Out and about
Things to do in Castlegregory and the Maharees
What follows is the short list of what is worth the drive, arranged by where it is. Nothing here is more than half an hour from the village.
For walks of any length, from a stroll on the strand to Mount Brandon, see getting around.
The Strand
Two beaches: the strand at the end of Strand Street, and Magherabeg to the north, which has the Blue Flag and the lifeguards.
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The Maharees
The five-kilometre sand spit running north from the village, with Brandon Bay on one side and Tralee Bay on the other, three small fishing villages at the top and beach access most of the way along. Worth the drive for its own sake, and the water either side of it is the reason people come here with a board. The dune system has retreated more than forty metres in recent decades, so use the marked accesses, keep off the dunes and camp only in the official sites.
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The Caher road and the footbridge
A short walk east out of the village to the footbridge at the end of the Caher road, known locally as the troll bridge. Cross it and you are on the Tralee Bay strand.
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The Tullig road
A longer walk, south out of the village and up into the townland of Tullig, which takes its name from the hillock it climbs. Quiet lanes and the mountain ahead of you.
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Lough Gill
The shallow lagoon on the edge of the village, with a small car park and a path down to its single pier. Swans, wintering waders and Ireland's rare natterjack toads.
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St. Mary's Church
The village church at the heart of Castlegregory, a quiet place to pause. Sunday Mass at 11.30am.
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Killiney church and graveyard
A plain early Christian high cross of sandstone, nearly three metres tall, standing beside the ruin of the medieval parish church, which is thirteenth century in origin and appears in the papal taxation list of 1302. A residential tower was added at the south-east corner in the sixteenth century and two storeys of it survive under ivy. The Church of Ireland church alongside, built about 1815, still stands but is closed for worship.
The stone cross ↗ · Map it ↗
Kilshannig graveyard
A walled burial ground on the shore at the top of the Maharees, above Scraggane Bay. Inside the ruined church stands a chi-rho cross slab carved on both faces, one of about fifteen known in Ireland and possibly seventh century. The church itself is fifteenth or sixteenth century on a far older foundation. Park at the clachan and walk down.
The county survey ↗ · Map it ↗
Castlegregory Golf Club
Nine-hole links squeezed between Lough Gill and the Atlantic: golf with dunes, sea and mountains for company.
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Glanteenassig Forest Park
A hidden valley of forest, lakes and boardwalk trails in the Slieve Mish mountains, ten minutes from the village.
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Colleen Bowler Pottery
Wheel-thrown stoneware fired in a gas reduction kiln, each piece carrying a drawing of its own, made in the village and drawn from what the potter finds on the strand. Sold through the Original Kerry shop in Dingle. Ring before calling in.
+353 86 265 0569
Her listing ↗ · Map it ↗
Maharees Heritage Trail
A self-guided walk out around the tip of the peninsula, with panels along the way on the dunes, the islands and the fishing life. Free pocket maps from the information centre on Tailor's Row.
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Shopping
ATM, bank and post
There is no bank in Castlegregory. The post office is inside the SPAR on Strand Street and handles basic banking, including cash withdrawals of up to a thousand euro. The same shop has a cash machine, which will give you up to two hundred euro at a time.
Wine and spirits
The SPAR on Strand Street carries an extensive wine selection alongside its off-licence. For spirits as well, Maurice Fitzgerald's runs an off-licence in the shop to the right of the pub, also on Strand Street.
Near Castlegregory
Brandon Point
Dramatic sea cliffs and panoramic views over Brandon Bay and the Maharees, one of the best places in Kerry to watch the sunset.
Discover Ireland ↗ · Map it ↗
Brandon Bay
A fantastic spot for swimming, surfing, fishing, and simply enjoying the scenery, with Murphy's pub keeping watch from the pier.
Dingle Peninsula ↗ · Map it ↗
Brandon Bay Boat Hire
Self-drive boats out of Brandon for a few hours' fishing on the bay, with rods, tackle and bait to hire and lifejackets aboard.
Boats & rates ↗ · Map it ↗
Grotto of St Brendan
A shrine to the seafaring saint who gave the mountain its name. At Faha above Cloghane, where the pilgrim path begins.
Its story ↗ · Map it ↗
Climb Mount Brandon
Ireland's highest peak outside the Reeks (952m). The Faha route from Cloghane is the classic pilgrim's way up: 9km and about four hours.
Route guide ↗ · Map it ↗
Siopa an Phobail
Cloghane's community-run village shop: groceries, essentials and local artisan food.
+353 66 713 8277
Map it ↗
Brandon Gallery
Michael Flaherty's gallery at Cappagh Cross, with original paintings and prints of the Brandon landscape. Ring ahead.
+353 66 713 8233
Website ↗ · Map it ↗
Original Kerry Shop
Craft from thirty-six Kerry makers, and the shop that pays for this guide.
Our sponsor → · Map it ↗
Day trips on the Dingle Peninsula
Four drives worth giving a whole day to. Everything here is within an hour and a half of the village, and each one has a page of its own with the route, the stops and where to eat.
Dingle town, and back over the pass
Out through Camp and Annascaul, a few hours in Dingle, and home over the Conor Pass in the late afternoon with a stop at the summit and at Pedlar's Lake.
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The Slea Head Drive
The loop west of Dingle: Gallarus, the beehive huts, Dunquin pier and the Blasket Centre, beaches all the way round, and the potteries at Clogher and Ballyferriter.
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Inch
Five kilometres of sand running out into Dingle Bay on the south side of the peninsula, the gentlest surf on this coast, and Sammy's at the top of the beach.
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Brandon Point
North to the headland at the tip of the peninsula, the cliff walk out towards Sauce Creek, and fish and chips at Murphy's on Brandon pier afterwards.
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