Go Together Life

A Teen’s Perspective: Adam (15)

Hiking the Dingle Peninsula felt like walking straight into a movie set, one where the scenery is jaw-dropping but the cast (a.k.a. us) is constantly tired, muddy, and laughing at our own bad decisions. Imagine endless green hills rolling into cliffs that drop into wild Atlantic waves, little villages tucked between fields, and sheep that seem to judge you with every step. It was surreal… and also brutal.

We averaged about 15 miles a day. Sounds impressive, right? Well it was, and by the end of each day we were wrecked, legs aching, feet screaming, and still completely in awe of the places we’d just walked through.

Before we even left home, I’d bought brand-new, bright-white hiking shoes. They were beautiful. They were also a trap. I forgot to break them in, and by Day 3 my feet staged a full-on rebellion. The blisters were so bad I ended up hiking 10 miles in slides. Yes, actual slides. Through Ireland. Locals looked at me like I was either completely unhinged or some kind of legend. Honestly, I wasn’t sure which I preferred. Every step was a mix of “Why am I doing this?” and “This is going to make the best story later.”

The days blurred into a mix of mud, long sandy beaches, freezing swims in the Atlantic, climbing over stiles, and giving nervous side-eye to cows guarding farmer’s fields. On Day 1, we staggered into Dingle just in time for a late lunch and promptly fell asleep at the table, waking only when the food arrived. On other days we found ourselves wading through puddles, dodging rain showers, and still managing to laugh through it all.

We even taste-tested alcohol-free Guinness. Big mistake. One sip each, five unanimous thumbs-down, and the pints were abandoned.

But our luck improved when we found restaurants and pubs that basically had our names on them: Quinn’s Restaurant, Foxy John’s, Adam’s Bar, and Murphy’s Test Kitchen (which served the most incredible ice cream). Of course, we took photos in front of every single one, because if you don’t post it, did it even happen?

One random highlight? A petting zoo we stumbled across mid-hike. We stopped, hung out with llamas and goats, and for some reason it became one of the most memorable moments of the whole trip. Maybe it was the surprise, maybe it was just because goats are hilarious.

The weather did its best to test us, throwing in rain showers whenever it felt like it. But instead of ruining the vibe, it just made everything feel more epic. There’s something about hiking through the mist with the people you love that turns even the soggiest day into magic.

Oh, and the soundtrack? Courtesy of me and my speaker. I blasted music while we hiked, turning the trail into our own personal concert. Every day at the halfway point we belted out Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer to the delight (and occasional confusion) of passing hikers. Another top pick was “The Dingle Way” by The Condiments, which kept us moving even when we wanted to flop down in the mud and call it quits.

We sang, we laughed, we limped, and we made memories I’ll never forget. The Dingle Peninsula pushed me physically, emotionally, and, most of all, footwear-wise. But in return, it gave me one of the best adventures of my life.