Day 8 (Dingle)

We began our morning with a full Irish breakfast, lovingly prepared by our host, Mary. It was the perfect start to the day—hearty and filling. Afterward, we spent some time chatting with her husband, Michael, who shared stories and local knowledge. We also admired their beautiful garden, full of vibrant hydrangeas and tucked just across from the ocean.

With the car packed, we made our way out of Castlegregory and soon found ourselves climbing Conor Pass, one of the most scenic mountain routes in Ireland. The winding road offered panoramic views northeast over Castlegregory (Slide 5) and northwest toward Dingle town (Slide 7). The scenery was simply breathtaking, with glacial valleys, serene lakes, and distant peaks unfolding around every bend. We parked at the main overlook and hiked up the rocky trail to a higher viewpoint (Slides 9–20), where we spotted cotton grass—a small plant we’d also seen in Iceland (Slide 21). After soaking in the views, we descended into Dingle town.

We made a quick stop at SuperValu to pick up supplies for lunch: cheese, bread, and salami—our go-to picnic fare. This was the first of two visits to SuperValu that day. The store was especially convenient with its public toilets, something we always appreciated while on the road. Dingle was a charming seaside village, though crowded with tourists this time of year. We decided to make a circle around the coastline following Slea Head Drive.

Our first stop was Dunbeg Fort, an Iron Age cliff fort perched dramatically above the sea (Slides 22–26). After parking, we walked past traditional stone fences and admired the small gift shop with a stone roof, which echoed the site’s historic character. The fort offered dramatic views over the Atlantic and a glimpse into the rugged lifestyle of the past.

Next, we visited Cashel Murphy, an inland multi-ring stone fort surrounded by hills and pastures (Slides 27–38). The drone shot (Slide 39) provides a stunning overhead view of the complex, with its inner and outer circular walls. We explored the narrow passages and central enclosures, imagining what life might have been like in these ancient dwellings.

We continued along the rugged Dingle coastline, famously featured in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Slides 40–49). Along the way, we passed wildflowers and sheep scattered along steep hillsides (Slides 45–46). At Slea Head, we stopped for our picnic lunch, enjoying the powerful waves and windswept cliffs (Slide 40).

Just after lunch, we visited the Blasket Centre (Slide 41), a museum dedicated to the now-abandoned Blasket Islands and their former inhabitants. We didn’t go in, as the entrance fee was €10, and we were still on the lookout for public toilets.

Back in Dingle, we returned to SuperValu, took advantage of the restrooms again, and grabbed coffee from the machine in the store café. A sign taped to the machine (Slide 47) gave us a laugh—a little bit of Irish humor. Fully refreshed, we began our long drive east, stopping at the Inch Beach overlook (Slides 51–53) for some final photos of the bay. Its peaceful curve of sand and the mountains of Kerry in the distance made for a fitting farewell.

We stopped for diesel at the SuperValu in Boherbue, where they had a good price—€1.67 per liter, about $7.30 USD per gallon. It cost roughly €60 to fill the Skoda’s tank.

The drive took us through a region of arable farmland, with plenty of agricultural scenes that reminded me of parts of England.

In the late afternoon, we arrived at our next Airbnb, hosted by Selina in Fethard, County Tipperary (Slides 52–56). The house was cozy and peaceful, a welcome break after a full day on the road. We made some coffee in the kitchen and, after unwinding for a bit, decided to head into Fethard for dinner. We settled on pizza from The Lantern takeout, which turned out to be very good. Back at the Airbnb, we ate dinner and watched some TV before heading to bed.