Begin your day by driving to Glengarriff via the scenic Caha Pass mountain road which winds its way along the mountain tops overlooking stunning views of Bantry Bay and Glengarriff and passes through Ireland’s only historic road tunnels. This pass is the main road between Cork and Kerry and will bring you to the beautiful coastal village of Glengarriff passing a number of viewing points along the way. Once you have arrived in Glengarriff enjoy a cosmopolitan selection of shops, galleries, restaurants and attractions, including taking the short boat journey to the sub-tropical gardens at Garnish Island or Ilnacullin (Island of Holly).
This mostly sheltered ferry trip will also pass nearby seal island, where you will get a chance to meet the local seal colony. Once you arrive on the island learn more about the abundant flora and the history of one of the world’s favourite garden spots. Blessed with spectacular sea and mountain scenery, this thirty-seven-acre island has a seductive mixture of formal and informal gardens superbly filled with a rich and wonderful variety of plant forms and colour.
Allow 3 hours for this experience
From Ballylickey travel through Bantry and down towards the Mizen Peninsula passing picturesque villages and beautiful beaches, until you reach Ireland's most southernly point the Mizen Head Signal Station, a journey of approximately 1 hour. Along the Mizen Peninsula enjoy spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean from rugged rocky cliffs and on a clear day you can also spot the famous offshore Fasnet Lighthouse. At Mizen Head the dynamic visitor centre has a large car park, gift shop and Cafe with good homefood, snacks, drinks and ice cream.
Allow 2.5 hours for this experience
Leaving Mizen head, travel back up the western side of the Mizen Peninsula through the popular villages of Schull and Ballydehob, and if you have planned ahead and booked you can stop and enjoy a major treat at the Michellin star restaurant Chestnut before arriving into the colourful market town of Skibbereen, a journey of roughly one hour. After a very busy day you can retire to the charming West Cork Hotel which offers 34 en-suite rooms to satisfy a diverse range of accommodation and budgetary requirements.
Begin your second day in West Cork with a visit to Skibbereen Heritage Centre located in the beautifully restored Old Gasworks Building accross from the West Cork Hotel. The Centre tells the story of The Great Famine (An Górta Mór) of 1845-1852 a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration which claimed the lives of over one million Irish people and forced the emigration of nearly two million more. Gain an insight into this complex period of Irish history through personal accounts of those who experienced the Great Famine in Skibbereen, one of Ireland’s worst affected regions.
Allow 1 hour for this Experience
After lunch in one of the many restaurants in Skibbereen head to Clonakilty, a car journey of roughly 25 minutes and stop off at the historic Michael Collins House. This modern museum near the town centre is dedicated to the life of Irish patriot and Clonakilty native, Michael Collins. Or alternatively head just a few kilometres out of town to visit the Michael Collins Centre at Castleview which houses a large collection of Michael Collin's personal items, with artefacts and memorabilia from the War Of Independence and Civil War.
Allow 1 hour.
Next take the short walk or drive to the state of the art Clonakilty Distillery to immerse yourself in a unique sensory experience by getting a behind the scenes tour of a real working whiskey and gin distillery. Combining world-class visitor facilities, the very best in multi-media presentation and expert guides, visitors here will experience first-hand the smell, sound, feel and taste of a distillery creating genuine Irish spirits, and if this experience leaves you peckish try out the Whale's Tail Restaurant located onsite.
Next take the short walk or drive to the state of the art Clonakilty Distillery to immerse yourself in a unique sensory experience by getting a behind the scenes tour of a real working whiskey and gin distillery. Combining world-class visitor facilities, the very best in multi-media presentation and expert guides, visitors here will experience first-hand the smell, sound, feel and taste of a distillery creating genuine Irish spirits, and if this experience leaves you peckish try out the Whale's Tail Restaurant located onsite.
Allow 2 hours.
