A Place Apart…

West Cork is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and the Celtic Ross Hotel in the historic town of Rosscarbery is one of the best West Cork hotels from which to explore this wonderful region. Surrounded by breathtaking countryside and coastline, choose from a range of activities in West Cork.

Upcoming Festivals and Events in West Cork:

July 18th – 31st Skibbereen Arts Festival, Skibbereen www.skibbereenartsfestival.com
July 20th – 25th Festival of the Bard, Lisavaird www.westcorkweek.com/bard
July 22nd – August 19th Festival of Music, Castletownshend. Contact Angela Eborall 028 36193 for details
July 31st Cork X Southwest, Skibbereen www.corkxsw.com
August 5th Brendan Grace, Celtic Ross Hotel Click here for details
August 5th – 8th Clonakilty Waterfront Festival www.clonfest.ie
August 6th – 16th Rosscarbery Family Festival Click here for details
August 26th Rosscarbery Horse Fair
September 3rd – 5th Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival www.capeclearstorytelling.com
September 16th – 19th Clonakilty International Guitar Festival www.clonguitarfest.com
September 17th, 18th & 19th Faulty Towers…The Dining Experience, Celtic Ross Hotel Click here for details

Beaches of West Cork

  • Warren Beach – the Blue Flag Warren Beach is a very safe sheltered beach suitable for families to sunbathe and swim. Only 1km from Rosscarbery Causeway and the Celtic Ross Hotel.
  • Owenahincha Beach – A short distance from Rosscarbery this Blue Flag beach is a long sandy beach. As it is exposed it can get very windy and is a popular spot for surfing.
  • Long Strand – looking out over Galley Head this beach is great to stretch the legs and breathe in the Atlantic air. Not suitable for swimming, a surfers haven.
  • Red Strand – not far from Long Strand this tranquil beach is dotted with rock pools.
  • Inchydoney Beach – Outside of Clonakilty this vast beach is great for surfing.

There are a range of activities to consider:

Rosscarbery

Golf

  • Rosscarbery Driving Range Click here for details
  • Rosscarbery Pitch and Putt Click here for details
  • Skibbereen & West Carbery Golf Club, Skibereen
  • Lisselan Estate Golf Club, Clonakilty
  • Glengarriff Golf Club, Glengarriff
  • Bantry Bay Golf Club, Bantry

Watersports

  • Pedal Boating with The Lagoon Activity Centre, Rosscarbery (11am – 6pm July and August)
  • Surfing, Inchydoney
  • Atlantic Sea Kayaking www.atlanticseakayaking.com

    • surfer
    Surfing West Cork Mike Brown Photography

Horse Riding

  • Prendagast Riding Centre, Rosscarbery (July and August)
  • Kinsgtons Riding Centre, Clonakilty

Walking

  • Walking tours can be arranged with West Cork Discovery Walking Tours

Gardens

Whale Watching

Islands

Visit many of the beautiful islands of West Cork

  • Cape Clear Island – ferry runs daily from Baltimore and Schull
  • Sherkin Island – ferry runs daily from Baltimore
  • Fastnet Rock Lighthouse – Irelands most south westerly point – days trips available
  • Garinish Island – ferry runs daily from Glengarrif March – October
  • Bere Island – ferry runs daily from Castletownbere
  • Whiddy Island – ferry runs daily from Bantry Pier
  • Dursey Ieland – Ireland’s only cable car runs daily from the Beara Peninsula

For those interested in some sightseeing, choose from the following Visitor Attractions:

  • Skibbereen Heritage Centre, Skibbereen – The Great Famine Exhibition
  • West Cork Heritage Centre, Bandon
  • Timoleague Abbey, Timoleague
  • West Cork Model Railway Village, Clonakilty
  • Lios na gCon Ringfort, Clonakilty
  • Drombeg Stone Circle, Glandore
  • Michael Collins Centre, Clonakilty
  • Mizen Visitor Centre, Mizen Head
Contact us for further information on any of the activities above. We can arrange activities for you during your stay in West Cork.
Night Time Sea Kayaking

A fantastic activity that all the family can do together is night time sea kayaking with Jim Kennedy, Atlantic Sea Kayaking. No experience is necessary as Jim will run through everything at the beginning. The kayaking starts about an hour before moonlight with two people in each kayak leaving from Reen Pier near Union Hall. Even though you are kayaking in the near darkness your eyes become used to it very quickly while Jim tells you about the abundance of wild life in the area. Listen to Jim regale tales of the visiting Orcas and what about those great whites?! Once it gets dark every time your paddle hits the water the light emitted by the bio-luminescence creats an amazing waterfall of tiny lights in the water. It is a wonderful activity for everyone of all ages.

Whales in November in West Cork!

2009 Large Whale Season Begins – Article by Pádraig Whooley, Sightings Co-ordinator with Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. Click Here to read.


Fin Whale Pádraig Whooley, IWDG         Fin Whale Pádraig Whooley, IWDG

Rosscarbery West Cork Rosscarbery West Cork
Warren Beach Mike Brown Photography  Warren Beach Mike Brown Photography
Rosscarbery West Cork Rosscarbery West Cork
Long Strand Mike Brown Photography    Fishing West Cork Mike Brown