The best MTB trails around Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne

From the parking lot of Ceann Sratha (Clogher), you look directly at the monumental red sandstone cliffs of Ceann Sibéal. These 200-meter-high rock faces cut through the Atlantic surf like a knife and served as a spectacular backdrop for the Jedi temple in Star Wars. For cyclists, this spot offers an unparalleled 360-degree view: from the jagged 'teeth' of the Blasket Islands in the south to the distant contours of Mount Brandon in the north.

Marked by a cross, as many high or exposed locations, the point offers a grand panorama. The steep cliffs are impressive. To the south, on a clear day, you can clearly see the heights of Valentia Island. To the west the silhouette of the Blasket Islands and to the north the curve of the beautiful Coomeenole beach, where scenes from the film Ryan's Daughter were filmed. On the slopes you can distinguish other stone huts, some covered with earth and grass. As you approach the beach, you will see on the left some abandoned houses, now used for vegetable gardens whose land has been enriched over the years with a mixture of sand and seaweed: cultivation is still carried out by hand, with shovels and pickaxes. Due to the steepness of the fields, the plough only appeared in the region very late. Beyond Coomeenole the cliffs become lower and the landscape greener, up to Dunquin (5 km from Slea Head). Be careful when you get close to the edge, the cliffs gradually collapse.

This vast, crescent-shaped bay offers one of the safest and most beautiful sandy beaches on the peninsula. Only the view is somewhat spoiled by the caravans behind the beach. For the cyclist, the passage along this Blue Flag beach is a relief: a flat road with a sweeping view of the crystal-clear water and the green headlands protecting the bay. The rugged peaks of Mount Eagle lie in the background.

This vast, crescent-shaped bay offers one of the peninsula's safest and most beautiful sandy beaches. Only the view is somewhat spoiled by the caravans behind the beach. For the cyclist, the passage along this Blue Flag beach is a relief: a flat road with a wide view of the crystal-clear water and the green headlands protecting the bay. The rugged peaks of Mount Eagle lie in the background.

This sheltered natural harbour is the vibrant hub of the peninsula. As a cyclist, you roll along the quay between the colourful fishing boats and the salty sea air. With the white Dingle Lighthouse guarding the narrow entrance and the green hills as a backdrop, the harbour offers a constantly changing spectacle of ebb and flow. An ideal, flat passage to admire the bustle of the fleet before embarking on the climb to the mountains or the rugged coast.

This small but powerful beach is nestled between the monumental cliffs of Clogher Head and the red sandstone walls of Ceann Sibéal. For the cyclist, the descent into this bay is a visual spectacle: at high tide or during a storm, you can see the region's highest waves crashing against the rocks here. With the 'Three Sisters' as a backdrop and the characteristic black rocks jutting out of the sand, this is the ultimate spot to experience the unfiltered power of the Atlantic Ocean.

On this site, there is a Rath, remains of a fortified settlement from the Bronze Age. Ringforts like this were "fairy forts" full of Druid magic and believers in fairies did not change them... according to folklore, that is! I find these kinds of places totally fascinating.

Gap of Dunloe is a narrow mountain pass between the MacGillycuddy Reeks and Purple Mountain, amazing 11 kilometres of it! The spectacularly winding road here descends into The Black Valley passing five lakes. The Head of the Gap is its highest point.