A Walk for the Weekend: Iconic views above the Conor Pass near Dingle

When you are driving the Dingle section of The Wild Atlantic Way, the low road along the north side of the peninsula does not let you experience the full impact of one of Ireland's great beaches and its only tombolo, a land-form where a sand spit joins an offshore island to the mainland.

You will be taking the road up to the Conor Pass one of our most iconic viewing points. And while the outlook is impressive, you really need to ascend one of the slopes on either side to experience the full panorama.

The west side is the more popular as is has a dry rock surface while the east side is grassy and requires walking boots. The view from the eastern side is way more spectacular and is quite safe as there is a fence to both guide you and keep you stepping off the steep cliffs of Maughanablaher and Com Loch an Pheidlear as you make your way up the easy incline to Sliabh Mhaca Ré (the Mountain of the Smooth Plain) at 620m.

Continue north east as far as spot height, at 670m, from where you will have a superb view of the Brandon mountain range whose east face has been ravaged by the grinding of glaciers and the shattering effect of frost action which have left great blocks of scree at the base of its formidable cliffs.

To the north, the 10km beach of Castlegregory lies like a waxing crescent moon with its glistening fringe of surf formed by the ever present Atlantic swell. Away to the north east you can track the seaward side of your course from Loop Head in Co Clare, through Kerry Head and Banna Strand around to your present position.

You can return to the car park now but if you are a hill walker and fancy a longer walk you can head south west across an area of cut-away bog to An Cnoc Maol Mór (the Big Bald Mountain), at 493m, from where the descent is easy as you follow a stone wall down its spur to a track which leads back up to your starting point.

This is the old road to the Conor Pass which was abandoned in 1830 when the new road was cut into the western side of the Garfinny River. It is wet in places, which is why it was abandoned, but on foot you can negotiate your way around these by taking to the remains of the ditches which marked the side of the road.

Near the top you will come across a mound of stone which was used to replenish the hardcore on the road; a constant task, I would imagine, in such difficult terrain in the days before Tarmac.

Back at your car you can continue on your journey to savour the delights of the Slea Head circuit and do take in The Blasket Islands Eco Marine Tour (086 3353805) which starts from Ventry and then you will have viewed this singular coastline from sea to summit.

Map: Ordnance Survey DS 70
Start/finish: Car park at top of the Conor Pass  
How to get there: The Conor Pass is on the R560,  Dingle to Tralee Road, 7km north of Dingle

Time:

One and a half to three hours