Ireland travel is about taking a journey into the magical. The rugged beauty of the land is matched only by the hospitality of the people. While taking a tour of Ireland you should always include time to travel
West Cork.
Many people travel Ireland to have a unique experience.
Whether you go to see the jagged coastline pounded under the relentless power of the
Atlantic Ocean, walk the paths, climb the rocky hills, fish from a quiet pier, sit on a sandy beach, take photographs of the
Irish countryside or cycle the winding roads; a visit to the scenic area of West Cork is a must.
For those interested in Ireland travel deals and tips, you will have no trouble finding something to suit you. One travel deal/tip you may not know about concerns the pub. If you are traveling with kids and don't want to buy soda, you can ask for tap water with flavored fruit syrups. This will save about $3 per small bottle of
Coke or Pepsi, and the kids will enjoy it too!
There are many Ireland travel packages available on-line. The types of trips available are really only limited by what you want. Many of the packages include all the things you need to enjoy your trip including air travel, car hire and lodging. These packages can be booked to cover a few days or even weeks.
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Begin your tour of West Cork at
Mizen Head, Ireland's most southwesterly
point. The dramatic peninsula features
Barley Cove beach and is highlighted by the Mizen Head
Signal Station Visitor Centre. Be sure to look for seals lazily resting on the rocks below.
The best pub in the entire world is located in the small village of
Crookhaven. As you walk into O'
Sullivan's Bar, the owner, Dermot O'Sullivan, will greet you with a friendly, "
Hello boys and girls." What happens if you try to order a Guinness? You don't want to know. Go with the Murphy's; it's local and creamier!
Possibly the most beautiful place in all of West Cork is Three
Castle Head. The collection of three towers, built in 1207 by the O'Mahoneys, is a short hike from
Dunlough Pier. The castles sit on cliffs, which offer views of the Atlantic Ocean, Mizen Head,
Sheep's Head and the mountains of
County Kerry. At the base of the castles is a lake.
Irish legend holds that a lady haunts the lake while protecting the king's valuables that were thrown in to guard them from attackers.
Between the villages of
Goleen and
Durrus, you will find the
Coast Road. On this road is the well-preserved O'Mahoney
Castle known as Dunmanus Castle.
The castle was built in 1430 at the current location of Dunmanus
Harbor.
Views of the beautiful Irish countryside and
Dunmanus Bay will have you reaching for your camera.
Further along, near the village of
Skibbereen is the area of
Lough Hyne. Lough Hyne is a salt-water lake, fed by the tides, and is home to a varied collection of marine life.
Above the lake are the walking paths of Knockamagh
Wood Nature Reserve. The paths of the nature preserve lead you to commanding views of Roaringwater Bay,
Baltimore harbor and
Clear and
Sherkin Islands.
Up the coast, near the County Kerry border, is the fishing village of
Castletownbere.
The village is situated on the southern edge of the
Beara Peninsula and is near the beginning of the southern portion of the
Ring of Beara. Just out of town are the ruins of
Dunboy Castle, which was destroyed by the
English in
1602 after a 14-day siege.
Leaving the West Cork area, head up to
Bantry Bay, through
Glengarriff and
Kenmare up to the pride of County Kerry,
Killarney.
The town of Killarney is filled with a nice mix of nature and history. A visit to the Muckross area; including the house, abbey and gardens is very enjoyable. You can easily spend a full day taking in this incredible area. So, what is the best part of it all? You only have to park once as all these sites are within walking distance of each other.
If you are heading back to
Dublin, a stop in Cashel is very enjoyable.
The Rock of Cashel is world-famous and awe inspiring. A little known abbey in Cashel is
Hore Abbey that sits at the bottom of the hill in the shadows of the
Rock of Cashel. Hore Abbey will be less crowded and will allow peaceful exploring without crowds.
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May you truly enjoy the beautiful travel opportunities in this still largely undiscovered
... yet beautiful country.
Music Credits:
Track title: The
Bonny Boy
License Type:
Standard License
Composer:
Bjorn Lynne (
PRS -
CAE: 272363273)
Publisher: Lynne Publishing (PRS - CAE: 541626758)
Track title:
The Jolly Beggar
License Type: Standard License
Composer: Bjorn Lynne (PRS - CAE: 272363273)
Publisher: Lynne Publishing (PRS - CAE: 541626758)
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- published: 31 Jul 2012
- views: 39173