Would it be possible to tour Kinsale, Blarney and maybe Cobh from Clonakilty over a 2 or 3 night stay or is this area to conjested to make quick day trips.
Does anybody have any ideas of nearby cites or villages to stay in to tour these areas. Something just slightly more off the beaten track, maybe?
Also which West Cork Village is your favorite?

We had a self-catering house in Clonakilty for a week last summer. We day tripped to Kinsale and to Cobh, but didn't go up to Blarney. With the exception of Skibbereen, we didn't find the area to be congested. I thought the Union Hall/Glandore area was beautiful, but Clonakilty provided more restaurants and pubs.

Mary, do you remember roughly how long the drive to Kinsale from Clonakilty took? Maps are so deceptive. Also did you enjoy Clonakily? I was thinking maybe it would be a good strategic location for visiting both Kinsale/Blarney and also the Towns just west like castletownshend. I'll have to look up the areas you mentioned since I don't recognize the names. I am also considering Baltimore. I might just have them (parents) stay in Kinsale but the towns of West Cork just look so nice and appealing.

Thank you. You have given me alot of good information and useful opinions.

If you take the N71 route, it's less than an hour from Clonakilty to Kinsale. A good bit longer if you take the coast road---maybe twice as long?

We enjoyed Clonakilty a lot. Just the right size for us...not too big or too small. Good variety of restaurants, pubs, etc. It has an interesting history and is very walkable. Great base for day trips and there's a beautiful beach just outside of town. It's also not the major tourist destination that Kinsale is and we liked that.

Baltimore is in a lovely location on the water. There's a ferry there that can take you out to Clear Island. It's much smaller than Clonakilty, but I'd be happy there for a few nights.

Glandore/Union Hall are between Clonakilty and Baltimore. They're really tiny, though.

cheriann,

By choosing to lodge in West Cork, you've selected one of Ireland's most relaxing and rewarding regions.

Clonakilty (Michael Collins' birthplace) is an appealing place, nicely situated for excursions east to Kinsale or west to Glandore and Castletownshend, two of the area's more attractive villages. As to touring beyond Kinsale - Cobh and Blarney - I think you might feel a bit rushed or overwhelmed trying to take in this many destinations in such a short time span. Traffic congestion will be more of an issue around Cobh and, especially, Blarney.

Should you have a chance, do stop for lunch in Glandore, a charming, upmarket place (though with few amenities). Have lunch and a cool one at Hayes Bar which overlooks the bay. Castletownshend, meanwhile, is a delight,, offering steep walks down attractive lanes and on to the waterside. Like Glandore, it's rather quiet, but appealingly so, and you have the added attraction of Mary Ann's, one of the Republic's very best pub/restaurants (don't miss the seafood here).

Should you stay in Baltimore, you'll have the attractive option of taking a ferry out to Clear and Sherkin Islands. In addition, Baltimore makes for a nice place to situate yourself as you consider trips east to such attractive destinations as Schull, Crookhaven and, finally, the "end of Europe," Mizen Head.

Best of luck.

Glengarriff is a lovely little village in West Cork that is worth a visit. There are some nice shops and lively pubs along with great hiking/walking trails in the surrounding hills. Boats from the harbour take visitors over to Garnish Island; a journey which will likely take you past many seals and swans. Garnish Island also has wonderful walking trails and beautiful gardens.
The Glengarriff Eccles Hotel is a good place to stay with reasonable rates, friendly staff, and fabulous views of Bantry Bay.

Cheriann,

Some other points about Clonakilty. There is a wondeful bookstore,"Kerr's", near the Hotel O'Donovan. It has a lady proprietor, who I asked why I heard so much Gaelic being spoken in September 2003 by young people versus my last visit in 1989. She took the time to explain about changes in the Irish education system.

It seems that all subjects are now taught in Gaelic. Earlier the study of Gaelic was a separate course but all other subjects were taught in English. Ireland, she noted, fears homogenization under the European Union, of which they are now a part and the increase in the use of Gaelic is a defense of Irish culture.

We dined at ?Au Sujon? and had a very good meal. The maitre d? is a humorous, quick-witted fellow.

This is very nice town.

Good luck.

Anthony

I second Baltimore as a 2nd place to stay. We rented a house in the village (there seem to be holiday home as well that are rented). Its a real chill out place. Nothing much but 2 pubs and 2-4 places to eat. It was a perfect weekend. If the weather is good take the ferry to one of the Islands. We went to Sherkin and watched a match on TV and had lunch in the pub on the island.

I loved Clonakilty itself, and would revisit it anytime. I stayed at O'Donovan's Hotel (mentioned by a previous poster) and recommend it -- right in the center of town, very pleasant.

I didn't care for Skibbereen, which I had expected to be a highlight. The traffic system made the town feel claustrophobic, though maybe I was unconsciously reacting to Skibbereen's sad history during the Famine.

I visited Glandore and Union Hall on a daytrip from Clonakilty, and was glad I'd chosen instead to stay in the "big town," since they were too small to give much feeling of bustle and life.

I also stayed at a self catering unit in Clonakilty last summer and found it perfect!
Not too congested but great pubs, restaurants, book stores, craft shop and grocery stores. A quick hope to Kinsaleand Cobh to the east and the other west cork towns, Rosscarberry, Skibbereen, Bantry to the west. Actually did a day trip up to Cahir in Tipperary (not bad at all)

If it is a nice day - drive to the lighthouse on Mizen head. We loved it, spectacular views