This is the fifth of our 5 half weblog on the Wild Atlantic Way Road Trip with a Caravan (WAW), the longest outlined coastal touring route on the earth. It stretches for over 2,500km so it’s greatest to divide it into areas and take your time to discover and see the wonder that Ireland has to supply. However, you don’t should observe these routes and might cross over into different areas. The neatest thing is to be versatile and take your time to discover this nice nation.
There’s journey and pleasure round each nook of the Wild Atlantic Way.
In this weblog, we discover your potential street journey with a caravan in Cork – Ireland’s largest county with over 1,000km of shoreline. Cork is so large it stretches from the Wild Atlantic Way into Ireland’s Ancient East. Spend a number of days, every week or longer – there’s a enormous quantity to see and do and locations to discover within the Rebel County –Cork. In this weblog, we are going to discover Cork alongside the Wild Atlantic Way. There is a big collection of caravan & tenting websites in Cork with nice places on the seaside, in rural places, on working farms, all high-quality authorized websites.
Discover the Beara Peninsula– 30 mile-long piece of land jutting out into the Atlantic from Glengarriff to Dursey Island bordering the counties of Cork and Kerry. The Beara peninsula is densely studded with Bronze Age stays: wedge tombs, stone circles and standing stones. Glengarriff Caravan & Camping is ideally situated simply 300m from the Harbour and has an onsite bar & restaurant. Glengarriff is a good place to base your self and go to the numerous websites within the space.
Glengarriff Bamboo Park – right here you’ll discover 30 totally different species of bamboo surrounded by palms and different tropical vegetation with breathtaking views of the bay.Also situated within the bamboo park are 13 mysterious stone pillars, believed to be historical.
The Ewe Experience and Sculpture Garden– a singular mixture of historical past, creativity and humour with 4 themed gardens of water, time, the surroundings and historical earth. Enjoy the tranquillity of this particular place.Have enjoyable with the interactive sculpture gardens and see the spectacular waterfall flowing down into the gardens.
Take a ship journey to Garnish Island – the ferry leaves frequently from Glengarriff harbour and brings you to Garnish Island. The very sheltered ferry journey features a go to to seal island the place you’ll go to the very tame seal colony. The gardens are specified by stunning walks and it has some beautiful specimen vegetation that are uncommon on this local weather. The Island additionally boasts a Martello tower on its southern shores. In 2021 entrance to the Island is free (boat cost nonetheless applies)
Walking & Cycling routes – The Beara Way is 184km however the route will be damaged into 18 sections and every part is rated average to straightforward with just one arduous part from Adrigole to Castletownbere. Why not make Adrigole your base and pitch up your caravan at Hungry Hill Lodge & Campsite. This small website additionally welcomes visitors to their lodge. Don’t overlook to visitthe Copper Mine Museum in Allihies. The Museum preserves the wealthy mining heritage of the area with shows of artefacts, images, illustrations, authentic drawings, diagrams, maps and huge scale fashions.
Island hopping– Bere Island is simply 2km offshore from Castletownbere and is certainly one of 7 inhabited Islands in West Cork. Whales, basking sharks, and bottle-nose and customary dolphins can all be sighted round Bere Island. There are 3 looped routes on the Island to discover. Bere Island is served by two automobile ferry providers, appropriate for travellers on foot, bike or automobile and each sail year-round from Castletownbere and the Pontoon. Dursey Island is essentially the most westerly of West Cork’s inhabited islands and might solely be accessed by boarding the one cable automobile in Irelandwhich runs about 250m above the ocean and takes six folks. The journey takes about ten minutes.
Bantry House & Gardens – the ancestral house of the Earls of Bantry additionally, you will discover a fabulous tea room right here. The home has an essential assortment of artwork treasures. The backyard is specified by the Italian type over seven terraces, with the home sitting on the third terrace. Don’t overlook to climb the well-known Hundred Steps, a monumental staircase constructed of native stone, set amidst azaleas and rhododendron. The view is breathtaking.
Just outdoors Bantry in Ballylickey, you’ll discover Eagle Point Camping. The website is located on a peninsula with a secure and sheltered shoreline and pebbled seashores appropriate for watersports.
Mizen Peninsula – Ireland’s most south-westerly level and once more boasts some magnificent surroundings and fabulous driving routes. A go to to Mizen Head Irish Lights Signal Station is a should. Discover how the Mizen Head Signal Station was constructed to save lots of lives off the treacherous rocks at Ireland’s most south-westerly level. Drop by the customer centre at Mizen Head and study concerning the navigational aids simulator, the geology of the Mizen Head space and the Fastnet Rescue Tide Clock. Take a stroll over the footbridge. Why not spend a number of days on the Mizen Peninsula. Barley Cove Holiday Parkis situated in Crookhaven. Barley Cove seaside is certainly one of Cork’s high blue flag seashores. It is kind of a distant space and there’s a floating bridge in place to handle entry and cut back the impression on the pure environment. It has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation beneath the European Habitats Directive. The fairly villages of Goleen and Schull are superb locations to cease off for lunch or icecream.
In Schull, you’ll discover Schull Planetarium, Ireland’s solely Planetarium. Sitting beneath the hemispherical dome in a darkened auditorium, you may see an amazingly practical and correct replica of the star-studded evening sky. On the Planetarium’s eight-metre dome, the Carl Zeiss single sphere sky projector exhibits an correct illustration of the evening sky from wherever within the northern hemisphere. Shows are held frequently however aren’t appropriate for youngsters beneath 7. Centre open on sure days solely so please test upfront.
Skibbereen & environs – This is a good place to discover the delights of West Cork together with the cities & villages of Baltimore, Glandore and Courtmacsherry. Pitch up for a number of nights at The Hideaway, Skibbereen situated simply 1km from the city centre or the small household run website The Meadowin Glandore. There is a lot to see and do within the space:-
Spend a day on an Island – Sherkin Island and Cape Clear Island are inhabited Islands off the West Cork coast. Sherkin Island is a hub for artists the place locals create artwork, work, books and distinctive craftwork impressed by the island’s tranquil environment. Cape Clear is a Gaeltacht Island. Don’t overlook to attempt the goat’s milk icecream made on the Island. You will see Fastnet Rock on the West of the Island. Ferries to each Islands depart from Baltimore all yr spherical.
Lough Hyne – the one seawater lake in Europe, Lough Hyne and is essentially the most tranquil and peaceable place to spend a number of hours. Why not take a kayak on the lake. You can take a daybreak or evening tour by kayak, which is spectacular. There can also be an elevated nature path which provides some nice elevated views over the lake.
Clonakilty – an award-winning city in West Cork, voted greatest city in Europe in 2017. The city is filled with attraction with stunning vibrant store fronts and an awesome place to base your self for a number of days. It was additionally voted Ireland’s first autistic pleasant city in 2918.Desert House Caravan & Camping Parkis inside strolling distance of the city and is situated on a dairy farm. Sexton’s Caravan & Camping Park is 5 minutes from the city within the rural village of Timoleague. Another choice is Top of the rock Pod Páirc & Walking Centre in Drimoleague is a glamping website that gives tenting & motorhome areas.
West Cork Model Railway Village – Ireland’s solely mannequin village is situated in Clonakilty and is a full-scaled handmade mannequin of the West Cork Railway line with absolutely working miniature trains. You will see handcrafted mannequin buildings and collectible figurines displaying how folks lived and labored in years passed by. It additionally has a vibrant play space and an onsite cafe.
Clonakilty Black Pudding Visitor Centre – who hasn’t had Clonakilty Black Pudding for his or her breakfast? The secret recipe dates again to the late 1800s and the self-guided customer centre in Clonakilty provides you an awesome perception into the historical past of the fabulous pudding and from the viewing gallery you may see how the pudding is made. The better part is that you just additionally get to pattern some within the cafe.
Sample a few of West Cork’s fabulous seashores – 90% of the area’s seashores are inside 20km of Clonakilty! Take a picnic to Red Strand with views of Galley Head Lighthouse, go online in Inchydoney, take a dip within the ocean in Owenahincha.
Take a whale watch tour – There is not any higher place to see whales and dolphins than in West Cork. With boats leaving day by day from Courtmacsherry, Baltimore and Union Hall you’ve got a great variety of choices obtainable. Get up shut and private with whales, dolphins, sharks and plenty of extra.
Kinsale – certainly one of Ireland’s prettiest cities is situated simply 40 minutes drive from Cork City and is called the Gourmet Capital of Ireland due to its enormous collection of nice eating places and locations to eat. From Kinsale Harbour take the stroll alongside the coast to Summercove and on to Charles Fort. Charles Fort is a singular star-shaped army fortress that has stood guard over Kinsale for over 300 years. You will even have magnificent views of Kinsale and the harbour from this location.
Old Head of Kinsale– you’ll have essentially the most breathtaking view from this viewing level. Whilst you can not stroll to the lighthouse there’s a shuttle bus that may convey you out. The Old Head Signal Tower in Kinsale is essentially the most southerly level of the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way. The tower is house to the Lusitania Museum, exhibiting an interesting collection of memorabilia, storyboards and artefacts recovered from the wreck.
This is only a small pattern of issues to do in West Cork alongside the Wild Atlantic Way. There are hundreds extra issues to see and do, discover your personal route, uncover your personal seaside the principle factor is to offer your self loads of time to discover in Cork. Don’t overlook to journey inland to the numerous different nice spots to go to in Cork. Take a visit to Blarney Castle, situated 8km north of Cork City or journey east and go to Fota Wildlife Park and the Queenstown Story in Cobh. For the adults, a visit to the Jameson Centre in Midleton to pattern the whiskey would an awesome deal with or for the youngsters a visit to the Perks Amusement Centre in Youghal, the listing is countless. Make your personal plans and draw up your personal routes. Cork is ready to be explored by everybody.
Click beneath for different blogs on the Wild Atlantic Way:
Part 1 Wild Atlantic Way – Donegal & Sligo
Part 2 Wild Atlantic Way – Galway & Mayo
Part 3 Wild Atlantic Way – Limerick & Clare
Part 4a Wild Atlantic Way – Kerry
Caravan & Camping in Ireland
Cork is house to the most important variety of high quality authorized caravan & tenting websites in Ireland. Some are situated alongside the coast others in rural places however all are high-quality. Check out Camping Irelandfor particulars on websites in Kerry and throughout Ireland.
There is not any higher strategy to see the nation with all your personal house comforts. Click Camping Ireland to search out info on all the good caravan & tenting websites all through Ireland earlier than you journey. It is all the time sensible to guide forward so that you received’t be upset or have a wasted journey. Download the Camping Ireland App which you should use to browse and seek for authorized websites with ease while you’re travelling round. For extra info on the app click on right here
There are over 100 high quality authorized caravan & tenting parks all through Ireland. Sites supply top-class amenities with many onsite facilities. There is a wide range of websites round Ireland. Maybe you’re on the lookout for a quiet website the place you may pitch up and use the location as a base for travelling round. Maybe you desire a website the place there’s a playground to your youngsters and even websites the place there are a bunch of onsite actions for all of the household to get pleasure from. Whatever you need Camping Ireland has one thing for everybody.
Don’t overlook to order your Camping Key Europe Card which presents nice reductions and financial savings at campsites, customer sights and plenty of extra shops. The card is accepted in over 2,800 websites in Ireland and Europe. It additionally consists of free third-party insurance coverage. You can order the cardboard right here