare, where we hope to do some horseback riding on the beaches.
Can you please let us know how you fared during your drive over Conor Pass? We both have the same trepidation that you expressed after reading a book by Kevin O'Hara, "The Last of the Donkey Pilgrims", where he described his journey over Conor Pass.
BTW, Kevin lives in Pittsfield, MA, where we also live. We hope to get to talk to him before our vacation in Ireland.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Apr 19th, 2006, 06:53 AM
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If you aren't intimidated by narrow roads and cliffside driving, then the most important factor is whether or not the weather is clear. Drive it, regardless of the direction, when you'll be able to enjoy the view. You may not get another chance.
Apr 19th, 2006, 07:14 AM
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Thanks for the tip, TimS. We'll be staying in Adare (DunRaven Arms) for two days prior to driving to Dingle, where we'll stay for four days at Heaton's Guest House. So, we should have some time to pick a nice clear day (hopefully).
Aug 28th, 2006, 08:58 AM
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My wife and I drove the Conor Pass (towards Dingle) this past May. The weather was cloudy and the ceiling was just over the top of the Pass. The views were spectacular. We had some concerns about the dangers of the trip because of some of the postings that appeared on this and other internet sites. However, we found that the route was not really difficult at all.
Descriptions like: "the left wheels hanging over the edge" were not accurate. A short stone wall precluded a fall over the edge most of the way. Several 'carve-outs' were provided at the narrowest spots so that cars could pass each other. I highly recommend this drive, unless the overcast is too low, thereby obscuring the views from the top.
Descriptions like: "the left wheels hanging over the edge" were not accurate. A short stone wall precluded a fall over the edge most of the way. Several 'carve-outs' were provided at the narrowest spots so that cars could pass each other. I highly recommend this drive, unless the overcast is too low, thereby obscuring the views from the top.
Aug 28th, 2006, 09:17 AM
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I have only driven this route once, and that was in thick cloud. I am not a nervous driver and am used to single-track roads but I would never, ever, do it again in bad visibility.
Going down visibility was almost zero. It was so poor that if I had to reverse I would not have been able to as I could see nothing at all out of the rear window. Not only that but the need to concentrate on looking for approaching traffic meant that I did not have time to note where it would be possible to pass.
So. On a clear day just a pleasant, if slightly challenging drive. In cloud, forget it!
Going down visibility was almost zero. It was so poor that if I had to reverse I would not have been able to as I could see nothing at all out of the rear window. Not only that but the need to concentrate on looking for approaching traffic meant that I did not have time to note where it would be possible to pass.
So. On a clear day just a pleasant, if slightly challenging drive. In cloud, forget it!
Aug 28th, 2006, 03:10 PM
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I suggest you plan the Connor's Pass for both ways...because you might find that one of those times you cannot do it because of the weather, and then you would miss it altogether! We were so happy that we drove the Connor's Pass when we travelled from Bunratty to Dingle. We then stayed in Dingle for 3 nights. We were hoping to do the Connor's pass again when leaving Dingle, but the weather was bad, so visibility would have been poor and the drive would have been too dangerous. So we went from Dingle to Ballyvaughan avoiding Connor's Pass.
If you put Connor's Pass in your itinerary going in both directions, that way you won't miss it due to weather!
Our trip was in July 2006. Enjoy! Connor's Pass was gorgeous, it looked like a peek into heaven to me.
If you put Connor's Pass in your itinerary going in both directions, that way you won't miss it due to weather!
Our trip was in July 2006. Enjoy! Connor's Pass was gorgeous, it looked like a peek into heaven to me.
Aug 28th, 2006, 05:38 PM
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I just drove the Conor Pass from Dingle to Blennerville, just outside of Tralee. I thought I was on the "inside" lane - but this contradicts what someone else said.
It was fine, much easier than I thought. What I thought was really scary was Slea Head, just in a couple of spots!
It's a beautiful drive on the Conor Pass. Have fun.
It was fine, much easier than I thought. What I thought was really scary was Slea Head, just in a couple of spots!
It's a beautiful drive on the Conor Pass. Have fun.
Aug 29th, 2006, 06:18 AM
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The northern half of the Conor Pass Rd is that which instills the most fear in drivers. The good news for those who don't appreciate a good moment of terror is that most of the road has been widened. There is still a section near the top that is one lane wide but you can see cars coming so you know to stop and wait before entering. They could probably make it safer by put a light allowing traffic to flow only one direction at a time, but that would take the fun out of it.
The road on the south side of the pass has been widened considerably and is an easy and safe ride in either direction. As far as which is in "inside" lane: Heading south on the Conor Pass road from Castlegregory (Blennerville, Tralee etc), as you climb (driving on the left hopefully), you will be in the lane furthest from the cliff edge. The cliff is to the right. As you descend going in the same direction, the drop off is to the left instead of the right so you will be closer to the edge. The edge is much less frightening on that part of the road.
For the most part, the drive has gotten much easier. I don't know if the plan to widen the last section which will probably infuriate the locals who seem to enjoy the ride. Of course, most of them have lived there all of their lives and are quite used to it.
This is of course, the cause for the discrepancy in drive times between what locals seem to think it takes and tourists, especially those from the States who are not used to driving conditions that require constant attention to both traffic in your direction and in the opposite direction. Roads in the States are not only always wide enough for two large vehicles comfortably, they generally have plenty of room for a biker on the side. You can always tell the tourist driven car in Ireland by the brake lights coming on every time a car approaches in the opposite direction. Granted, for the most part, N roads, especially those in the single digits, are wide roads with plenty of shoulder, sometimes wide enough for slower traffic to pull out of the way for faster moving traffic. Once you hit the smaller roads though, things get more narrow. Drivers from the States aren't used to clearance from passing vehicles' mirrors being about a foot at 60 MPH. Thus, they hit the brakes. That 100 KPH speed limit just becomes a lofty goal as opposed to a requirement for them. My wife still gets nervous when I drive the limit on smaller roads so usually I have to slow down to keep her from hiring a lawyer.
The average driving speed is probably on the increase in Ireland and may be up from the 35 MPH that it used to be for tourists. In the discussion from a poster (who never responded) on driving times to Dingle I used 35 MPH which was probably too conservative given roadway improvements on that route. By passes now exist around Naas, Droichead, Portlaois and formerly the slowest area Limerick which have probably taken more than an hour off the drive time. I can see that a tourist could make that drive in roughly 5 hours without stops. Once you get off those main roads though, the average speed drops precipitously.
OK, rant over.
Bill
The road on the south side of the pass has been widened considerably and is an easy and safe ride in either direction. As far as which is in "inside" lane: Heading south on the Conor Pass road from Castlegregory (Blennerville, Tralee etc), as you climb (driving on the left hopefully), you will be in the lane furthest from the cliff edge. The cliff is to the right. As you descend going in the same direction, the drop off is to the left instead of the right so you will be closer to the edge. The edge is much less frightening on that part of the road.
For the most part, the drive has gotten much easier. I don't know if the plan to widen the last section which will probably infuriate the locals who seem to enjoy the ride. Of course, most of them have lived there all of their lives and are quite used to it.
This is of course, the cause for the discrepancy in drive times between what locals seem to think it takes and tourists, especially those from the States who are not used to driving conditions that require constant attention to both traffic in your direction and in the opposite direction. Roads in the States are not only always wide enough for two large vehicles comfortably, they generally have plenty of room for a biker on the side. You can always tell the tourist driven car in Ireland by the brake lights coming on every time a car approaches in the opposite direction. Granted, for the most part, N roads, especially those in the single digits, are wide roads with plenty of shoulder, sometimes wide enough for slower traffic to pull out of the way for faster moving traffic. Once you hit the smaller roads though, things get more narrow. Drivers from the States aren't used to clearance from passing vehicles' mirrors being about a foot at 60 MPH. Thus, they hit the brakes. That 100 KPH speed limit just becomes a lofty goal as opposed to a requirement for them. My wife still gets nervous when I drive the limit on smaller roads so usually I have to slow down to keep her from hiring a lawyer.
The average driving speed is probably on the increase in Ireland and may be up from the 35 MPH that it used to be for tourists. In the discussion from a poster (who never responded) on driving times to Dingle I used 35 MPH which was probably too conservative given roadway improvements on that route. By passes now exist around Naas, Droichead, Portlaois and formerly the slowest area Limerick which have probably taken more than an hour off the drive time. I can see that a tourist could make that drive in roughly 5 hours without stops. Once you get off those main roads though, the average speed drops precipitously.
OK, rant over.
Bill
