Active Pursuits

Beaches

The Dingle Peninsula has some of the most dramatic beaches in Ireland. The most famous is Inch Strand -- a 5km-long (3-mile) creamy stretch of sand dunes in the town of Inch (Inse) -- but one of the most striking is Kilmurray Bay at Minard where, in the shadow of Minard Castle, giant sandstone boulders form a beach unlike anything you've ever seen. It's definitely not safe for swimming, but ideal for a picnic.

Like Minard, Trabeg Beach confronts the southwest storms of the Atlantic head on. Here, during ebb tide, you will find exquisite wave-sculptured, maroon sandstone shapes below sheer rock cliffs, and small sea caves lined with veins of crystalline quartz. The beauty of the rock sculptures combined with the roar of the surf is magical.

Some of the calmest beaches in this area for swimming are east of Castlegregory, on the more protected west side of Tralee Bay. The beach at Maherabeg has a coveted European Blue Flag (meaning it is exceptionally unpolluted and environmentally safe), and the beaches of Brandon Bay are particularly scenic -- great for walking and swimming.

Bicycling

Mountain bikes can be rented at the Mountain Man, Strand Street, Dingle (tel. 066/915-2400), for €11 ($14) per day or €55 ($72) per week, or from Foxy John Moriarty, Main Street, Dingle (tel. 066/915-1316), for essentially the same price. Workers at both shops know the area well, and can suggest a number of day trips or overnight touring options. Foxy John's has the added advantage of also being a pub, although you might want to save your pints until after your bike ride. One possible day trip is to take the road out to the tip of the peninsula past Slea Head and Clogher Head. The scenery is outrageously beautiful and the journey is hilly, but not ridiculously so.

Bird-Watching

In summer, the small, uninhabited islands surrounding Great Blasket attract flocks of nesting seabirds, including vast numbers of storm petrels. From Clogher Head north of Dunquin at the western extremity of the Dingle Peninsula, rare autumn migrants can sometimes be seen. Inch Peninsula, extending into Castlemaine Harbour south of Inch town, is a wintering ground for brent geese, which arrive in late August and move on in April; there is also a large wigeon population in the fall.

Diving

On the North Dingle Peninsula, Harbour House, The Maharees, Castlegregory, County Kerry (tel. 066/713-9292; www.waterworld.ie), is a diving center that offers packages including diving, room, and board at good rates. Classes for beginners are available. The house is yards from the Scraggane Pier and a short boat ride from most of the diving sites. Sadly, the much beloved Dingle Dive Centre (www.divedingle.com) lost its lease in 2006 and was still looking for a new location as this book went to press. If you're interested in diving with them, check their website to see if they've found a home by the time of your trip.

Golf

Sixteen kilometers (10 miles) west of Dingle Town, on the western edge of the Dingle Peninsula, overlooking the Atlantic, the Dingle Golf Club (Ceann Sibéal), Ballyferriter (tel. 066/915-6255; www.dinglelinks.com), welcomes visitors to play its 18-hole, par-72 course. Greens fees are €45 to €60 ($59-$78) on weekdays and €55 to €70 ($72-$91) on weekends, depending on the season.

Horseback Riding

At Dingle Horse Riding, Ballinaboula House, Dingle (tel. 066/915-2199), rides are available along nearby beaches or through the mountains. A 1 1/2-hour mountain ride starts at €25 ($33). Half-day, full-day, and 3- to 5-day packages including accommodations, meals, and riding can be arranged.

Sailing

The Dingle Sailing Club, c/o The Wood, Dingle (tel. 066/915-1984), offers an array of courses taught by experienced, certified instructors. Summer courses run €130 to €180 ($169-$230).

Sea Angling

For packages and day trips, contact Nicholas O'Connor at Angler's Rest, Ventry (tel. 066/915-9947), or Seán O'Conchúir (tel. 066/915-5429), representing the Kerry Angling Association.

Walking

The Dingle Way begins in Tralee and circles the peninsula, covering 153km (95 miles) of gorgeous mountain and coastal landscape. The most rugged section is along Brandon Head, where the trail passes between Mount Brandon and the ocean. The views are tremendous, but the walk is long (about 24km/15 miles, averaging 9 hr.) and strenuous, and should be attempted only by experienced walkers and in good weather. The section between Dunquin and Ballyferriter (also 24km/15 miles) follows an especially lovely stretch of coast. For more information, see The Dingle Way Map Guide, available in local tourist offices and shops.

Another good walk is the ascent up Mount Brandon. The approach from the west is a more gradual climb, but the walk from the eastern, Cloghane side is far more interesting and passes the pastoral beauty of the Paternoster Lakes. The road to the trail head is signposted just past Cloghane on the road to Brandon town; drive about 5km (3 miles) on this road to a small parking lot and the Lopsided Tea House. Be sure to bring plenty of water and food, gear for wind and rain, and a good map. The trail climbs through fields, past an elaborate grotto, and along the slope of an open hillside where red-and-white poles clearly mark the way. As you round the corner of the high open hillside, the Paternoster Lakes and Brandon come into view. The walk through this glacial valley toward the base of the mountain is the most beautiful part -- if the weather's bad, you won't have wasted your time if you turn around before reaching the summit.

The only seriously strenuous leg is the climb out of this valley to the ridge, a short but intense scramble over boulders and around ledges. Once you reach the ridge top, turn left and follow the trail another .4km (.25 mile) or so to the summit. You can return the way you came or continue south along the ridge, returning to Cloghane on the Pilgrim's Route, an old track that circumnavigates the Dingle Peninsula. Although this is a day hike (about 4 hr. to the summit and back), and very well marked, it shouldn't be taken too lightly -- bring all necessary supplies and let someone know when you expect to return. Information on routes and weather conditions is available at the Cloghane visitor center.

Hidden Ireland Tours, Dingle (tel. 888/246-9026 in the U.S., or 087/221-4002; www.hiddenirelandtours.com), offers a week of easy to moderate guided hiking through some of Ireland's most beautiful scenery. It takes in parts of the Kerry Way, Killarney National Park, the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, Skellig Michael, and the Dingle Peninsula. The cost, including luggage transfers and accommodations, runs around €2,250 ($2,925) per person. Available April to September.

Windsurfing

The beaches around Castlegregory offer a variety of conditions for windsurfing. Those on the eastern side of the peninsula are generally calmer than those to the west. Equipment can be hired from Jamie Knox Watersports, Maharees, Castlegregory, County Kerry (tel. 066/713-9411; www.jamieknox.com), on the road between Castlegregory and Fahamore. Kayaks can also be rented for €25 ($33) per hour.