Discover Kinsale and Clonakilty
A good place to start a whistlestop tour of the West Cork area is the picture postcard seaside town of Kinsale, just south of Cork City, with its quaint, narrow streets and more gourmet restaurants than you’ve had hot dinners.
After lunch, potter along the coast past the Old Head of Kinsale, the charming coastal village of Timoleague with its ruined Franciscan Abbey and onwards to Clonakilty, which boasts some of the country’s best beaches including Inchydoney and Owenahincha.
Along the Coast Road
Beyond Clonakilty, let the coast road guide you to picturesque villages and vistas that resonate with a palpable sense of history - Rosscarbery, Glandore, Skibbereen, Baltimore, Lough Hyne, Bantry and the Beara Peninsula, famed for its breathtaking walks, prehistoric sites and majestic mountainscapes and valleys.
You can also take an alternative route through Dunmanway, the heart of West Cork and home to Sam Maguire.
Island Life
The islands dotted along the West Cork coastline are as diverse as they are abundant. Dursey Island, with its ancient church and castle ruins is connected to the mainland by Ireland’s only cable car.
Nearby Bere Island boasts Bronze Age archaeological sites, standing stones and ringforts.
Meanwhile, Garnish Island, in the sheltered harbour of Glengarriff in Bantry Bay, is a horticulturalist haven with many rare and exotic plants. Also in Bantry Bay, Whiddy Island’s unique ecology supports a wealth of wildlife. On nearby Sherkin Island can be found the ruins of a 15th century abbey.
Discover the Gaeltacht
The Gaeltacht island of Oiléan Cléire is Ireland’s southern most inhabited island. It is a rugged place with antiquities ranging from megalithic standing stones to medieval castles, excellent bird-watching and frequent visits by whales, turtles and sharks.
There are a number of other Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) areas throughout West Cork and these include Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh (Ballingeary), Cúil Aodha (Coolea) and Cill na Martra (Kilnamartyra).
Summer colleges operate in some of these areas and as well as bringing students, these courses in Irish also form part of family holidays.
Many overseas visitors to the Gaeltacht areas very much enjoy the atmosphere of the traditions of the Gaeltacht way of life and in particular participating in traditional entertainment including Irish music, song and dance.
Activities
West Cork boasts one of the largest stretches of coastline of any county and the area is awash with activities.
Experience the thrill of a whale & dolphin watching trip or scuba diving from Baltimore, go water-sking in the Lee Valley, go night sea kayaking on Lough Hyne, power-boating in Adrigole, and walk or cycle one of the majestic peninsulas of Sheep's Head, Mizen, Beara or Seven Heads to mention just a few.
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