By the water, in the water, on the water - Attractions and excursions around Cork
The southern Irish city of Cork is not only surrounded by hilly grasslands, but also by a lot of water. Whether "Wild Atlantic Way" , "Barley Cove Beach" or "Lagoon Activity Centre" - Edelweiss shows you where you can get especially close to the wet fun.
City trip while doing sport
Can't decide if it's time for sightseeing or sports? The good news: you don't have to! Thanks to "Cork City SUP" you can do both at the same time, gaining knowledge while building your muscles. For two hours you paddle with your SUP board on the River Lee through the city center. You'll pass buildings steeped in history, such as the former psychiatric clinic "Our Lady's Hospital", which still characterize the cityscape today. A little extra tip: At sunset, the city and river look even more picturesque.
Lagoon of good cheer
A skill course in the form of a floating bouncy castle in XXL format, pedal boats, kayaks, SUP boards - at the "Lagoon Activity Centre" in the small town of Rosscarbery, which is about an hour's drive from Cork, you don't have to commit to a particular water activity. Here you can try everything you enjoy and have always wanted to try in a very short time. Looking at the waterslide, it's hardly surprising that visitors rate the lagoon as a guarantee of fun and laughter for the whole family.
Kayak by day, kayak by night
When the moon is reflected in the sea and bioluminescence makes the water sparkle, it's time for a night kayak tour in Castlehaven, located about 1.5 hours from Cork. Alternatively, if you prefer to sleep at night, you can explore Lough Hyne, considered Northern Europe's only inland saltwater lake, in broad daylight. You would like it a little more adventurous? Then simply follow the narrow channel into the open sea and view the cliffs from the seaside.
Whale ahoy!
Whether humpback whales, fin whales or dolphins - the underwater world around Ireland's coast is one of the richest in species. No wonder that the Irish government declared the entire coastal area a nature reserve back in the 1990s in order to protect this animal diversity. With "Whale Watching West Cork" you can observe the sea giants in their natural habitat from the boat in an animal-friendly way and learn all kinds of interesting facts about the ocean and its inhabitants from the captain and zoologist Nic Slocum.
Beach trip to the blue and green
Beaches in Ireland offer many contrasts: turquoise water with foaming wave crests meets white sandy beaches, which in turn border green meadow landscapes with peacefully grazing cows and sheep. The contrasts are particularly attractive at Barley Cove Beach, which is about a two-hour drive from Cork. For this beach day you don't need a book for in between - nature and its blaze of color are quite enough for your head.
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A lighthouse in the middle of the Atlantic
Would you have thought that the southernmost point of Ireland is a lighthouse? Not far from the 120-soul island of Cape Clear, which you can reach from Cork after about a 2.5-hour drive and by ferry from Baltimore or Schull (about 45 minutes), the "Fastnet Rock" lighthouse, built at the beginning of the 20th century, stretches 54 meters into the air. This makes it the tallest lighthouse in the entire country. Spotting its silhouette from the mainland makes you want to see more. It's a good thing that there are regular boat trips to the lighthouse from Cape Clear, the site of numerous archaeological sites, two "holy springs" and menhirs.
By wild waters
The "Wild Atlantic Way" winds along the west coast from Inishowen in County Donegal in the north of Ireland to Kinsale in County Cork. With a total length of over 2,600 kilometers, it is not only one of the longest coastal roads in the world, but is also considered to be uniquely beautiful. To check this out, the Sheep's Head peninsula, just under two hours from Cork, is not the least suitable place. Here you'll encounter a host of highlights: a cliff formation that looks as if it's been painted, a miniature lighthouse in the middle of the rock, and lots and lots of woolly sheep.
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Header - Photo by Tourism Ireland by Miki Barlok
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