Weekend in Beara

dermob

Hi Folks, (reposted from cork county)

Myself and about ten male friends are thinking going to cycle the peninsula over a weekend starting from Kenmare, and probably stopping in glengariff on first night. We were thinking about Allihies or castletownbere for the second night.

We would like something to eat, a couple of pints and a bit of night life.

Can anyone tell me about either place or make some suggestions?

Thanks!

ChewyLuey

I would say if your looking for a bit of night life, change your plan around to finish in Kenmare on the second night and stay there. It would be busier and have better eating options than CTB.

On Morning two you could leave Glengarriff -> Adrigole -> Over the Healy Pass to Lauragh -> Kenmare.

Just a suggestion.....

dermob

thanks chewy,

we have already stayed in kenmare on last years cycle, so looking for a change of scenery!

im thinking castletownbere myself, any other suggestions?

smacl

Kenmare-Glengarriff is going to be much shorter than the other two days (~25k) even though it does take in the caha pass. Glengarriff - Alilihies is ~50k, and Allihies - Kenmare is ~67k assuming you're following the Beara way. Personally, I don't find Glengarrif that inspiring, and have stayed in Adrigole on the last few trips down. If you're coming from Kenmare direction going through the national park is a nice option. If you've lots of extra time and spare energy in Glengarriff, the spin up to barley lake is a corker. The roads on much of the beara way are hilly, and were a bit broken up in parts last time I was down that way, so the distances can't be compared to similar distances on well maintained flat roads. Id' skip Castletownbare and head on to Allihies.

TheBlaaMan

dermob wrote: »

Hi Folks, (reposted from cork county)

Myself and about ten male friends are thinking going to cycle the peninsula over a weekend starting from Kenmare, and probably stopping in glengariff on first night. We were thinking about Allihies or castletownbere for the second night.

We would like something to eat, a couple of pints and a bit of night life.

Can anyone tell me about either place or make some suggestions?

Thanks!

A friend of mine in Allihies.......cyclist, motorcyclist and dive instructor.........might be worth a call: check him out http://www.cluin.com/

dermob

thanks for the suggestions guys,

We are going to park up in kenmare, head through glengariff through caha, stay the night in glengariff. From there we will head through healy pass - allihies - castletownbere - healy pass again - bunaw - kenmare. thats the route we intend to take, a figure of eight around beara.

so would people reccomend allihies over castletownbere for an overnight?

coastwatch

I think you might find Allihies a bit quiet at this time of year. I haven't been there for a few years, but there were 3 pubs last time, only one was anyway busy. Stunning location though, so definitely worth stopping. Castletownbere would have a more pub/ food options , including the original McCarthy's Bar.

It would be well worth retracing your route the next day, Castletown - Allihies - Eyeries, Adrgroom, Bunaw, Kenmare, optional detour up and back down Healy Pass.

dermob

I was thinking that allihies may be quiet at this time, i hope theres gonna be a bit of life in castletownbere.

ROK ON

There are a few fine pubs in Allihies, one of them (O'Neills IIRC) does a very good steak. Next door is the Lighthouse Bar which is a good pub.

There is an art museum to the local Copper mines that has a very nice coffee shop. Great soups, sandwiches and cakes.

While there is more choice in Castletown , I would stay in Allihies.

If you are doing this over a few days then Kenmare to Glengariff is too short IMHO (that cycle takes an hour).

Why not head from Kenmare over the top of Coom and down to Ballingeary and onto Gougane Barra. http://g.co/maps/ubkgj

Then on the next day head from there to Allihies, before taking the final day to get back.



Glengaiff is a nice town, but there is sweet f*ck all to do there. The food in any of the pubs is absolute muck. I wouldnt stay there. However a few kms outside Glengariff is http://www.manningsemporium.ie/index.php/contact-us/

Great place for food and coffee.

dermob

Thanks ROK,

If i may ask, why would you pick Allihies over Castletownbere?

ROK ON

dermob wrote: »

Thanks ROK,

If i may ask, why would you pick Allihies over Castletownbere?

Castletownbere is a mid sized working town that smells of dead fish. Allihies is a ting village that is in a stunning location has two good pubs.

eyescreamcone

Alihies is quaint and picturesque but could be deserted at this time of year.
Castletownbere is a working fishing village (very much NOT picture postcard) and a little on the rough side IMO.
It will be the livlier of the two though.

dermob

cheers guys,

i think we will give castletownbere a shot, as im afraid that allihies will be a bit too quiet, but theres not much distance between them, and will pass through allihies before castletownbere, so we can always go back there if we feel like it!

good help to us though!