Dingle Peninsula - Ireland 2014 - page 338

Dingle's activity level peaks in July and August and really dies off-season. If you're
traveling during the summer months, it's wise to reserve your B&B in advance. I've gen-
erally listed hours for the tourist season (April-Sept). Hours may be longer in July and
August, and most places cut back or shut down entirely from October to March.
Orientation to Dingle
Dingle—extremely comfortable on foot—hangs on a medieval grid of streets between the
harborfront (where the bus to Tralee, with the nearest train station, stops) and Main Street
(three blocks inland). Nothing in town is more than a 15-minute walk away. Street num-
bers are used only when more than one place is run by a family of the same name. Most
locals know most locals, and people on the street are fine sources of information. Remem-
ber, locals love their soda bread, and tourism provides the butter. You'll find a warm and
sincere welcome.
Tourist Information
The TI has a great town map (free) and a staff who know the town, but less about the
rest of the peninsula (July-Aug Mon-Sat 9:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-17:00, less off-season, on
Strand Street by the water, tel. [phone]). For additional advice on outdoor activities,
drop by the Mountain Man shop on Strand Street (see “Helpful Hints,” later), or talk to
your B&B host.
Arrival in Dingle
By Bus: Dingle has no bus station and only one bus stop, on the waterfront behind the
SuperValu supermarket (look for the bus shelter with the roof made from an overturned
black currach boat).
By Car: Drivers choose two roads into town: the easy southern route on N-86 or the
much more dramatic, scenic, and treacherous Conor Pass on R-569 (see “Route Tips for
Drivers,” at the end of this chapter). It's 30 miles (48 km) from Tralee either way. If you're
not staying overnight (i.e., parking at your B&B), use the waterfront parking lot extending
west from the TI (€1/hour, pay at meter in lot and display on dashboard, daily 8:00-18:00).
By Plane: Kerry Airport, halfway between Tralee and Killarney, is a one-hour drive
from Dingle. For more on this airport and information on how to connect to Dingle, see
the end of this chapter.