At the Edge of the AtlanticNotebook No 124June 2026
A gold cove on the Dingle Peninsula with the Blaskets sitting offshore.
Collected by Deborah. Read her editorial perspective
Driving the Slea Head loop from Dingle, you arrive at Coumeenoole, a singular gold half-moon of sand held between dark cliffs, with the Blasket Islands resting in the Atlantic. This is the beach that appears in most photographs of the Dingle Peninsula. We know it will command your attention.
A short, steep path leads to the sand. We caution that this is not a place for inexperienced swimmers; the currents are powerful, and there is no lifeguard. This spot offers a profound sense of scale, ideal for quiet contemplation, photography, and walking under the cliffs.
Stop here for a needed pause; the full Slea Head drive takes two hours with considered stops.
The Ireland Edit Way
Cut the itinerary in half, then cut it again. The letter we send before every first visit.
Every hotel change costs you half a day. Luxury, in Ireland, is staying put.
Six questions we apply before booking any room in Ireland. The November test, the dinner-twice test, the landscape-over-room test.
To understand Ireland, stop looking at the castles and start looking at the kitchen table.
From the notebook
Collected notes. A few times each season.