The Slea Head Drive

The Slea Head Drive is a 30-kilometre looped drive that starts and ends in Dingle. The location is trendy among foreign and local visitors for its panoramic views.

Winding drive
The Slea Head Drive stretches across the western tip of the stunning Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. Part of the Wild Atlantic Way, it comprises magnificent scenery and historic sites. The loop starts and ends in the iconic seaside town of Dingle and includes the small villages of Ventry, Fahan, Dunquin, BallyFerriter, Ballydavid, and Slea Head itself.

The Slea Head Drive is one of Kerry's most popular and beloved tourist attractions. Some visitors find the place so adorable that they have already visited it several times. The drive has numerous impressive stops, marvellous viewpoints, and hidden gems. On the way there, you will pass some unique prehistoric settlements, “Beehive Huts.” Slea Head, which is located at the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula, is easily accessible via the winding drive, too.

The best time to explore Slea Head Drive is early in the morning or in the evening. Weekdays are usually much quieter on the Drive. Visitors share that almost no other traffic can be encountered mid-week summer evening.

Hiking, swimming and exploring
After starting the route from the fishing town of Dingle, you may follow signs for Ventry. The Gaeltacht village of Ventry offers horseriding along the Blue Flag beach or in the spectacular mountains. Be ready for lots of stops, as Fahan has many unique places. One of them is the Dunbeg Fort, a small ancient clifftop fort. That is where the road snakes along the stunning Atlantic Coast. Visiting the Slea Head Famine Cottages gives tourists a glimpse of what life was like in the mid-19th century. People used to live in these cottages during the Great Famine. The viewpoint of ‘Ceann Sleibhe’ is worth a quick stop as a farm is nearby. One of the most fun and heartwarming things to do here is to hold and pet baby lambs! Both kids and adults will undoubtedly enjoy the activity.

The following viewpoint offers some of the most impressive views of the Blasket Islands, a group of uninhabited islands that can be reached only by local ferry from Dunquin Pier. The large white cross across the road overlooking the ocean makes this pull-in even more unique. If time allows, stop at Coumeenoole Beach. You can leave your car at a free spot and walk down to the beach. This secluded beach has lovely white sands and epic views of the Blasket Islands. On sunny days, the place is incredibly popular with foreigners and locals. You can continue discovering the area by hiking, as the trailhead begins close to the Coumeenoole Beach parking lot and crosses Dunmore Head to the Devil Horns—the highest point of the trail play house for the Coumeenoole Ogham Stone. The route finishes at the Devil Horns, a rock formation that breaks out into the ocean.

The Dunquin Pier is another favourite pull-in. Watching the sunset from the cliff above the pier is truly exciting. The cliffs around the pier are uneven, unmarked, and extremely dangerous; thus, all visitors should take extreme care. Kids are not allowed to approach the cliffs without supervision. It may be tempting to drive your car down a winding path, but please do not attempt to do so! From the Dunquin Pier, you can access the Blasket Islands by ferry. If time does not allow such a journey, you can visit the Great Blasket Centre. The centre provides vivid documentation of the lives of people who inhabited the island before it was abandoned in 1953.

Another short but beautiful hike lies across the headland to Clogher Head. Movie fans might recognize the area, as some scenes of the new Star Wars movies were shot here. The Star Wars production team couldn´t resist the magic of Slea Head and also replicated the beehive huts of Skellig Michael at the nearby Sybil Head.

Clogher Strand is a small beach featuring a perfect spot for a swim on hot days. The spectacular views include Inishtooskert Island or “Dead Mans” island. It only takes one look to understand why it’s called the sleeping giant. The beach at Ferriters Cover is worth a short visit, too. It’s a better option on busier days as it tends to be quieter than other local beaches.

The final portion of the Slea Head drive passes through the Ballydavid area, which hosts a stone church and a legendary Brandon Creek. Gallarus Oratory is the oldest untouched stone church in Ireland. The early Christian church has remained intact for over 1000 years due to the technique it was built with, known as corballing. Brandon Creek is a starting point for the voyage to America made by St Brendan long before Christopher Columbus.

Driving tips
Although the Slea Head drive can be driven in either direction, we highly recommend driving clockwise from Dingle. The key reason for this is the easier accessibility of the pull-ins this way. You get incredible views as you wind around the coast for there is only enough room for one car.

When the road gets narrow, please be careful when pulling in. Take care driving during wet weather as the road surface can accumulate a lot of water. Also, in some places, rivers may flow across the road. Only stop at designated stops and viewing areas to make way for other visitors. Avoid blocking the road if there is no parking at a viewing area. You can always circle back afterwards to see it or continue to the next stop. Please pay special attention to cyclists and pedestrians, as the Slea Head Drive is popular with cyclists and walkers. Please note that Slea Head Drive is open to two-way traffic, which may lead to traffic jams. Many viewing areas have limited parking and may be full, making visiting impossible.

Regarding drive time, you need around 3 to 4 hours to cover the entire loop. It is evident that the Slea Head Drive deserves much more time to explore. If you are not limited in time, you can spend a whole day here as there is so much to see and so many places to stop. Epic viewpoints, untouched beaches and delicious places to eat await you!