Clonakilty for kids

sirpsycho

Hi,

Heading to Clonakilty in the next couple of weeks. Can anyone recommend sights to see and stuff to do? Two kids under-6 in tow.

Cheers!

Balmed Out

Quality hotel very good to stay with kids. Has various play rooms, pool and cinema. http://www.funclonakilty.com/ http://www.qualityclonakiltyhotel.com/children.html


west cork model railway http://www.modelvillage.ie/ they also have a train (little bus with carriages) that tours the area, popular with small ones

drombeg stone circle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drombeg_stone_circle en route to glandore

red strand beach with Galley head lighthouse nearby. If the weather is very good go to the galley head and have a look out for basket sharks. You would often see them there after a few days of hot weather. you sometimes see whales, dolphins, seals etc around there too.
owenahincha beach
inchadoney beach
warren beach
Lots of other beaches

Theres local playgrounds in clonakilty courtmacsherry etc

kilbrittain whale exhibition http://www.kilbrittainwhale.com/

pitch and put in rosscarberry

During the summer theres always some parish with a festival on. For googling look up clonakilty, timoleague, kilbrittain, courtmacsherrry, ardfield, glandore, union hall, rosscarberry, bandon, skibereen.

Theres the michael collins centre http://www.michaelcollinscentre.com/ and a reconstructed ringfort at http://liosnagcon.com/ringfort/ though they might be too little to have any interest.


Also if ye arent from Cork a trip to Fota wild life is an hour drive from Clonakilty and well worth the visit.

trotter_inc

Balmed Out wrote: »

pitch and put in rosscarberry

A new crazy golf park opened in Rosscarbery recently too, I think it's called Pirates Cove, Google will find it.

I'd also recommend getting a cheap fishing rod and try fishing for mackerel off the pier in Rosscarbery. I was there on Monday and there was about 10 people (including kids) fishing off it. There were also lots of kids (and adults) jumping off the pier in wet suits, it looked like great fun The water was so clear and clean.

Rosscarbery also has a water sports place on the lagoon where you can hire rowing boats, peddle boats, etc. The Celtic Ross hotel has a swimming pool which is open to non residents. There is a FANTASTIC new restaurant (I've no affiliation) in the sqaure in Rosscarbery too, it's called Market House Sqaure (I think)

I'd also recommend surf lessons at Inchydoney if your budget can take it.

Clon has a cinema too which is great value. The Quality Hotel has an indoor 'jungle gym' and an outdoor play area, both are open to non residents of the hotel.

There is also a lovely Fairy Forest near Union Hall, it's a secluded forest with "fairy houses" built in to the trunks of the trees. As far as I know it's called Dineen Woods or something like that, locals will tell you.

I've also seen local kids in Union Hall catching crabs from the pier using a simple piece of twine with a rock and piece of bacon tied to the bottom. They were amazed with it, they were pulling 2 or 3 up at a time.

Mizen Head visitor centre is also a nice drive and well worth a visit.

Plenty of farmers markets around as well, my favourite is the Bantry market (it's on every Friday but the first Friday of the month has extra stalls) and the Skibereen market which is on Saturday mornings. Clonakilty has one every Friday morning but I prefer Skib and Bantry.

Whatever you decide to do you'll have a fantastic time, let us know how you get on

trotter_inc

Courtmacsherry is lovely too, it has a great beach and a woodland walk adjacent to it. Ask the locals for directions to the woods as they aren't directly visible from the beach.

podgemonster

trotter_inc wrote: »

There is also a lovely Fairy Forest near Union Hall, it's a secluded forest with "fairy houses" built in to the trunks of the trees. As far as I know it's called Rinneen Woods or something like that, locals will tell you.

FYP

There is also Whale watching nearby, heard fantastic things, pricey though.
http://www.whalewatchwithcolinbarnes.com/

starlit

There is a playground if they good bit under 6 but loads to do there other than the beach. What i can remember there is a short train trip i think nearby the kids like it.

There are other sights and beaches out by west cork as other posters meantioned. Rosscarbery i think it called goleen be good spots to see.

trotter_inc

I did the headland walk from the Warren beach in Rosscarbery to Owenahincha beach....absolutley stunning on a fine day.