Things To Do

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT TO WEST CORK

Attractions & Activities

Ideally located within a short distance from Bantry Bay, you are sure to find something to do – hill walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing, golf, sailing and water sports or just relax with our friendly goats Coco & Chanelle and their kids!

Bantry and the South-West has always been one of the most popular tourist destinations.

Historical Beauty

Bantry has a wealth of heritage, natural and built, from sea, woodlands and mountains, to Bantry House, the Kilnaruane Pillar stone and the story of Wolfe Tone. The Heritage Loop Walks aim to take walkers on a tour of many of the heritage points of interests in and around the town.

Bantry House, is one of Ireland’s most attractive Great Houses, full of treasures collected by various generations of Earls of Bantry from all parts of the world.

Taking It Easy

Just a short drive away is the scenic village of Glengarriff. Here you can browse the local craft shops, enjoy a meal or a coffee or even catch a ferry to Garnish Island and take a wonderful stroll through some fantastic gardens.

Nearby Bantry is a busy harbour town, with a bustling outdoor market, and plenty of bars and restaurants. We recommend checking out the town’s website Bantry.ie for a more comprehensive list of all that Bantry has to offer.

Active Vacations

West Cork is a particularly popular destination for hillwalking and hiking. The Sheep’s Head Way is a stunning walking, hiking or scenic driving route on the Sheep’s Head Penninsula.

Walkers will love West Cork’s dramatic scenery and we heartily recommend a making your way to Drimoleague’s Top Of The Rock, which is a great starting point for a number of great treks.

The Beara Way Cycling Route enables cyclists to travel the quiet country roads around the Peninsula. The Route is challenging but the scenery is spectacular.

Horse riding lessons and treks available locally.

The Bantry Blueway offers a network of mapped trails for kayaking and boating in Bantry Bay.

Golfing

Built to Championship standards by Christy O’Connor Jnr & course architect Eddie Hackett, Bantry Bay Golf Club is set in 170 acres of beautiful rolling countryside, overlooking the breathtaking scenery of the bay.

Booking your tee-time through us entitles you to a special discounted rate. Just let us know your preferred day and time, and we can take care of the booking.

Fishing

Permits are available locally for Lough Boffine, and surrounding rivers. Lough Boffine is a stocked lake of Rainbow and Brown Trout. Sea Fishing is free, and the Bantry Bay area is a renowned fishing destination.

Fishing tackle is available to purchase in Bantry town.

Discover more about Fishing & Angling in Bantry Bay.

Enjoy The Scenery

West Cork Garden Trail. 27 Fabulous Gardens In Ireland’s Garden Paradise.

Glengarriff Nature Reserve is one of the finest oceanic Sessile Oak woods in Ireland.  A variety of walking trails are provided to suit a range of abilities. 

Bantry Bay is home to to three beautiful islands that all offer something unique and are well worth exploring; Whiddy Island, Garnish Island and Bere Island.