UK Visitors - Local Activities
Mizen Head Signal Station … Ireland's most south-westerly point
• New Mizen arched bridge
• New cliff paths
• The Keeper's Quarters
• Fastnet Rock Lighthouse model
• Navigational aids simulator
• Marconi Radio Room
• Whales, kittiwakes and seals
Open daily March – October
Open weekends only November - March –
The must-do Cork experience – If you haven’t done Mizen, you haven't done Ireland!
Walking tours in West Cork
• There are almost 200 km of way marked trails in West Cork.
• West Cork has the highest proportion of way marked walks of any county in Ireland.
• There are 350 landowners involved in the Walks Scheme who welcome walkers onto their land and who are contracted to maintain the walkways on their land.
• There are three major peninsular walks: Beara Way, Sheep’s Head Way and a substantial beginning to the Mizen Head Way.
• The St Finbarr’s Pilgrim Way runs inland from Drimoleague to Gougane Barra.
• Each major way has at least ten looped walks offering easy access for day-long walks.
• All walks are inspected each year. They carry high spec signage and information panels.
• The scenery of West Cork walks is breath-taking, including rugged coastline, mountain grandeur and the patchwork of small farms, field boundaries and oak woodlands.
• The Sheep’s Head Way won the European Destination of Excellence award in 2008, and the St Finbarr’s Pilgrim Walk won the National Heritage Event award in 2011.
• A team of ten qualified walking guides are available for large and small tour groups.
• The following guide books and websites are available for further information:
• www.drimoleaguewalkway.com
• www.westcorkwalking.com
• www.thesheepsheadway.ie
Enjoy a visit to the Skibbereen Heritage Centre,
located in the award-winning, and beautifully restored, Old Gasworks building.
The Great Famine Exhibition
– Learn about this period of Irish history using the latest in multimedia technology. Skibbereen was one of the worst affected areas in Ireland, as testified by the mass graves at Abbeystrewery, where almost 10,000 are buried. Follow the Skibbereen Trail, an historical walking tour of Skibbereen, and visit sites which have direct links with the Great Famine.
The Lough Hyne Visitor Centre
reveals the unique nature of this marine lake, Ireland’s first Marine Nature Reserve. Find out about the history, folklore and formation of this renowned natural phenomenon. Follow with a visit to the lake and walking trail, just 5 km from Skibbereen, Cork,
Other features include archaeological information, wildlife of the River Ilen, salt-water aquarium, hot and cold drinks, snacks and gift shop.
The Heritage Centre is located just across the road from The West Cork Hotel.
West Cork Food
Bringing the best in artisan food production to you – and bringing you to meet the producers.
West Cork has a reputation as a centre of excellence for artisan food production; a reputation founded on the care, commitment and skill that the artisan producers and providers of this enticingly beautiful part of Ireland bring to all that they do.
West Cork Food has been created to bring the treasure-house of that experience within the reach of people who truly appreciate good food, how it’s produced and how it’s cooked. Visit our web site to see profiles of our leading artisan producers, and look out for their produce in the shops and restaurants that you visit during your stay with us or in the Saturday market in Skibbereen.
If you are interested in finding out more first hand, why not book one of our West Cork Food holiday breaks? Over the course of a weekend or longer, you get to meet and visit artisan producers, watch the experts at work, and acquire some new skills, while staying in quality accommodation at The West Cork Hotel and enjoying the captivating landscape and seascape of West Cork in all its diversity.
Contact details: www.westcorkfood.com Email: editor@westcorkfood.com