Slideshow: Driving about Dingle

A pictorial journey through southwestern Ireland's most spectacular landscape

AN DAINGEAN, Ireland – Ring of Kerry? Been there, done that. You, too? Repeat visitors to the southwest of Ireland, particularly those based in Killarney or Tralee, should skip a second spin around the justifiably famous Ring of Kerry – the larger, middle peninsula of three on the far west coast of County Kerry – in favor of the less-visited, oddly named Dingle Peninsula just to the north. A Gaeltacht, or Irish-speaking, region with only one real town to speak of – the  charming fishing village of Dingle, or “An Daingean” in Irish – the Dingle Peninsula offers stunningly stark vistas, expansive beaches, haunting ruins both ancient and “modern,” and loads of room, glorious room and wide open spaces miles from the madding crowds (and motor coaches).

Check out this slideshow of Dingle’s prehistoric forts, abandoned 19th century “famine cottages,” sweeping shorelines, candy-colored storefronts, waterfalls and lonely strands – sure to whet your appetite for more. (Self-drives are easy enough in Dingle, but, looking for insider expertise and insights, I toured the peninsula with a town car and driver/guide furnished by Brendan Vacations of Chatsworth, Calif. Airfare was provided by Aer Lingus, which flies to nearby Shannon Aiport and Dublin nonstop from the U.S.)

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