The Ring of Beara
The Ring of Beara is a scenic coastal driving route around the finger-like Beara peninsula which projects South West into the Atlantic In West Cork. It encompasses picturesque villages, enchanting islands, unspoilt scenery and historical antiquities.
Click map for enlarged view and key.
Whilst motoring, walking or cycling around Beara you have ever-changing mountain and sea views extending to the Ring of Kerry in the North and the Sheeps Head and Mizen Peninsulas in West Cork to the South.
We advise anyone wanting to explore Beara, to purchase Maps No. 84 and 85 from the Ordnance survey Ireland Discovery series. These will show all roads and the Beara way cycling and walking routes.
Contact: mapsales@osi.ie for map sales
or www.iii.ie for a copy of the Beara way walking booklet.
Please click on the images below for more detailed information.
Walking & Cycling
The Beara Way Walking Route is a 208km way marked trail from Glengarriff to Kenmare. The route takes you through a stunning range of scenery including the islands of Dursey and Bere. It is versatile, allowing you to make your own loop walks, from as small as a half hour to an all day hike.
The Beara Way Cycling Route follows mostly country roads, and like the walking route takes you through a range of stunning coastal and mountain scenes. Bicycles can be hired from the nearby town of Castletownbere.
Here at Inches House, all our self-catering holiday cottage accommodations have access to a drying room where your hiking and outdoor equipment can be stored and dried overnight.
Shore & Sea Angling in West Cork
The Beara peninsula has 23 signposted Shore Angling sites. The position of these varies from rocks, piers and beaches. Help and information is available from John at Inches House which also offers holiday accommodation.
Sea Angling trips aboard Tigger can be arranged for those who wish to experience catching bigger fish. Penn Rods and reels can be hired and end tackle can be purchased aboard. Tigger is a relatively new (2004) 31ft Pro-Charter Offshore sea angling boat and is licensed for 10 passengers up to 30 miles from land. For more detailed information please visit our web www.irelandseaangling.com
Inches House has holiday cottage accommodation and a drying room where your fishing equipment can be stored and dried overnight as well as a freezer to store your bait or the days catch.
Scenic motoring route around
Sightseeing & Bird Watching
Sightseeing trips aboard Tigger can also be arranged to explore this magnificent coastal scenery. There is always the chance to see some of the Bottlenosed or Common dolphins and Minke whales that live in the warm waters off this Gulf Stream lapped coastline.
Birds such as the Puffin, Gannet, Chough, Storm Petrels and Skua's can be spotted around the rural coastal fringes of the Beara peninsula, in particular on Dursey Island, which is a wild bird sanctuary.
Historical & Archaeological Sites
The Beara peninsula has numerous sites of archaeological interest. There are stone circles, forts, ancient church sites as well as a 4.7m tall Ogham stone.
More recent history includes Dunboy Castle and Puxley Mansion (the setting for Daphne Du Maurier's book 'Hungry Hill').
Gardens
There is a range of differing gardens in the Beara area from the informal and relaxing Derreen Gardens to the spectacular waterfall at Gleninchiquin park. Glengarriff is home to a wooded nature reserve, a Bamboo Park and the Italian Gardens on Garinish Island.
Golf
Horse-riding
Pubs & Traditional Irish Music
Further Afield