Places to Visit

Bantry House

Bantry House is one of Ireland’s best-preserved great houses and it provides a fascinating insight into the lives lived by the Anglo-Irish aristocracy in some of the most troubled times in Irish history. The estate also houses a museum which commemorates the failed bid by Theobald Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen to land an armada in Bantry in 1796.

Carriganass Castle

Just a few miles away from Primrose Cottage is one of the hidden gems of West Cork’s landscape: the imposing tower of Carriganass Castle stands over the Ouvane River on the road to Macroom. The castle was once owned by Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare, who marched past its gates on his long walk from Beara to Breifne in County Leitrim, before he left Ireland with the Flight of the Earls.

Now the castle, restored with great care by the local community in Kealkill, is an amazing landmark, and the picnic area here, overlooking the river that passes by the castle walls, is a lovely place to pause on your travels.

Garnish Island

From Glengarriff, take a boat trip out to the magical gardens at Garnish Island. There’s so much to explore here, from the Italian gardens to the Martello tower, and you’ll see seals basking on the rocks too as you make your trip across from Glengarriff to the island’s shore. It was the Gulf Stream climate that attracted Annan Bryce and his wife Violet to buy the island in 1910. They commissioned Harold Peto to design the gardens which celebrated their centenary in 2010. His work continues to fascinate visitors to the island over a century later.

Gougane Barra

The church on the lake at Gougane Barra marks the place where St. Finbarr set up his retreat in the seventh century, and it has remained an important site of pilgrimage over the many years since then.

Behind the church is the Gougane Barra Forest Park, and you can choose a simple stroll along the paths, or a climb into the hills above the lake when you visit this remarkable spot.

Kealkill Stone Circle