Dunowen House Insiders Guide Summer 2021

If you are thinking about a trip to Clonakilty or the greater West Cork area this Summer, now would be a good time to start considering things to do while you are here. Being right on the Wild Atlantic Way and surrounded by fantastic coastal scenery, we tend to recommend a lot of activities that make the most of our stunning coastline.

We’ve put together a list of things we love to do and recommend to our guests at Dunowen House. Hopefully they inspire you too!

1. A Trip with Atlantic Sea Kayaking

We are fortunate enough to experience starlight-kayaking trips on Lough Hyne and Castletownshend each Summer with Jim Kennedy and the team at Atlantic Sea Kayaking. It is always one of the highlights of the year and something I recommend to all our guests. When the evenings are warm and clear, the bio-luminesence in the water is magical. Running your hands through the water and seeing dancing lights drip off your fingers was like being in an Avatar movie! No prior experience of kayaking is necessary as Jim and the team gives you a good intro before you set off. You will definitely need to book this in advance, so contact them here

https://www.atlanticseakayaking.com/":https://www.atlanticseakayaking.com/

2. Beach Days in West Cork

If this Summer is anything like last year, beach days will definitely be on your list when you are here. We are so lucky to have some of Ireland’s Award Winning beaches within 10 minutes of the house. Why not pack a picnic, buckets & spades and head to some of our favourites:

• Sands Cove - less than 5 minutes walk from the house, so sheltered & private
• Red Strand - 3 minute drive away, family friendly and overlooking Galley Head Lighthouse
• Inchydoney - 8 minute drive away & regularly voted Ireland’s Best Beach
• Long Strand - 8 minute drive from us, with more than 1km of sandy beach, dunes and the fab Fish Basket fish café If you’ve always wanted to try surfing, book lessons with the very friendly guys at Inchdoney Surf School – great for all ages!

“https://inchydoneysurfschool.com/":https://inchydoneysurfschool.com/

3. Island Life

One of our favourite things to do during the Summer months is to take the ferry from Baltimore over to Sherkin Island for the day. The ferry journey is less than 15 minutes across the sound and Sherkin is just wonderful to explore. The beaches are stunning and the water is crystal clear (just icy cold!). Take a picnic or enjoy lunch in the Jolly Roger pub or Islanders Rest hotel.
Baltimore Harbour and a walk to the iconic Beacon are beautiful if you don’t fancy going over to Sherkin. Glebe Gardens and Bushe’s pub in Baltimore are tasty spots for lunch, especially if you like fresh seafood.

4. Go on a Whale Watch

Did you know that West Cork, particularly just off Galley Head beside us, has some of the best whale watching opportunities in all of Europe? From May onwards the coast around us here is fantastic for spotting Minke Whales, Humpbacks, Dolphins & Basking Sharks. The great thing too is that they are relatively close to the coastline so you don’t have to trek out for hours into the Atlantic to find them. There are some really good knowledgeable operators locally, so check them out and book a trip in advance.

• Cork Whale Watch - From Reen Pier, Union Hall
• Whale Watch, West Cork - From Baltimore Harbour
• Atlantic Whale & Wildlife Tours - From Courtmacsherry Harbour

5. Whiskey & Gin Tasting at Clonakilty Distillery

This stunning distillery is in the centre of Clonakilty, producing award winning gin, whiskey and more recently vodka. The Distillery Tour is world class and we’d highly recommend a visit. You can also book into their unique Gin School for hands-on lessons in making gin and the opportunity to create you own bespoke bottle to take home. The Whales Tail bistro on site and we look forward to it reopening soon. “www.clonakiltydistillery.ie/”:https://www.clonakiltydistillery.ie/

We look forward to seeing you in West Cork soon!