The Slea Head Drive winds west from Dingle around the tip of the peninsula, deep in Ireland's Gaeltacht. In a single short loop it takes in dramatic Atlantic cliffs, golden beaches, beehive huts and the Blasket Islands, with Dunmore Head, Brandon Creek and the Gallarus Oratory along the way.
Join me exploring this Wild Atlantic Way route around the full Slea Head Drive, hearing stories past and present with music and a bit of craic. It's a truly unforgettable tour, taken at your leisure. Plan it here for free, then let the app narrate it as you go.
Hear the full story in the app
Narrated by a traditional storyteller and triggered automatically as you drive. Download on the App Store →
How to drive it
Start in Dingle town and follow the loop clockwise via Ventry - the road is narrow and one-way busy in places, so clockwise keeps you on the inside. Short on time? The app's Fastrack version keeps the headline sights and loops you back to Dingle after the Gallarus Oratory. Bring coins for the small honesty-box attractions along the way.
Stops along the route
These are the places the tour guides you past, in order. The stories are timed to play as you reach each one.
Ventry
A sheltered horseshoe of golden sand, and the bay of a great legendary battle.
Cahermurphy Beehive Huts
Clusters of dry-stone "clochans," built without mortar over a thousand years ago and still standing.
Blasket Islands Viewpoint
The first great view out across the sound to the Great Blasket and its sister islands.
Dunmore Head
The most westerly point of mainland Ireland - and a Star Wars filming location.
Dunquin Pier
The zig-zag sheep's-path pier down to the water, one of the most photographed spots in Ireland.
Blasket Centre
The visitor centre telling the story of the islands and their remarkable writers.
Ballyferriter
A Gaeltacht village at the heart of the peninsula's Irish-speaking world.
Gallarus Oratory
A perfectly preserved early-Christian church, shaped like an upturned boat and watertight after 1,200 years.
Murreagh
A quiet stretch of shoreline with views across Smerwick Harbour.
Dooneen Pier
A tiny working pier tucked beneath the cliffs.
Brandon Creek
The narrow inlet where St Brendan is said to have set sail to discover America.
Available in the app
Choose the version that fits your drive — every tour is GPS-triggered, so the stories play in the right order whichever way you head.
Slea Head Drive
Slea Head Drive Fastrack
The Fastrack version keeps the highlights and the stories for travellers short on time, looping you back to Dingle after the Gallarus Oratory; the full drive lingers over every cove and clochan.
Common questions
How long does the Slea Head Drive take?
The loop is short in distance (about 30 km) but packed with stops. The full audio tour runs about 180 minutes, or roughly 120 minutes for the Fastrack version, so allow at least half a day.
What is the difference between the full tour and the Fastrack version?
The full Slea Head Drive covers every cove, fort and beehive hut, while the Fastrack version keeps the headline sights and loops you back to Dingle after the Gallarus Oratory - ideal if you are short on time.
Which direction should I drive Slea Head?
Drive clockwise from Dingle via Ventry. The road is narrow and busy in places, and going clockwise keeps you on the inside, away from the cliff edge.
Do I need a phone signal for the audio tour?
No. Download the tour before you set off and it uses your phone's GPS to play each story automatically, even where there is no mobile coverage.
Drive Slea Head Drive with its stories
MacÉireann is live on the App Store. Download it, choose Slea Head Drive, and let a traditional storyteller ride shotgun — turn by turn, hands on the wheel.
Download on theApp StoreNot travelling yet? Get trip-planning tips and new-tour news by email.