We will be spending some time on the Beara. Castletownbere looks like the natural base, because so many hiking trails begin and end there. Does anyone have a strong preference for either Ardgroom, or Adrigole, or any of the other towns? How is Trad music in these places?

Can't help answer your questions, just wanted to say lucky you!
We only spent a day on the Beara on our flying visit to Cork in August, but we want to go back and explore it some more.

There is a poster in www.irelandyes.com forums (I think he's on here, too, but I don't remember?) that goes to Beara regularly... check out the older posts and trip reports, I'm sure you'll find him!

Duh! Just saw him on another thread - here, he's Italian_Chauffer (sp?). He goes over lots, and has been to Beara many times, as I recall.

Ditto what hetismij wrote. I only one day and loved it.

Dunno how much help I can be -- particularly after the set-up that Christy has set but here goes:

I HAVE spent a fair amount of time on the bearra, but have never actually STAYED there. Rented a GREAT stone cottage on the Sheep's Head, in April of '06.

Castletownbere is probably the best choice, though. LOTS to see and do, should the weather prove unco-operative. Plus, if it was good enough for Pete McCarthy ...(RIP)... it should prove to be every bit as entertaining for you.

If you haven't already done so, I STRONGLY urge you to read (or re-read!) 'McCarthy's Bar', PRIOR to your trip.

Bob

The best thing McCarthy told me was that when you are in remote places,look for those pubs that are combined with hardware stores, habidasheries, etc. I found two great ones in Dingle Town, and I'll be looking again in Castletownbere.

THE McCarthy's Bar, in Castletownbere is a grocery/pub.

Food idea, for your trip: http://irelandyes.wordpress.com/

General info:

http://www.bearainfo.com/

http://www.myguideireland.com/castletownbere

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...bere/tpod.html

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...ed=0CCAQsAQwBA

Bob

Forgot to add:

http://www.castletownbere.ie/

Bob

I just drove the "ring of Beara" (after Kerry the day before) it was fabulous, the coast line is stunning, windy narrow roads. There is so much to see, we went to the cable car which was a laugh, we timed it badly as it wasn't going until later in the aft. they use it to take hay over to the sheep on the island, i assume, as it was full of hay debris and the sheep heard us and were calling out to us from the island. They were standing right on the cliff edge too! There is a castle on the other side of the island and you can stay over there, i would love to have gone over to investigate. There are walking tracks everywhere, but i don't know too much about them, called the beara way. If you drive, travel in a clockwise direction then you are always on the outer side of the road for the view. We stayed in lovely Kenmare on the Kerry Ring, but i think my favourites were the Dingle and the Beara Peninsula. Though the drive from Killarney to Kenmare was the most beautiful part of the ring of kerry for me. Starting from Kenmare across the top of Beara via the stone circle was a great drive through rock tunnels and then down around the Peninsula, was a great trip. Oh i wish i was still there....best wishes.

Check out Eyries. I spent a nice day there, climbing hills and visiting stone circles and the ogham stone. There is access to the hiking trails.

I'd forgotten about it earlier but was tossing my 2009 calendar and saw the photo of Eyeries.