I need help for West Cork base/location--self-catering ideas too
 

After a lot of researching we have decided that West Cork would be a good place for us to base ourselves for a week at the end of this month (yes, we are fairly last minute planners). Can you give me some advice please?

This will be our first trip to Ireland, and we've decided we do not need to try to see it all, and we'd prefer to slow down and savor a smaller area. As far as sightseeing daytrips we'd like to be within an hour's drive of Bantry, the Berea peninsula, Glengarriff, and we'd like to go as far east as perhaps the Clonakilty area. We'd also like to do some nice, scenic walking (not hill climbing) and perhaps some cycling on roads that aren't horribly hilly. We are looking for a self-catering place that isn't very remote and where we'd be within a few minutes of a charming little village (perhaps with a harbor) where we could eat and relax and visit an occasional pub. I've found a few places near Durrus, Ballydehob, Glengarriff, but I don't know if any of them really fit the bill. If you've visited the area, do you have any suggestions for me as far as locales? Or places to stay for 2 people? I of course, would like it all as far as a rental place. Charming, nice location, moderately priced etc. Or, do you think a week in this area is not a good idea? Thanks.

We stayed at a B&B in Glengarriff. It is well situated for most of West Cork, and is a lively little town, with some nice pubs and good music. There are some nice walks around the village, and of course Garnish island too.

We would certainly return there, and would probably go self-catering next time and stay longer. We were there just two nights last time.

This is good to hear because, when I did a search on this forum, I found some info from some people who said that Glengarriff was basically some pubs and restaurants set alongside a through highway rather than an actual village and wasn't particularly desirable as a locale. But, if we are mainly concerned that there are some pubs, restaurants and shops, we'd be fine according to what you have to say. We've found a place outside Glengarriff that we are contemplating but it is 3 miles up a dirt trck from the village, and we are wondering if that is too remote and isolated. Thanks again.

If you want pubs, then you don't want your accommodation to be 3 miles away.

I have been planning a visit to Baltimore. Have a look: http://www.baltimore.ie/

Another vote for Baltimore. I will be there the last 12 nights in June. There is a group of Holiday cottages and I know that the Slipway B&B has a self catering Apt. It is right on the harbour and about a three minute walk to three Pubs and several good places to eat. All of the places you mention are within an hours drive. If you can't get a self catering try the Fastnethouse. again a minutes walk to the village square, lovely folks and Ron is the resident village musician. If you try Baltimore be sure to take the Ferry out to the Islands. Have fun

Baltimore is lovely, and can be very busy. We stayed at Casey's which was lovely. However it is a bit out of the way imho.

Yes, the pub bit is what is putting me in a quandry. We are middle-aged and certainly not hang-out-in-the-bars type people normally, but I know going to pubs is the thing in Ireland for many people. While my husband likes his Guinness, I am not a big drinker. So, then I think to myself I could drive us home down that 3 mile dirt track if we have been out in the evenings. And, then, there is also the question of how many evenings we would actually visit the pubs out of our 7 night stay in the place we eventually settle on. If we've been busy all day and we have a nice rental, I am wondering if we'd be just as happy most evenings to sit in our rental with our own beer and wine.

Baltimore does sound very nice, but I am wondering if it is a bit east for what we want to do during the day.

Thanks for all the suggestions; I'll keep following up on them.

Bantry, Glengarriff, Clonkilty, the Beara, the sheepshead and the Mizen are all under an hour. Cork & Killarney about two hours. If you can get a nice rental overlooking some water, fine but you are starting out a little late even in this economy. By the way Glengarriff is not a village, a couple of shops with a very major highway running through. There is a nice boat ride out to the gardens. Have fun

julies,

The pub scene in Ireland is grand, not just for the Guinness, and for the craic(talk) up at the bar, but for supurb traditional Irish Music. I can sit at home with my beer and wine 350 days out of the year. But the 2 weeks I'm in Ireland........you know where I'll be!!!Dan

Rosscarbery is a lovely area between Clonakilty and Skibbereen, which will make a great base for visiting around the area. It's a small, scenic town with shops, pubs and restaurants and various activities. There's a few self catering rentals as well as B&Bs and a hotel with leisure centre -- http://www.rosscarbery.ie

The following websites may be of interest to you:
- http://www.westcork.ie
- http://www.clonakilty.ie
- http://www.baltimore.ie
- http://www.schull.ie (possibly too far west in Cork)
- http://www.kinsale.ie (possibly too too far east in Cork, but lovely place)

If you are looking for accommodation that is unique and luxurious, Inish Beg, has a range of self catering properties. It's on an island, accessed by bridge, near Baltimore, which a couple of people here recommended. http://www.inishbeg.com

Glad to see you want to focus on West Cork because so many people go to the better known areas, but this is a very special place! Ann

(Disclaimer: I am webmaster for some of these sites, but because I work for so many tourism related businesses in the area, I do have a good bit of knowledge about what is available in the area and wouldn't recommend anything that I didn't think was relevant.)

We stayed at Sandycove Beach Villas outside Rosscarbery across the road from the beach http://www.sandycovebeach.com
Got great weather while we were ther

I stayed in Baltimore a few years ago and enjoyed it. I also stayed in Goleen to visit Mizen Head and I drove to the Beara and recall the Healy Pass, Castletownbere and Eyeries. I think there is a walking trail there. I vaguely remember Schull and think I bought some pottery there.

Good luck finding what you want but I think you'll enjoy Southwest Cork, it's a beautiful area.

i saw your post when i was searching for a last moment holiday as well. How was it? would it suit a large family (2 parents, 5 kids)? thanx
Dolci http://www.dolci.co.il

We stayed at Fortview Cottage a few years ago and loved it, it is a few miles from Schull and a good location for touring West Cork. The house is wonderful and the owner so easy to work with and accommodating. http://www.fortviewhousegoleen.com/

We ended up with a last minute accomodation a few miles out of Bantry in Bally lickey, and it was a great location for a base for touring the area.

We love self catering. It's great to have a "home" to return to at night and it is usually a lot less expensive than hotels and B&B's. That said, we never try to see the whole country when we visit, just a small region. (You can fly into Dublin and spend a couple of nights at a hotel in the big city then rent your car at the airport or take a tain to Cork and rent your car there).

We used the follwontg site three times with no problems and got great houses for self catering each time:

http://www.gulliver.ie/goirelandsc/

Try Courtmacsherry a beautiful seaside village that's about 8 mikes from Clonakilty.
My friends have booked a week in the " old post office" for September and it appears to sleep 8 easily.
Www.daft.ie - lots of smaller houses available also

After our original plans fell through, we drove around looking for a place. We happened upon this and really liked it as a base location and a place to stay.

http://rentacottage.server267.com/se...pe_C*)-15.html