Family Fun Mizen and Sheep’s Head, West Cork
Where is West Cork

West Cork is a place apart with narrow lanes covered in red-flowered Fuschia bushes, hidden beaches, colourful villages and towns, piers for access to the islands and a sense of independence where creative people flourish. The scenery is wild and spectacular on this the southern end of the Wild Atlantic Way. There are built heritage sites such as castles, lighthouses and grand houses. The gardens are many and filled with sub-tropical plants and there are walks on the headlands such as Fastnet Walks, the Sheep’s Head Way and many others.
1 Scenery-

You’re never far from the Atlantic here and the area has some of Ireland’s best coastal scenery with many hidden coves and bays.
2 Quaint colourful towns and villages –
Skibbereen is the largest town in West Cork, with colourful streets, many shops and some important cultural attractions. Ballydehob has some excellent restaurants and good cafes. Schull is a colourful village on the Mizen Peninsula overlooking a boat filled bay with great artisan food producers and creative shops. Bantry is a buzzing colourful market town at the head of a beautiful bay with an artisan market each Friday including some of the best food from the area. Castletownshend by the coast is approached down a steep hill and has a church with Harry Clarke stained glass windows. Nearby Glandore and Union Hall featured in the film The War of the Buttons.
3 Islands –
Take a short ferry ride to one of the islands of West Cork. ( The islands are currently scheduled to open visitors after 11th August 2020, due to Covid-19.

4 Watersports –
There are lots of watersports for young and old. Beaches along the coast are ideal for swimming or relaxing. Best in Baltimore, Castletownsend, Schull and Crookhaven.
5 Artisan Food Producers –

Buy artisan food direct from the producers at local markets, in shops or taste in the restaurants. There are Michelin Star restaurants and othr famous pubs, cafes all serving great local foods. Take part in the annual A Taste of West Cork food festival each September.
Family Fun on the Mizen and Sheep’s Head Peninsula
1. Swim in the sea at West Cork beaches
There are many sandy family-friendly beaches in West Cork for all age groups and free to use. Swim in the sea or surf the waves. Our blog on Cork beaches has details on the best ones to suit your children’s ages, as not all beaches have sand.
Island Hopping or Lighthouse Visits

West Cork has many islands to visit, whatever the age of your children.
Whiddy Island from Bantry, is a gentle 10 minute ferry trip suited to all the family with quiet lanes ideal for walking, including those in a buggy. Bring a picnic or have lunch at the island pub. Bring the dog on a lead for a gentle family adventure on Living the Sheep’s Head Way walks.
Take a family day trip to Cape Clear Island and then around Fastnet Rock lighthouse. This trip is very weather dependent and takes place in high summer only. A private Charter can be organized for a group of up to 12 people.
Watersports
There are lots of watersports for young and old. Beaches along the coast are ideal for swimming or relaxing. Best in Baltimore, Castletownsend, Schull and Crookhaven.
Swim in the Sea and West Cork Beaches

There are many sandy family-friendly beaches in West Cork for all age groups and free to use. Swim in the sea or surf the waves. Our blog on Cork beaches has details on the best beach to suit your children’s ages, as not all beaches have sand.
Take a family day trip to Cape Clear Island and then around Fastnet Rock lighthouse. This trip is very weather dependent and takes place in high summer only, but very suited to family trips. A private Charter can be organized for a group up to 12 people. It is a magical day to remember.
Heron Gallery and other Artists

There are many artists living and working in West Cork. One of the most creative runs the Heron Gallery in Ahakista, on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula. The gallery shows the art inspired by local animals and driftwood while the garden is a child’s playground of creativity. The cafe serves delicious vegetarian food. Dunbeacon Pottery makes hand-thrown pots the colour of the sea. Dun an Oir crafts on the north side of the Sheep’s Head Peninsula is a children’s delight. Take a look at ActivityDays for other artist’s workshops.
Sea Safari
Take a sea safari from Baltimore to view the marine life and birds which populate the area. Dolphins and seals are easy to spot and whales can also be sighted in the rich feeding grounds.
Walking

West Cork has many lovely walking and cycling routes to suit all fitness levels. Guides are available for some such as the Sheep’s Head Way. There are also many quiet country lanes where traffic is infrequent.
Sailing
There is a sailing school on one of the islands near Skibbereen. Bring a picnic and enjoy an empty beach or take a sailing or kayak trip with the family.
Surfing or Snorkelling
Surf the wild Atlantic waves in Barleycove, with all equipment provided. Snorkel in Lough Hyne, Ireland’s only seawater lake, to see the marine life up close.
Playgrounds

West Cork is well served with playgrounds in most towns and villages – just ask where they are. I like the Schull playground overlooking the sea or the Ballydehob playground beside a 9 arch bridge which carried the rail line in years gone by but is now open to walkers.
Fishing
Most small hardware shops sell fishing nets and crab lines (safe for children). Children check rock pools on the beach at low tide to see what can be caught. On piers at low tide children have traditionally fished for crabs in the seaweed. All creatures caught and stored in a bucket of saltwater are returned to the sea at the end of the fun. A fishing guide for a day is available. Bass sea fishing is best done near Rosscarberry.
Wet Weather Days

What to do on those wet days?
Bantry Cinemax offers a pre-booking service.
Skibbereen has a pottery painting drop-in centre and its Uillinn Centre has interesting exhibitions.
There are craft workshops that can be pre-booked with activity days with local artists.
Distance driving to Beara from Irish Airports
Airport | Distance | Time | Towns Travel through | Places to Stop |
Cork | 2 hrs | The route is Cork on N71 to Schull and is the main Rute via Bandon, Clonakilty, Roscarberry, Skibbereen and Schull. The R585 to Kealkil, then Bantry, Ballydehob and Schull have fewer towns to visit. | Clonakilty (N71) with the Michael Collins Museum and Model Railway Village is worth visiting. Beal na Blath (R585) with the Michael Collins memorial is 6km off route at Crookstown. | |
Kerry | 60km | 2 hr to Skibbereen | Airport beside N22 to Killarney, and Ballyvourney, then Ballingeary, Bantry and Skibbereen.
The more scenic route from Killarney is along Lakes of Killarney to Kenmare, Glengarriff, Bantry and Skibbereen. |
Stop at Muckross House and Farm in Killarney. Take a jaunting car in Killarney. Stop at Molls Gap for lunch at Avoca |
Shannon | 175km | 3 hr to Kenmare | Shannon Airport via Limerick (ring road around the city), N20 to Mallow, Cork city Link road, then the N71 to Skibbereen. This is the main route and the quickest. | Avoid Limerick on the ring road, avoid Cork on the ring road. Stop in Blarney to see the castle or in Clonakilty. |
Dublin | 360km | 5hrs + to Kenmare | Take M8 from Dublin, then in Cork through Tunnel (to avoid city) and follow the route above from Cork. | Stop at Rock of Cashel on way south (just off the motorway, guide organised). |
Information provided by ActivityDays.ie

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