This relatively short and popular Ireland hike takes you to the tip of Dunmore Head, the westernmost point of (mainland) Ireland on the Dingle Peninsula.
Depending on which direction you do the loop, the route (if you’re walking in a clockwise direction), follows the southern side of Dunmore Head.
There are soon some nice views over the Atlantic Ocean, as you look back down towards Coumeenoole Beach.
As the trail reaches the middle of the ridge, you can see Dunmore Head, and a number of rocky islands that extend out from the mainland (the largest strip of rock is Lure Island, or The Lure).
There isn’t much of a trail to the end of Dunmore Head, but you can follow the middle of the ridge as it descends towards the Atlantic Ocean.
From the end of the headland there’s a view to the south-west over the small rocky islands, with The Lure being the furthest and largest of them. Beyong The Lure is the Blasket Islands archipelago, which you can barely see today.
Looking back up the ridge it looks like a steep and treacherous descent, but even on a wet day it’s a fairly safe and easy route down.
Although most of the hike around Dunmore Head is a loop, this last bit is an “out and back” section, so after a few more photos of the views I clamber back up the ridge.
These Dunmore Head cliffs were the filming location in Star Wars of Ahch-To: “An uncharted world located deep in the galaxy’s Unknown Regions, Ahch-To is the world where the Jedi Order was founded, and its sacred island is the site of the first Jedi Temple. Luke Skywalker discovered the lost world after a long search, and chose it as his place of exile – only to have Rey find her way to his lonely island.”
The second half of the loop continues up the ridge, past an old World War 2 lookout shelter.
Just beyond the shelter is the Coumeenoole Ogham Stone, which wasn’t discovered until 1838 when it was lying prostrate on the ground, before being re-erected the following year.
The views on the way back aren’t as spectacular… but that could be because of the foggy weather that is reducing visibility.
The trail descends from the top of the ridge back to where it meets the first part of the loop, just before the gate.
Even on a misty day it’s worth doing this short hike, which you can do in under an hour.
Getting to Dunmore Head
The Dunmore Head loop is along the scenic Slea Head Drive, with a large carpark just off the R559 above Coumeenoole Beach. It’s 19km (35min drive) from Dingle via Slea Head Drive or 18km (25min) via the most direct route.
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