Dingle Days 2025 #2
Blennerville Windmill, Tralee Bay Wetlands (including Lakeside Café), Castlegregory, a foggy Conor Pass and dinner at Dingle’s Half Door.
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| Sweet finalé at Dingle's Half Door |
An excellent dinner at the O’Connor family restaurant, The Half Door (next door to the long-established Doyle’s), brought a “busy” second day in
Dingle to a very satisfactory finale indeed as we benefited from some excellent cooking in a busy Monday service. The day had started with one of the best breakfasts around at our Greenmount House base. |
| Lobster Bisque. Outstanding |
It was raining heavily as we headed down the hill to the Half Door, but our host generously gave us a lift - you won't get the kind of service in too many places. Out of the rain, I was glad that I’d made a reservation. Tip: Be sure to book even if it’s a Monday, as quite a few local restaurants take that day off.
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| Heavy-duty gear in the top floor of the windmill at Blennerville |
We took a while to go through the menu and started by nibbling on their Carraig Dubh Stout and Treacle Brown Bread, Black Olive and Confit Garlic White Ciabatta. The stout is produced by the local West Kerry brewery. The bread is offered as you sit. It is free in most places but not here!
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| Wetlands Visitor Centre and Lakeside Café |
Plenty of starters to choose from, but do treat yourself to the Lobster Bisque, Dressed Lobster & Puff Pastry, the bisque poured for you at the table. Beautifully balanced, the busy buzzy conversations around you become muted, and a calmness descends as you slowly sip your way through this piscadorial delight.
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| Zorbing |
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| Climbing Tower |
On the red side, you could treat yourself to the Invincible, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz from Portugal’s Douro, superb with the lamb, juicy and flavoursome rack from McCarthy's of Kanturk, succulent meat even better with the Port Jus. By the way, the grapes mentioned would also be used in producing Port.
The day began with a visit to the Blennerville Windmill near Tralee. The windmill itself was lacking wind on the way, but we did climb to the top (21.3m) and got a great idea of how it works. Many Irish left the quay here during and immediately after the famine years, and the Jeanie Johnston is remembered in the exhibition as one of the safest ships then involved on the Atlantic. Interested in model railways? Your young child, or older, will enjoy a visit to this one!
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| Spillane's Bar, a popular venue near Castlegregory. |
After that, it was on to the nearby Tralee Bay Wetlands, where we started with a spot of lunch in the large Lakeside Café that looks out over the lake, the pedalo and the zorbing area. Much to see and do, from simple walks to a high climbing wall and guided tours of the wetlands themselves. More info here.
It has been a while since I visited Castlegregory, but after our recent trip, I’ll be back there soon again. It was a very dull day, but many holidaymakers were in the area. Recommended restaurants around here include Gregory’s (and the related pizza) and Milesian, each on the town's main street.
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| Ready for fun in Castlegregory. |
We took in a couple of the fantastic beaches on the little peninsula to the north before ending up in Spillane’s Pub on the shore of Brandon Bay. They were just finishing their popular lunch service, but we weren’t hungry. Just thirsty, a glass of superb Béal Bán, by local Brewery West Kerry, went down a treat.
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| Dingle evening |
We made our way back to Dingle via the Conor Pass. When we made the right turn after Castlegregory, there was no sign of fog, and it was only as we got close to the top that we saw it; the ascent to the summit proved a little nerve-racking. We had a more comfortable run down to Dingle, where we got ourselves ready for that splendid meal in the Half Door.
Also on this trip:
Dingle Days 2025. #3 (An overall view and a rundown on the fabulous Greenmount House).
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