Clifden or Dingle

Navy blue

We have had to cancel a couple of foreign holidays due to Covid so we are looking to book a week somewhere in Ireland in August. I am torn between Dingle and Clifden. We are a group that contains kids and seniors and we enjoy stunning scenery and pretty towns. We normally like nice pubs and restaurants also, but that might not be an option or consideration for this trip. We have never been to either place so I am just wondering for people who have been to both, which they preferred and why? Obviously we will only travel if safe to do so and within the recommendations and both accommodations I am looking at can be cancelled free of charge. Thanks in advance.

Seamai

Navy blue wrote: »

We have had to cancel a couple of foreign holidays due to Covid so we are looking to book a week somewhere in Ireland in August. I am torn between Dingle and Clifden. We are a group that contains kids and seniors and we enjoy stunning scenery and pretty towns. We normally like nice pubs and restaurants also, but that might not be an option or consideration for this trip. We have never been to either place so I am just wondering for people who have been to both, which they preferred and why? Obviously we will only travel if safe to do so and within the recommendations and both accommodations I am looking at can be cancelled free of charge. Thanks in advance.

I know Dingle a lot better than Clifden, I used to spend a lot of time there before my partner moved up to Cork, I have mixed feelings about the town but the surrounding countryside is stunning. One of the biggest cribs I had about the place is as it's out near the tip of a peninsula once you're out there it's a relatively small area and you have to travel 45 minutes to get off it, if the weather turns bad there's not loads to do.
I liked Clifden the few times I was there, it's a bit less isolated than Dingle and IMO there's a lot more to do in a 50km radius of the town. I don't know if it's over run with tourists like Dingle.
I wonder if Clifden might be a bit drier as the mountains are to the east but I don't know.
Clifden would probably be my preference but we'd be driving around quite a bit, heading out to islands Inishboffin, Inishturk and the Aran Islands, do a bit of hillwalking and hopefully plenty of days at the beach.

lalababa

Clifden all day long. Dingle has nice scenery alright but town is touristy and gouging. Clifden has better scenery and more of it, also close to connamara for that type of landscape , it has both the sea & lakes are not far away , as is Galway.

lalababa

Clifden all day long. Dingle has nice scenery alright but town is touristy and gouging. Clifden has better scenery and more of it, also close to connamara for that type of landscape , it has both the sea & lakes are not far away , as is Galway.

Navy blue

Thanks for the replies. I figured Dingle would be a lot more touristy, but I thought that might not be a bad thing this summer when things might be a lot quieter than usual with less overseas visitors. I was worried Clifden might be a bit quiet and Dingle might be a bit livelier?

Raineyw

Navy blue wrote: »

We have had to cancel a couple of foreign holidays due to Covid so we are looking to book a week somewhere in Ireland in August. I am torn between Dingle and Clifden. We are a group that contains kids and seniors and we enjoy stunning scenery and pretty towns. We normally like nice pubs and restaurants also, but that might not be an option or consideration for this trip. We have never been to either place so I am just wondering for people who have been to both, which they preferred and why? Obviously we will only travel if safe to do so and within the recommendations and both accommodations I am looking at can be cancelled free of charge. Thanks in advance.

I am biased as I live in the area but you must come to Clifden!!! Hard to know what will be open with regard to pubs, restaurants and activities, but the scenery is amazing, there are fab walking and cycling trails, great beaches, etc.

fits

I’ve family from Dingle and got married in Clifden. You won’t go too far wrong with either. Dingle will be a very different place this summer without foreign tourists. We are going to Dingle for ten days in August. No races, no regatta, no pubs probably. It’ll be unusual that’s for sure.

Newbie20

I’d favour Dingle myself but have been to both and you’ll enjoy either.

freak scence

clifden easily

Muahahaha

I would think this summer should be a great time to visit Dingle. August there is usually uncomfortably packed with foreign tourists, campervans and traffic jams but would expect this summer to be a it quieter than normal. There will be more domestic tourists but it shouldnt be as packed as it is normally when you have both domestic and international visitors.

Personally though if you want good scenery and to avoid crowds altogether then no better place than Donegal. Its just as beautiful as Kerry or Galway but you can have entire beaches to yourself up that way. Glenveagh National Park is stunning as is the drive up to Malin Head.

sydthebeat

Hi all, myself and my bet half are heading to clifden this weekend for a much needed break away from the house.

Did anyone know what restaurants are open, and which would be best to book for food on Friday and Saturday?

Also, any suggestion for an off the beaten track thing to do??

Tiercel Dave

sydthebeat wrote: »

Also, any suggestion for an off the beaten track thing to do??

If you're in any way interested in early aircraft, or indeed early telecommunications, there's a nice walk through Derrigimlagh Bog (paths) to the landing site of the first* Transatlantic flight by Alcock and Brown at the Marconi Station.....
* non stop

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight_of_Alcock_and_Brown
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guglielmo_Marconi

Barbeapapa

sydthebeat wrote: »

Hi all, myself and my bet half are heading to clifden this weekend for a much needed break away from the house.

Did anyone know what restaurants are open, and which would be best to book for food on Friday and Saturday?

Also, any suggestion for an off the beaten track thing to do??

Most pubs are open as are restaurants. The Marconi, Mitchell's and EJ's restaurants are taking bookings. Guys Bar is open for food.
Things to do: swim on Coral Strand or Mannin beach if there's even a hint of sunshine. Hire bikes from All Things Connemara and cycle to Roundstone for lunch by the Bog Road, head out to Ballinahinch for walks and tea. Walk the Marconi route at Derrygimlagh. Visit Kylemore Abbey. Buy smoked fish at Bunowen Pier. Visit Roundstone Market on Sunday. Stop at Gurteen Beach for a walk around the headland coming back to Dogs Bay.

If the weather is clear climb Diamond Hill in Letterfrack and enjoy the view.
Pack waterproofs and you'll be fine!

sydthebeat

sydthebeat wrote: »

Hi all, myself and my bet half are heading to clifden this weekend for a much needed break away from the house.

Did anyone know what restaurants are open, and which would be best to book for food on Friday and Saturday?

Also, any suggestion for an off the beaten track thing to do??

You can go out to tourmakeedy, great spot. The guy who played Quint from Jaws lived there. Roundstone for a coffee overlooking the harbor can't be beaten. Just outsittge town you can walk to Clifden castle, it's a ruin.

Tilikum17

Clifton

Clifton to cleggin is a 10min drive. You can get about out to inisboffin for the day.

Little Miss Fairy

Dingle just shades it for me. Enjoy wherever you go.

Das Reich

Clifden if the weather is good. If its bad also Clifden.

Navy blue

Thanks for all the replies, I booked properties that could be cancelled in both places and in the end we decided to use both! There are three families involved so the cost isn't too bad. Looking forward to spending a week in each place. Hope the weather improves between now and then!

Navy blue

Just wanted to come back with an update on this.

We went to both places and were absolutely blessed with the weather, I think we got the only two decent weeks of the entire summer!

While both places were lovely, I have to agree with the consensus on here, there is something extra special about Clifden. Don't get me wrong, Dingle was lovely and some beautiful beaches and drives, but the town itself was absolutely mobbed. It got to the stage were we felt quite uncomfortable walking around and avoided the town as much as we could. I've spoken to others that have been there recently and they all felt the same, so not sure if it's normally that bad or if it's just all the staycationers! Slea Head drive and Connors Pass were amazing. I believe they are normally jammed with tour buses so it was nice to see them a little quieter.

Clifden is just fab, lovely little town, busy but not mobbed. Lovely little shops and restaurants, people are so friendly! Stunning drives, Kylemore Abbey was a big highlight for all of us. We went to Dogs Bay on the most glorious day and it honestly was like being in the Med (water just a smidgen colder though :pac:)

We had a fab time and will definitely be going back to Clifden

weisses

I live in Dingle ...... But please go to Clifden.... Town is to busy

Navy blue

weisses wrote: »

I live in Dingle ...... But please go to Clifden.... Town is to busy

Is it always that bad weisses or is it extra bad this summer? A few people I know that go there regularly even commented on how bad it was. I feel sorry for residents, it must be a pain even going to get groceries when it's that busy

fits

I was staying outside Dingle at the start of August. We mostly avoided the town and it was completely fine. Dingle town was busy though. They have made a lot of changes to facilitate distancing such as closing streets and extending footpaths. Plenty else to be doing on the peninsula though. I wouldn’t let it put me off anyway.