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Hidden Gem between Cork and Allihies?

Posted by (Mountains of S. Oregon) on

I was hoping to spend one night in Ballydehob on the way to Allihies from Cork, but there's only one B&B that allows one night stays and it is closed on our date (just found out owner is traveling).

I originally planned Baltimore, but the Fiddle Fest gobbled up all the rooms long before my one year planning range. I've considered Bantry, but I can't find any trad music.

From Cork, our last "must do" stop is the West Cork Model Railway, so Clonakilty is the first alternative that has a Friday session, but we've been there twice and I'm open to finding a hidden gem. We were thinking of Garnish Island after Ballydehob, so someplace between Clonakilty and Glengariff. Music almost required. Also two doubles.

Posted by
513 posts

Despite a wonderful B&B and a hostess who knows how to make good coffee (she has four different coffee makers), I found Baltimore disappointing, so you may not be missing anything. There's not much there to see except a view of the ocean, and the one restaurant I recall was overcrowded and quite loud.

Instead, I'd suggest checking out Crookhaven at the very end of the Mizen Head Peninsula due south of Bantry. I didn't spend the night there, but it was much more scenically interesting than Baltimore. I recall at least two B&Bs and two restaurants. I went out of my way (by bicycle) from Ballydehob to see it and it was worth the effort. I don't know if you'll find trad there however.

Here's the link to the one Crookhaven B&B I had bookmarked: https://galleycovehouse.com. A quick check of all the Co. Cork B&Bs I had saved showed many closures, no longer existing sites, insecure sites and sites taken over by some foreign entities, so your options may be few.

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