Things to do in West Cork??

marley123

Have family holiday booked for August - staying in Glandore..
We have 2 children under 5 - am looking for recomendations on things to do within an hours drive of Glandore preferably outdoor activities -

teekayd25

A few good beaches around if they were old enough to have a paddle and build a few sandcastles, although the beaches might be fairly busy around then. A couple of playgrounds around as well like in Skibbereen and Dunmanway (public swimming pool here which includes a baby pool). Festival in Dunmanway in August which would have stalls / roulette wheels / horse fair. There might also happen to be a circus or a funfair in one of the West Cork towns while you are around. Finally, there are Cinemas in Bantry and Clonakilty and there would probably be a kids' film on show most of the time.

Balmed Out

ame question in the co. cork forum so in case you dont see it...

Ok ive lived in clon for a few years which isnt far, I have no kids so never think about them but still should be able to help.

Restraunts.
For fish : Deasys on the ring road just outside Clonakilty and O'Callaghan Walsh's are the equals of fishy fishy. Poachers inn in Bandon also excellent.

Richy's in Clonakilty and the Market something or other also very good.

Just outside Baltimore An Sibin is excellent value during the day. Simple food but very nice expecially dessert. Annie mays in Skibereen would be similar but not quite as good.

In Glandore itself
Last time I eat in the Marine it was excellent but time before that (during a very busy festival to be fair) it wasnt great.

Hayes's. I love the chicken salad for lunch. Its more chicken then salad and half of the salad is fruit. When you get tea it comes out its like a girls tea party with fancy tray cup etc and normally (not always though) you get one of those chocolate biscuit marshmallows instead of a regular biscuit. It and the pub next to it are good for food in general and I reckon the best place in cork to sit out on a sunny day and nurse a beer.

Union hall. One of Irelands biggest fishing ports. Go there on a Friday afternoon. Its either 4 or 5pm so ask the locals but theres a pub which cooks fish and chips for a fiver with the fish literally just off the boat. good.

Activities.
Rosscarberrys celtic ross hotels leisure centre is open to the public so a good choice on a rainy day.
Clonakilty railway village on the road to inchadoney. http://www.modelvillage.ie/
Kayaking. http://www.atlanticseakayaking.com/
surfing - not for the kids but you would enjoy while the other minds them at the beach. http://www.westcorksurfing.com/
The cinema. http://www.theparkcinema.com/
Drumbeg stone circle. One of probably a dozen in the area but its the best and located between rosscarberry and glandore. http://www.stonepages.com/ireland/drombeg.html
Walks. Excellent ones Around Ardifield in Castlefreke.
The Beach - Inchadoney, red strand (my fave), owenahincha, The warren etc etc.

Not done the whale watching but have actually seen them in the distance twice. If the weather is very warm for a few days then do this and chances are ye could see basking sharks.
Go to galley head. Park beneath the castle walls. Walk up to Lighthouse. If theres someone outside the house on the way ask them are the sharks out



in addition look into the festivals in rosscarberry, timoleague, kilbrittain et etc. Just about every town has a summer festival with at least half of them in august. Timoleagues pig racing is a highlight, oh and if theres mice racing somewhere its worth checking out for the laugh too.

Other thing ye could look into is getting a ferry from Baltimore and checking out some of the islands. Also the coastal rowing season would be on and some of the regattas have play activities on for kids too.

marley123

Balmedout! Thank you so much for taking the time out to post such an informative post!!! We will most likely take them all on board!! ( especially the foodie recomendations )

teekayd25 thank you for your reply aswell, we will definately be hitting the beaches, we love the outdoors, rain - hail - sleet or snow:)

Siuin

My family have a holiday home in West Cork, so we go there a lot, and out of all the restaurants we've been to, the absolute best have to be:
An Sugan, Clonakilty http://www.ansugan.com/
The Pilgrim's Rest, Rosscarbury http://www.ireland-guide.com/establishment/pilgrims_rest.4550.html
but if you're going to the latter, be sure to remember that it closes at 5pm. I especially recommend their salads and chicken melts- absolutely amazing!

Also, if you want a day out I'd highly recommend heading to Baltimore and getting a boat to one of the islands- they're really scenic and beautiful. I spent a month in the Cape Clear Gaeltacht a few years back and it was a really lovely place