Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Ireland / County Cork
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| | | Fabulous coastline |  | Why go on holiday to County Cork?
The biggest county in the Republic of Ireland, County Cork (Corcaigh) has everything that makes Ireland distinctively Irish: beautiful green countryside, little unspoilt villages, old castles and a long, fabulous coastline.
How much does it cost?
Cottages by the week are from £120 per person. Two weeks plus ferry from £180 per person in the low season.
Rail, ferry and air fares vary greatly and you should always check with the operator for exact prices.
Eight-day coach tour visiting Cork and staying four nights in Ross Carbery from £410. Moderate hotel from £30. Direct flight to Cork from £80.
When should I go?
The warmest weather is in July and August, which brings the crowds, making costs the highest and accommodation harder to come by. In winter the weather can be miserable and most tourist facilities shut down.
Why go on holiday to County Cork?
The biggest county in the Republic of Ireland, County Cork (Corcaigh) has everything that makes Ireland distinctively Irish: beautiful green countryside, little unspoilt villages, old castles and a long, fabulous coastline.
How much does it cost?
Accommodation: cottages by the week are from £120 per person. Two weeks plus ferry from £180 per person in the low season.
Rail, ferry and air fares vary greatly and you should always check with the operator for exact prices.
Eight-day coach tour visiting Cork and staying four nights in Ross Carbery from £410. Moderate hotel from £30. Direct flight to Cork from £80.
When should I go?
The warmest weather is in July and August, which brings the crowds, making costs the highest and accommodation harder to come by. In winter the weather can be miserable and most tourist facilities shut down.
Why go on holiday to County Cork?
The biggest county in the Republic of Ireland, County Cork (Corcaigh) has everything that makes Ireland distinctively Irish: beautiful green countryside, little unspoilt villages, old castles and a long, fabulous coastline.
How much does it cost?
Cottages by the week are from £120 per person. Two weeks plus ferry from £180 per person in the low season.
Rail, ferry and air fares vary greatly and you should always check with the operator for exact prices.
Eight-day coach tour visiting Cork and staying four nights in Ross Carbery from £410. Moderate hotel from £30. Direct flight to Cork from £80.
When should I go?
The warmest weather is in July and August, which brings the crowds, making costs the highest and accommodation harder to come by. In winter the weather can be miserable and most tourist facilities shut down.
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| | | Kiss the Blarney Stone | | What should I do when I'm there?
Golfing, sailing, riding, fishing, scuba diving and cycling are top County Cork activities. Go birdwatching on Clear Island or hiking around the desolate Beara Peninsula.
Increase your linguistic prowess by kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle.
Where should I start?
Start with Cork City - built on an island and reminiscent of Amsterdam, the place is still engagingly small enough to wander past Georgian buildings, the cathedral, the Cork City Jail (now a museum) and the Cork Heritage park with maritime exhibits.
Cobh, on Great Island, dominated by St Cloman's Cathedral, used to be the port of Cork. Its Heritage Centre tells the "Queenstown Story" of famines, mass emigration and the era of the great liners that used the port, such as The Lusitania and Titanic.
Nearby Youghal (pronounced yawl) is an interesting tiny village with safe beaches.
Where should I head next?
In west Cork visit pretty Kinsale with its museum, Desmond Castle and the ruins of Charles Fort three kms to the east. Small and pretty Clonakilty is worth a look. Nearby is Lisnagun Ring Fort, reconstructed to give an impression of 10th century life.
Drombeg Stone Circle is one of the most impressive stone circles of many in this area. Baltimore is one of the most westerly points in Ireland and its population of 220 swells during the summer as divers and visitors flock to Sherkin and Clear Islands.
What if I want to be alone?
The Beara Peninsula is big, wild, desolate and littered with prehistoric rocks, stone circles and old tombs. The best way to see it is by walking, climbing and cycling along the 197km Beara Way.
From Glengarrif village you can ferry out to 15-acre Garinish Island's Italianate gardens. Both the Bantry and Dunmanus bays have exciting scuba diving sites. Hungry Hill is the highest point on the peninsula and has the best views.
What should I do when I'm there?
Golfing, sailing, riding, fishing, scuba diving and cycling are top County Cork activities. Go birdwatching on Clear Island or hiking around the desolate Beara Peninsula.
Increase your linguistic prowess by kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle.
Where should I start?
Start with Cork City - built on an island and reminiscent of Amsterdam, the place is still engagingly small enough to wander past Georgian buildings, the cathedral, the Cork City Jail (now a museum) and the Cork Heritage park with maritime exhibits.
Cobh, on Great Island, dominated by St Cloman's Cathedral, used to be the port of Cork. Its Heritage Centre tells the "Queenstown Story" of famines, mass emigration and the era of the great liners that used the port, such as The Lusitania and Titanic.
Nearby Youghal (pronounced yawl) is an interesting tiny village with safe beaches.
Where should I head next?
In west Cork visit pretty Kinsale with its museum, Desmond Castle and the ruins of Charles Fort three kms to the east. Small and pretty Clonakilty is worth a look. Nearby is Lisnagun Ring Fort, reconstructed to give an impression of 10th century life.
Drombeg Stone Circle is one of the most impressive stone circles of many in this area. Baltimore is one of the most westerly points in Ireland and its population of 220 swells during the summer as divers and visitors flock to Sherkin and Clear Islands.
What if I want to be alone?
The Beara Peninsula is big, wild, desolate and littered with prehistoric rocks, stone circles and old tombs. The best way to see it is by walking, climbing and cycling along the 197km Beara Way.
From Glengarrif village you can ferry out to 15-acre Garinish Island's Italianate gardens. Both the Bantry and Dunmanus bays have exciting scuba diving sites. Hungry Hill is the highest point on the peninsula and has the best views.
What should I do when I'm there?
Golfing, sailing, riding, fishing, scuba diving and cycling are top County Cork activities. Go birdwatching on Clear Island or hiking around the desolate Beara Peninsula.
Increase your linguistic prowess by kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle.
Where should I start?
Start with Cork City - built on an island and reminiscent of Amsterdam, the place is still engagingly small enough to wander past Georgian buildings, the cathedral, the Cork City Jail (now a museum) and the Cork Heritage park with maritime exhibits.
Cobh, on Great Island, dominated by St Cloman's Cathedral, used to be the port of Cork. Its Heritage Centre tells the "Queenstown Story" of famines, mass emigration and the era of the great liners that used the port, such as The Lusitania and Titanic.
Nearby Youghal (pronounced yawl) is an interesting tiny village with safe beaches.
Where should I head next?
In west Cork visit pretty Kinsale with its museum, Desmond Castle and the ruins of Charles Fort three kms to the east. Small and pretty Clonakilty is worth a look. Nearby is Lisnagun Ring Fort, reconstructed to give an impression of 10th century life.
Drombeg Stone Circle is one of the most impressive stone circles of many in this area. Baltimore is one of the most westerly points in Ireland and its population of 220 swells during the summer as divers and visitors flock to Sherkin and Clear Islands.
What if I want to be alone?
The Beara Peninsula is big, wild, desolate and littered with prehistoric rocks, stone circles and old tombs. The best way to see it is by walking, climbing and cycling along the 197km Beara Way.
From Glengarrif village you can ferry out to 15-acre Garinish Island's Italianate gardens. Both the Bantry and Dunmanus bays have exciting scuba diving sites. Hungry Hill is the highest point on the peninsula and has the best views.
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| | | Traditional Irish cooking | | Where's good for nightlife?
Year round, Cork pubs rival Dublin's. Head for Union Quay and Angelsea Street. Top theatre is available at various Cork venues. Kinsale has a lively pub scene and live music is plentiful in summer - try Lord Kingsale, Shanakee and Kieran's Folk House Inn.
Cork has an International Jazz and an International Film festival in October.
What's the food like?
Irish meals are usually meat based - in particular, beef, lamb, pork chops and boiled hams. Traditional Irish breads and scones are also delicious. Try a cake-like bread called barm brack and a filled pancake called a boxty.
The main meal of the day tends to be lunch. Kinsale is the place to find the best new Irish cooking (fresh local ingredients with some new fusion influences) and old Irish cooking too.
What should I buy?
You'll be able to buy quality craft goods from around Ireland in Cork stores, including Aran sweaters, lace, Waterford crystal, Irish whiskey, handmade cheeses, Belleek's famous bone china, Claddagh rings from Galway and CDs of real Irish music.
What is there for children to do?
For outdoors-loving kids there are plenty of activities including cycling, walking, pony-trekking, rock-climbing, canoeing, and windsurfing.
Budding naturalists can watch masses of sea birds on Clear Island - in summer up to 35,000 shearwaters can fly past in an hour.
There's plenty of safe bathing for kids - the beaches on Sherkin island are a favourite.
Tourist Office
Tourism Ireland, 103 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1QS. Tel.0800 039 7000.
Where's good for nightlife?
Year round Cork pubs rival Dublin's. Head for Union Quay and Angelsea Street. Top theatre is available at various Cork venues. Kinsale has a lively pub scene and live music is plentiful in summer - try Lord Kingsale, Shanakee and Kieran's Folk House Inn.
Cork has an International Jazz and an International Film festival in October.
What's the food like?
Irish meals are usually meat based - in particular, beef, lamb, pork chops and boiled hams. Traditional Irish breads and scones are also delicious. Try a cake-like bread called barm brack and a filled pancake called a boxty.
The main meal of the day tends to be lunch. Kinsale is the place to find the best new Irish cooking (fresh local ingredients with some new fusion influences) and old Irish cooking too.
What should I buy?
You'll be able to buy quality craft goods from around Ireland in Cork stores, including Aran sweaters, lace, Waterford crystal, Irish whiskey, handmade cheeses, Belleek's famous bone china, Claddagh rings from Galway and CDs of real Irish music.
What is there for children to do?
For outdoorsy type kids there are plenty of activities including cycling, walking, pony-trekking, rock-climbing, canoeing, and windsurfing.
Budding naturalists can watch masses of sea birds on Clear Island - in summer up to 35,000 shearwaters can fly past in an hour.
There's plenty of safe bathing for kids - the beaches on Sherkin island are a favourite.
Tourist Office
Tourism Ireland, 103 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1QS. Tel.0800 039 7000.
Where's good for nightlife?
Year round, Cork pubs rival Dublin's. Head for Union Quay and Angelsea Street. Top theatre is available at various Cork venues. Kinsale has a lively pub scene and live music is plentiful in summer - try Lord Kingsale, Shanakee and Kieran's Folk House Inn.
Cork has an International Jazz and an International Film festival in October.
What's the food like?
Irish meals are usually meat based - in particular, beef, lamb, pork chops and boiled hams. Traditional Irish breads and scones are also delicious. Try a cake-like bread called barm brack and a filled pancake called a boxty.
The main meal of the day tends to be lunch. Kinsale is the place to find the best new Irish cooking (fresh local ingredients with some new fusion influences) and old Irish cooking too.
What should I buy?
You'll be able to buy quality craft goods from around Ireland in Cork stores, including Aran sweaters, lace, Waterford crystal, Irish whiskey, handmade cheeses, Belleek's famous bone china, Claddagh rings from Galway and CDs of real Irish music.
What is there for children to do?
For outdoors-loving kids there are plenty of activities including cycling, walking, pony-trekking, rock-climbing, canoeing, and windsurfing.
Budding naturalists can watch masses of sea birds on Clear Island - in summer up to 35,000 shearwaters can fly past in an hour.
There's plenty of safe bathing for kids - the beaches on Sherkin island are a favourite.
Tourist Office
Tourism Ireland, 103 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1QS. Tel.0800 039 7000.
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| | Available rental properties in County Cork |
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| |  | | Hillside Cottage
Charming old world cottage, perched overlooking Ballycotton Bay, in Ballycotton Village, Co. Cork
|  | | 3 Clifton
Simply amazing views from a stunning, newly refurbished, Victorian Townhouse in the most exclusive area of Youghal.
|  | | Arnott's traditional labourer's cottage
This lovely labourer's cottage near Youghal includes an acre to play in! Tony our caretaker will welcome you and point you to all the best places.
|  | | Ferrypoint Cottage, Youghal
Seaside Cottage, with stunning views on 3 sides, across to Youghal, out to sea and up the river. Luxury fittings and decor, perfect for a couple.
|  | | 502 Magnolia Suite
Ground floor apartment, 3 beds 2 twins, one double, 3 bathrooms. Spacious lounge/dining area, patio south facing. In town 5 minutes to beach
| | Click here for more properties... |
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