Today’s post is a slightly different one for me. I have partnered up with Chill Insurance to write about one of my favourite Irish Cultural Drives. They have put together an ebook of top Irish Cultural Drives which you can download HERE. If you follow my social media (instagram stories here) or my snapchat (@louiseocon.ie) you will see I spend a lot of time in my car. From doing to the school run to driving to work or up and down the M50 for events in Dublin. We do however do a lot of road trips together as a family.
Since I met my husband we have completed a lot of miles in our car. Driving around Cork, to Kerry, Clare, Galway, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford and right up North to Malin Head. Sometimes it is a couples getaway, sometimes it is a family affair. We love exploring Ireland. For todays post I wanted to share with you our favourite drive through West Cork. It is one that is suitable for all the family, dog included!
Irish Cultural Drive Stop No 1: Clonakilty
Leaving Cork City on a Sunday morning we set out towards Clonakilty. Driving 50 minutes through Innishannon and Bandon, you arrive in the beautiful town of Clon. A bustling town full of Instagram worthy buildings, shops and delicious places to eat. More importantly? Home of Clonakilty Black Pudding! We like to stop in Supervalue and gather some snacks for a picnic. (On a side note, this Supervalue is beyond impressive.) When we bring Finn to Clonakilty we sometimes like to stop at The Model Railway Village. Mostly so we can pretend to be giants!
From there we will drive to Inchydoney. If the weather is good we will have a picnic on the beach. If it is overcast then The Inchydoney Lodge and Spa do really delicious food. It is warm, cozy and you won’t want to leave!
Irish Cultural Drives Stop No 2: Glandore
Once we leave Inchydoney, we continue on through Rosscarbery, turning off into Glandore. The first stop I would recommend is The Drombeg Stone Circle. A beautiful Cultural spot on your Irish Cultural drive. Get out of the car and explore. It is worth the visit. Leaving the Stone Circle, drive through Glandore towards Union Hall. The scenery here is what makes Ireland so special. It is stunning. You get that really feel good feeling in your tummy looking out over the water. On a sunny day? There is nowhere else like it in the world.
Our last visit to West Cork was rewarded with an appearance from two seals. They were not phased by humans at all. The two companions followed a fishing boat into the harbour and entertained us for a good thirty minutes. Coming right up next to the pier, swimming around and playing. That is what is so magic about exploring Irish Cultural Drives. Anything can happen!!
Chasing The Sunset To Baltimore
By now we are hungry and there is no better place to watch the sunset, sit and eat than Baltimore Harbour. Leaving Union Hall, driving through Leap and Skibbereen you will find the sign posts for Baltimore. A small town where you can catch Ferries to Sherkin Island or Cape Clear. The food is here is fresh and tasty. Seafood is fresh off the boat. You can stay overnight here and relax or easily drive back to Cork City. The roads are scenic and the journey flies by.
Untill Next Time
We have completed so many road trips now. I actually enjoyed sitting down and writing this post s maybe I will document some of our other favourite drives! Ring of Beara, Ring of Kerry, Drive to Mizen Head, Road Trip from Cork to Derry via Wicklow, Wexford, Taking Finn to Clare and Galway. The list goes on and on!
I hope you found some suggestions for your next drive. Please let me know if you try any of it or if you would like to see more articles like this here in the Lifestyle section.
Louise x
** While this is a Collaborative Post with Chill Insurance. This is a road trip I have taken with my family prior to knowledge of this collaboration. All thoughts, opinions and suggestions are my own **