Ballintaggart House--- Fishing site
Racecourse Road
Dingle
County Kerry
Ireland

Tel: 00 353 66 9151454
Fax: 00 353 66 9152207 (from UK)

Email: info@dingleaccommodation.com
Website: www.dingleaccommodation.com

Contact: Mr P. Fenton

Site visited March 2002

Cost (2000): around IE£8 - hot showers included

All types of units accepted. Open May to September.

Directions: The site is just off the N86 Tralee-Dingle Road, 1 mile east of Dingle. The entrance is on the right when travelling towards Dingle.

This site is set within the grounds of a 300-year-old manor house that is now an independent hostel. It’s a small site with good facilities and great views over Dingle Bay. The site has a slight slope and there are plenty of electric hook-ups.

Facilities include free hot showers in a well-maintained toilet block, a camper’s kitchen and pot washing area. In common with most campsites based at hostels, campers are free to use the common facilities in the hostel, including a TV lounge. This also extends to the courtesy bus, which shuttles between the hostel and Dingle village all day and even does a pick up after closing time! Now that’s a service more sites should provide in my opinion.

The site is within walking distance of the village, and you can walk along a coastal path almost all the way. It’s not too well signposted though, so ask at the hostel for directions. This is a really scenic route, much better than going by the road, and if you’re lucky you will see Fungi the dolphin performing his tricks in the bay. Fungi is a wild dolphin that has made Dingle Bay his (or her?) home for many years and there is a brisk tourist trade in boats that go out to see him. Fungi seems to love the attention, leaping out of the water over and over again, and the boats certainly don’t seem to bother him.

Dingle is a bustling village with many shops and bars and places to eat. It is rather touristy; although of course we were tourists so shouldn’t be complaining. Despite this the town retains a lot of real character. One famous bar is Dick Mack’s - the frontage appears in books and on postcards. It was heaving when we went in, but we still managed to get served quickly - one of the amazing things about Irish bars is the speed you get served at when it’s 6-deep at the bar! It’s definitely a place for live music, with sessions held in many bars on almost every night in the summer.

The whole Dingle peninsula can be explored from here, and it’s just as beautiful as the Iveragh peninsula (Ring of Kerry) without quite as many coaches to contend with.

Janette Lee. CLIC. March 2002

Wave Crest Caravan Park--- Fishing site
Caherdaniel
County Kerry
Ireland

Tel: 066 9475 188 / 9475 483
Fax: 066 9475 188

E-mail: wavecrest@eircom.net
Web site: www.wavecrestcamping.com/

Site visited May 1999

Before Caherdaniel we stopped of at Killarney, attractive busy town. Unfortunately, as far as tourists are concerned, it’s the "Yankee Dollar" that rules.

So off we motored for the Ring of Kerry, word of advice, if you plan to travel the Ring with an outfit, then go clockwise. Dial wise we went just like the coaches and lorries.
Pulled in at Wave Crest, called at reception and chose our own spot. ( low season ). Thirty three thoughtfully landscaped pitches, nestling in a hill, overlooking Kenmare Bay, the sea lapping at your feet and panoramic views of the Slieve Miskish Mountains.
Editor note: Umm...sounds nice

We planned to stay two nights, flopped out and stayed four.
Even our ‘Tess’ adopted a lazy disposition, planted herself on a hill, chewed a stick, kept an eye on us and admired the scenery.

Toilet block and showers are ample, clean and modern.
Electric hook ups, 220 volts, so expect your kettle to take a little longer to boil.
Shop on site.

On the West Coast, sites tend to be basic, with this in mind., Wave Crest receives a personal four out of five.

Village ten minutes walk.
Pubs as usual, plenty of them, singing, folk, traditional and rebel if your lucky.

Interested in history, then pay a visit to Derrynane House, the former home of Daniel O`Connell (1775-1847 ) video show, cafe, grounds and a roam around his old digs.

Walking:
Local public footpaths in Southern Ireland, West Coast in particular, seem to be non-existent.
The reason being (so we have been told) "for every nook and cranny a road will wind its way there".
Quiet as these lanes are, the high hedgerows limit any view.
Access to the Kerry Way long distance path is just over a mile away, good ramble, very scenic. Boots recommended. Remember to double back at some point.

Fishing:
The area caters for the fly fisherman/woman. I must admit as a course angler I find it frustrating, great expanses of fresh water and I can’t have a dabble. Yes I know the answer, take up fly fishing. (one day).
Plenty of opportunities for the sea angler, on site and near by.

Content with our surroundings, we reluctantly left Caherdaniel and carried on with our revised tour of West Eire.

Directions:
From the North or South, make your way to Kenmare village. on the N71.
At the junction with the N70, stop and take a look at the ‘Finger post’.
Twenty plus fingers pointing in all directions. Marvel at it, then ignore.
Join the N70 (Ring of Kerry) and head West.
In approximately 27 miles, site on the left.
Tip.
Stick to the N roads when towing, reason`s will come later in another report.

For more information on Wave Crest and other sites try
http://www.campingeurope.com/

Local tourist office.
Killarney,
Town Hall.
Tel: 064 31633
Fax: 064 34506

Keith Brown. CLIC. May 1999

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