A Fungi to be with | Dingle to Galway

Where does it start? Dingle

Where does it end? Galway

How long is it? 153 miles

Why is it great?

Starting in Dingle, it’s only five miles to the top of the Conor Pass, but what a five miles.

It’s a fairly narrow road, but well-surfaced, and snakes its way aloft with cliff faces on one side and steep drops to the lakes below on the other.

The good news is that because it gets even more narrow and twisty down the other side, caravans, camper vans and lorries are banned, and coaches tend to avoid it, so you may well have it to yourself as you crack on, drinking in the curves and the sound of your engine echoing off the cliffs.

From the car park on top at 1500ft, the view before you is so much like Middle Earth that you expect Bilbo Baggins to wander up clutching a pint of Guinness at any moment, nod wisely, and potter off on his merry way before the pub shuts.

In the last third of the ride, you’ll think you’re on the Moon riding through the bleak, rocky landscape of the Burren, and be glad to return to Earth in Galway, one of the most pleasant cities in Ireland, with its university and winding medieval streets lined with traditional music pubs creating a vibrant, cosmopolitan, fun-loving feel.

What do I need to know?

In July, Galway Arts Festival has 500 performers of theatre, spectacle, dance, visual arts, music, literature and comedy showcasing their talents over two weeks.

In September, the city’s oyster festival has been running since 1954, making it the world's longest running celebration of the little slimy darlings.

Anything Else?

If you’ve time before you leave Dingle, go sea kayaking with Irish Adventures and meet Fungi, the bottlenose dolphin who’s been resident in the bay for the past 32 years and still loves leaping out of the water for tourists.