Drive in County Cork, Ireland
Circular Tour to Kiss the Blarney Stone, Visit Kinsale and Skibereen
See County Cork in Ireland on this scenic circular drive: Kinsale and Cork for gourmets, enjoy music in Skibereen and head for Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone
County Cork in southwest Ireland is one of the most popular parts of the Emerald Isle. It includes the attractive and prosperous Cork City, which is well served by cheap fights on Ryanair from London, Liverpool and Dublin, and by other budget airlines and charter airlines including Aer Arann, bmibaby, Wizz and jet2.com.
County Cork is also home to one of the best-known rituals in all of Ireland: kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle. It also has the coastal town of Kinsale, which appeals to food-lovers and not just when the Kinsale Food Festival is on in October. Then there are lively towns like Skibereen, good if you like the great outdoors and also enjoy music in the great indoors: the Irish pub. Don't miss Bantry Bay and the Gougane Barra Forest Park either.
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Drive in County Cork, Ireland: the Facts
- This circular driving tour through County Cork is about 140 miles (224kms) long.
- The drive can be comfortably done in about 5 hours, so allow a full day.
- Make more of the tour by taking two days. There are lots of hotels in Cork, Kinsale, Skibereen and other towns along the way.
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Route for Circular Drive Around County Cork
From Cork City follow the signs for Blarney Castle, well marked off the N20 about 6 miles northwest of the city. Visiting Blarney Castle and kissing the Blarney Stone is one of those things visitors to Ireland feel they have to do, like drinking a pint of Guinness. Take time to stroll on the beautiful grounds, too. From Blarney follow signs for Killarney, driving through Dripsey and Coachford until you reach Macroom near the N22.
At Macroom take the N22 back towards Cork for a short distance until you see the right turn on the R584 for the Gougane Barra Forest Park. You can pause and divert to tour this lovely scenic spot, with forest walks and otters playing in the waters. Then continue on the R584 through the Pass of Keimaneigh and on down to Bantry and the famous Bantry Bay.
In Bantry take the N71 road towards Cork, which brings you to Skibereen. The N71 will take you back all the way to Cork, and passes through Rosscarbery and Clonakilty. If time allows then at Clonakilty take the R600 coastal route to Timoleague, Courtmacsherry and on to Kinsale.
Kinsale is one of the delights of County Cork, especially if you want to try the best of Irish food (and drink, of course.) It has an annual Food Festival (12-14 October 2007), but there's plenty going on the rest of the year too, with comedy and jazz festivals, rugby tournaments and a regatta too. The picturesque harbor is filled with yachts and fishing boats. From Kinsale it is only 16 miles (26kms) back to Cork City.
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