If you’re visiting Ireland and looking for a road trip that takes you beyond the usual tourist trail, point your car west from Cork City.
West Cork is where Ireland gets wild. Roads wind through green hills, disappear around rocky headlands and suddenly open out onto some of the most spectacular Atlantic scenery in the country. It’s not about ticking off attractions as quickly as possible, it’s about slowing down and discovering the scenic places that make Ireland feel truly special.
And there is no better way to experience it than by road.
Leave Cork City behind and head west towards the coast with plenty of opportunities to stop along the way. As you get further into West Cork, the landscape changes dramatically, with colourful villages, quiet beaches and winding coastal roads replacing the busier roads around the city.
Make your way towards Baltimore, where you can take in the famous Baltimore Beacon which stands dramatically above the harbour. From here, you can also take a ferry to Cape Clear, Ireland’s southernmost inhabited island. It’s a chance to experience a completely different side of Ireland with sea views, walking trails and that wonderfully slow island pace.
Nearby, Lough Hyne is another worthwhile detour, a beautiful saltwater lake surrounded by woodland and hills.
Continue west towards Mizen Head, one of the real highlights of the journey. As Ireland’s most southwesterly point, the landscape becomes increasingly panoramic with cliffs crashing Atlantic waves and huge open views.
The walk across the famous Mizen Head bridge to the old signal station is an experience in itself. On a clear day, look out to sea for dolphins, seals and even whales. We hope you see some!
And don’t rush back. Take the scenic route through places such as Schull and Barleycove where you’ll find one of West Cork’s beautiful sandy beaches.
If you want to escape the crowds, head for Sheep’s Head. This narrow peninsula stretches between Bantry Bay and Dunmanus Bay and is one of the quieter corners of the Wild Atlantic Way.
For something even more atmospheric, seek out Three Castle Head, an ancient ruined fortification perched dramatically above the Atlantic waters. It feels like one of those places you weren’t supposed to find.
Back towards Bantry where you have to make time for Bantry House and Gardens, a beautiful historic estate overlooking Bantry Bay. A picturesque spot to say the least!
From Bantry, the adventure can continue towards the Ring of Beara. If the Ring of Kerry is the famous option, Beara is its quieter, more rugged first cousin.
The roads become narrower, the scenery more awe-inspiring and the number of tour buses noticeably smaller. Stop at Ballydonegan Beach near Allihies, explore the colourful village itself and take in the remnants of the area’s old copper-mining landscape. The Ballydonegan area is also part of a wonderful coastal walking route so you can get out of the car and spread those legs.
Then comes one of the great driving experiences of the region: the Caha Pass.
Winding through the mountains between Kenmare and Glengarriff, the road delivers spectacular views and gives you that feeling of being properly off the beaten track.
The beauty of this trip is that some of the best stops aren’t necessarily the famous ones. Look out for Gougane Barra, the colourful villages of Eyries and Allihies, Garnish Island near Glengarriff, Drombeg Stone Circle, Glandore and Union Hall and the spectacular beaches around Barleycove.
You could spend days exploring this corner of Ireland, it’s impossible to fit this all into a day or two and that’s exactly why planning the route matters.
Driving West Cork
Motoring around the West of Cork is an incredible experience but it can also be challenging. The roads are narrow, the distances can be deceptive and the best places aren’t always the ones you’ll find at the top of Google.
That’s where we come in.
We know it, we have seen it, we have lived it!
We can build the perfect itinerary around your time, help you save money by avoiding unnecessary detours and costly mistakes and take the stress of planning and driving off your hands.
You came to Ireland to enjoy the scenery, the food, the people and the adventure.
Let us take care of the road trip.
Contact us today to get the car started…
