Why not take a trip to West Cork and discover the rugged and natural beauty of one of Ireland’s most breathtaking regions. West Cork is located in the South West corner of Ireland and stretches from the picturesque harbour town of Kinsale, extending westwards to the tip of the Beara Peninsula. The area has many bustling towns, and quaint fishing villages, each with so much to offer. What else can you do in the area? Listed is a selection of West Cork top attractions, all of which are well worth a visit.
The following are some of the main towns in the West Cork Region:
Bandon, Bantry, Clonakilty, Dunmanway,
Glengariff, Rosscarbery, Schull, Skibbereen and Kinsale.
Each town is well worth a visit so why not discover all of them? There’s so much to see and do in these picture postcard towns, and there’s an abundance of little shops and restaurants to choose from as well. As you visit the many tourist attractions and wonderful sights of West Cork you are assured to experience the friendly people that remain true to Ireland’s friendly reputation.
The best way to get around is by car. You can book cheap car hire in Cork Airport.
Mizen Head Visitor Centre…
This is an award winning maritime museum and a wonderful heritage attraction. Located high on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean at the most southerly tip of Ireland with amazing views and crashing waves, this truly is an experience. There’s an informative visitor centre here where you can learn about the first radio beacon in Ireland, GPS systems, tragic stories of times past and wonderful success stories too. The Signal Station is about a 10 min walk from the visitor centre and is accessed by an arched bridge where you will see amazing sights of dolphins, seals, whales and migrating birds.
Find out more about Mizen Head Visitor Centre.
Dun na Sead Castle…
Dun na Sead Castle is a beautifully restored 13th century castle located just outside Skibbereen, set high on a hill overlooking the gleaming harbour. The castle was restored in 2005 and opened to the public by its owners the McCarthy Family. Opening times are from June 1st to September 30th, from 11am to 6pm daily. Admission is 3.00 Euro for an adult and children are free. Further details on Dun na Sead Castle please telephone: 028-21147.
West Cork Model Railway Village…
Feast your eyes on this amazing model railway of West Cork. All handcrafted with great attention to detail and capturing times of long ago. Here you will experience West Cork life and transport in the 1940′s. This a must when in Clonakilty and will certainly take you back or ignite your imagination and interest in railways, trains and locations.
Find out more about West Cork Model Railway Village.
Garnish Island…
Garnish Island also known as Ilnacullin, is a small island located in Bantry Bay, just off the coast of Glengarriff. This is an amazing island with an abundance of beautiful wildlife and amazing views in natural and un-spoilt surroundings. There’s a ferry service available to the island that operates daily between March and October and you can also avail of a water tour of the island and surrounding areas in Glengarriff.
Find out more about Garnish Island.
Schull Planetarium…
Schull Planetarium is located in the little fishing village of Schull. The planetarium is part of the Community College and seats 70 people and overlooks the beautiful harbour and Mount Gabriel. In such tranquil surroundings it’s astounding to think that such a facility can give you amazing and an accurate representation of the night sky views of anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. Schull Planetarium is the only planetarium in Ireland and truly is an experience not to miss. So why not visit the stars in Schull with a trip to Ireland’s Planetarium.
Further details on Schull telephone: 025-28552.
Whatever your interests, you are assured of plenty to ‘see and do’ when you visit West Cork. The bright vibrant and colourful towns are an attraction in themselves.
If you’re planning to stay in Cork for a day or so, there’s no shortage of Cork hotels to choose from.
