County Cork
We’ve compiled the best of the best in County Cork - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Gougane Barra Forest Park
This secluded little spot conjures up all things mythical and magical you have been dreaming of in Ireland. The tiny oratory or chapel, accessed by a causeway, was the location of St. Finbarr's hermitage in the 6th century and it is one of the most sought-after places for wedding couples in Ireland, for good reason. The location is hard to match, lying beneath craggy mountains with an evergreen forest that cascades down to its location at the very edge of a still, crystal clear lake. The view is reflected upon the lake, doubling the impact and creating an otherworldly impression to the first-time visitor. St. Finbarr's oratory dates back to the 19th century and the ruins on the approach to the park are from 1700.
Gougane Barra, Bantry, Co. Cork, IrelandSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
2. Bantry House and Gardens
One of Ireland's most famed manors is noted for its picture-perfect perch on a hillock above the south shore of Bantry Bay. The fine Georgian mansion is surrounded by a series of stepped gardens and parterres that make up "the stairway to the sky." Spreading out below lies the bay and, in the far distance, the spectacular range of the Caha Mountains—one of the great vistas of Ireland. Built in the early 1700s and altered and expanded later that century, the manor became the ancestral seat of the White family from that period. The decor of the house was largely the vision of Richard White, 2nd Earl of Bantry, whose father---having hailed from farming stock---had secured extensive land as a thank-you for supporting England when Irish and French rebel forces failed in their bid for Ireland's freedom. Richard traveled extensively throughout Europe and brought a lot back to Ireland with him: fabulous Aubusson tapestries said to have been commissioned by Louis XV adorn the Rose Drawing Room, while state portraits of England's King George III and Queen Charlotte glitter in floridly, flamboyant rococo gilt frames in the Wedgwood blue--and-gold dining room. Never shy about capitalizing on the flow of history, he acquired an antique or two thought to have belonged to Marie Antoinette—sometime after her execution in 1793. Throughout the famine years in the mid-18th century the estate carried out extensive manual work. After Irish independence the house was used as a hospital during the Irish Civil War from 1922 and later the estate was occupied by the Irish Army. Outside, the drama continues in the garden terraces, set with marble statues, framed by stone balustrades, and showcasing such delights as an embroidered parterre of dwarf box trees. The tearoom serves light lunches, and features local artisanal foods. In summer the house hosts concerts in the grand library, notably the West Cork Chamber Music Festival (held during the first week of July). The house also doubles as a B&B.
N71, Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland027-50047Sight Details
Rate Includes: €14 house and garden, €5 garden only, House closed Nov.–Mar. -
3. Bantry Market
Growers of organic plants and veggies have a strong presence at this traditional street market.
Wolfe Tone Sq., Bantry, Co. Cork, IrelandSight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat.--Thurs. -
4. Sheep's Head Peninsula
Jutting into the ocean like a bony, accusatory finger, this 28-km-long (17-mile-long) peninsula is 4 km (2½ miles) at its widest and is the place to go way off-grid in West Cork because of its restricted access on two minor roads. With a network of 20 looped trails, the most famous being the 88-km (54½-mile) Sheep's Head Way, the ocean is never more than a short hike away. Views of the neighboring peninsulas of Mizen and Beara unfold further into Sheep's Head, along with hairpin bends, cliff-side walks, castles, deep valleys, blowholes, and wide-open bays. A small shrine dedicated to the 329 lost souls aboard an ill-fated Air India aircraft back in 1985 provides a somber respite along the way. At the southerly tip is Bernie's Cupán Tae, a stalwart of Irish hospitality for decades, offering freshly baked scones and sandwiches that taste all the better after a hike in the fresh sea air.
Glenlough West, Co. Cork, Ireland -
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