A Dingle Peninsula Hike
Photographing the Three Sisters & Dunmore Head
A Dingle Peninsula hiking adventure
The Dingle Peninsula has been a cherished area of the west of Ireland for Orla and me for many years. On this trip, we finally hiked to the Three Sisters and Dunmore Head — two locations I'd never photographed before. The views far exceeded any expectation I had. Here's the story of that adventure.
Hello there folks, and how is it going?
Welcome to the beautiful Dingle Peninsula. This place has been a cherished area of the west of Ireland for both Orla and me for many years. But this time, we were doing something different — hiking to two locations I'd never photographed before.
The first was the Three Sisters, a magnificent view that required a hike up to an old fort. The second was Dunmore Head, a spot I'd only ever seen in photographs.
Here's how it went.
The Three Sisters — a view that far exceeded any expectation.
The Three Sisters — A Hike to Remember
We set off on the trail, taking our time, enjoying the scenery. The walk was outstanding — through long grass, along old farm walls, and up a steep hillside. The weather was warm and clear, with a beautiful bluebird sky.
One thing I want to mention: if you're doing any kind of long grass hiking trails in Ireland, particularly in Kerry, long trousers and boots are essential. Ticks are a thing here, and it's something you need to be mindful of.
After about an hour and a half of walking, we reached the top. And wow. The view was far exceeding any expectation I had.
The Three Sisters from the top — a commanding view of the Dingle Peninsula.
Exploring the Surroundings
Once I felt like I had captured the images I came for, I started running around — safely, of course — exploring different compositions. The golden light was catching these beautiful rocks so gorgeously, and the Three Sisters in the background provided endless framing opportunities.
One of the images I captured was a focus-stacked shot with a heavy leading line from the left, bringing the eye down the hillside and across the water to the mountains. Another was more off the cuff — but man, do I love how it looks. It reminds me of Ireland, you know?
A leading line from the left — bringing the eye across the water to the mountains.
An off-the-cuff shot — it just screams Ireland to me.
Dunmore Head — Round Two
The next day, I headed out for another hike — this time to Dunmore Head. I had seen pictures of this place and was really hoping I could make it work.
It was a steep hill, but the view was absolutely stunning. The Blasket Islands lay out in the distance, and the light was perfect. The landscape was gnarlier than the day before — more jagged rocks, more sea stacks, more drama.
Dunmore Head — gnarly sea stacks and perfect light.
Photographing Dunmore Head
I took a few test shots, moved around to find the best compositions, and settled on one that I really loved. The leading line from the left took the eye down into the frame and out to the sea stacks. I used a polarizer to bring out the colours and a slightly slow shutter speed to introduce a bit of motion into the water.
There were no clouds in the sky, but that was okay. The golden light cast on the cliff sides was just magnificent.
I also played around with adding a sky in post-production — just to envision what I'd love to come back and try to capture in the future. It's a reminder of what could be, and it helps me think about better compositions.
The main shot at Dunmore Head — golden light and motion in the water.
One More Shot — The Fading Light
With about 10 minutes of light left, I scrambled back up the hill to see if I could find something different. Off the cuff, I managed to frame up one more image — a heavy foreground of gnarly rocks, the midground, and that beautiful fading sunset in the background.
I was so out of breath, but it was worth it. The last kiss of golden hue cast across the water and onto the sea stacks was just magnificent.
The last kiss of golden light — a final shot before the sun disappeared.
The People — Bernard Geraghty
On the way down, I got chatting with a chap by the name of Bernard Geraghty — you might know him from Darren's videos or Gavin Hardcastle's Fototripper videos. He was organising a workshop in the area, so it was my first time meeting him.
This trip has been full of new meetings and wonderful people. It's always such a pleasure to connect with other photographers who share the same passion.
What I Learned
Plan ahead, but be flexible. I knew I wanted to photograph the Three Sisters and Dunmore Head, but I didn't know exactly what I'd find. Both locations exceeded my expectations.
Take your time. The hike to the Three Sisters took an hour and a half, and we took it slow, enjoying the journey as much as the destination.
Wear the right gear. Long trousers and boots are essential for hiking in Kerry — ticks are a real concern.
Explore beyond the main shot. Once I had the image I came for, I explored other compositions and found some gems.
Meet people. Photography is often a solitary pursuit, but meeting other photographers on the trail is always a highlight.
Explore the Dingle Peninsula With Me
The Dingle Peninsula is one of Ireland's most beautiful photography locations — and I'd love to share it with you. If you're interested in exploring Ireland's landscapes with a small group of like-minded photographers, I'd love to have you along.
Explore the Ireland Workshop →