MX5Ireland

Hi guys, heading off on a road trip on Saturday, from the far north Inishowen peninsular in Donegal to the deep South , Kinsale in Cork. going to be spending 7 days there.
I have done most of the West coast, Connemara, Galway, Clare, Dingle, Ring of Kerry and Beara peninsular. Only very briefly been in the City of Cork and of course Blarney castle.
Intend having a day in the City, and a drive out to Mizen head and Bantry. One or two other places in mind. Any suggestions from the locals.
If you see a white ND, give us a wave.

Sounds nice, there’s a couple of guys on here in the cork area as far as I remember so you should get some good information on where to go, enjoy your trip

donegalgeordie wrote:Hi guys, heading off on a road trip on Saturday, from the far north Inishowen peninsular in Donegal to the deep South , Kinsale in Cork. going to be spending 7 days there.
I have done most of the West coast, Connemara, Galway, Clare, Dingle, Ring of Kerry and Beara peninsular. Only very briefly been in the City of Cork and of course Blarney castle.
Intend having a day in the City, and a drive out to Mizen head and Bantry. One or two other places in mind. Any suggestions from the locals.
If you see a white ND, give us a wave.

Hey Brian,

You mention Kinsale. Are you staying there ? If so, there's a nice coastal route that goes over the bridge and on towards the Old Head of Kinsale. The Speckled Door pub does decent lunch and dinner on the Old Head. At the top of the Old Head is a memorial to those that lost their lives aboard the Lusitania in 1915. Continue on to Garrettstown beach and the coast road to Timoleague and Courtmacsherry. The hotel there and the Anchor bar do good food too (or at least the used to). It is possible to extend this route as far as Clonakilty via Ring. The coastal routes around Tragumna, Baltimore and Schull are worth a mention too. Crookhaven, between Schull and Mizen Head has a couple of pubs that cater for lunch/dinner. And if you are close to Bantry, the road out along Sheep's Head is very nice on a fine day.

Have a blast !

Mark.

Thanks Mark. Got holiday let just outside Kinsale. Will check your route (and pubs) out.

Sounds like a great trip. Im from down that way originally. Kinsale is stunning. Loads of great eating. Fishy fishy is great, Man Friday an easy 10 minute walk from the town has great food and does a great value early bird menu. Garrettstown beach is a definite must for aq walk when the tide is out. ( Google Cork Harbour Tide Timetables ) . Beautiful beach but the only food offering there is vans - pizza, thai etc on the beach front. As you go over the bridge out of Kinsale towards garrettstown ( and this is the way to The Old Head ) there are chip and pizza vans parked on the kinsale side of the bridge. The fish one is amazing. Well worth a stop. That spot is cold even on hot days so would have jackets !! Speckled door is a great bar. Kinsale has plenty of them. If you want a bit more entertainment you are 30 mins from Cork City on an easy drive. There are boat tours of the harbour ( company called ocean escapes ) which are excellent, equally you can visit Spike Island from Cobh which is a brilliant tour. Spike Island is the old prison sitting on an island in the harbour ( Titanic museum / heritage Centre / Cobh Cathedral )- you are about an hour door to door using the cross river ferry from Monkstown. If you are mad keen for a spin Jameson Distillary in Midleton is about an hour and a half away. Great tour and a cracking few restauraunts in Midleton as well. If you want a nice drive in the country and food over looking the Atlantic set your Sat Nav from Kinsale to Myrtleville. Great food bar / restauraunt 'Bunnyconnellan'. Sits up on a cliff over looking the sea. You can walk down to the beach. You are 5 minutes from Crosshaven ( oldest yacht club in the world ) and a great Bar called Cronins in the heart of the village - excellent for lunch and dinner. See we have everything in Cork - you won't want to go home !!!!

Sounds like you will have a full trip ahead of you - some great recommendations there, very useful to anyone heading that direction.

I'm at the airport heading over to Cardiff for the weekend, and passed a lovely red MK2 on the motorway (around Kinnegad), roof down, sun shining. Think it was a WX reg (didn't have chance to take a photo).

+1 on Cronin's, Crosshaven - great Guinness and decent food and live entertainment outside on some weekend days (weather permitting).

Thanks guys, you've wet the appetite. Early rise for me, long drive down

donegalgeordie wrote:Thanks guys, you've wet the appetite. Early rise for me, long drive down

Enjoy and may the good weather be with you. The local stout manufactured here in Cork is Murphy's and makes a nice alternative Guinness if you want to try something different ! A nice trip in a ND I reckon. Leave us know how you get on !

wow, almost malin to mizen

Well made it safe and sound from the far north to the deep South. 337 miles with a fuel consumption of 46.9 mpg. Like a spoilt child I couldn't sleep last night and was up early and on the road shortly after 7am. Breakfast in Sligo, spiritual refreshment at Knock and lunch at Durty Nellie's in Bunratty. Holiday let is on the R600 out of Kinsale near the Old Head.

And it's still dry for you ! Is the Mk4 a 1.5 ? That's excellent fuel economy. Charles Fort, just outside Kinsale, is worth a visit. The Bullman pub nearby is a nice place to chill out !

2 litre sport nav, they really are good for mpg

wow, think I'm getting about half that...

Well, the week is up, long drive back to Donegal tomorrow. Been a great week and the weather has been kind to me. Thanks for all the good tips, most taken on board. Kinsale itself is nice but rather busy making parking a problem at times. I did get parked up at Charles Fort and walked down to the Bulman. Fishy Fishy was a bit fishy for me. The old head was on my doorstep and I have to say that eating out one evening at the Speckled door beer garden with that view was a delight in this weather. Used the ferry from Monkstown to Cobh, then went on to Middleton for the Jameson experience. Had an afternoon in the city using the park and ride which was so easy and stress free. The main event being the drive from Kinsale along the coast to Mizen head, then round sheep's head up Bantry bay. The final piece of the jigsaw, after 5 years of doing different sections I have now done the Wild Atlantic Way from the start at Muff in Donegal to the end at Kinsale in Cork. I've had a Guinness in the most northerly pub and a Murphys in the most southerly pub. When Mazda created the Mx5, they had Ireland in mind.