Bere Island
Whiddy Island Bantry, Co. Cork
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Bere Island, Beara Peninsula, Co. Cork
Bere Island sits at the entrance to Bantry Bay and is easily reached by ferry from the mainland. The island offers expansive views over the Beara Peninsula along with deep‑sea fishing, peaceful walking routes and rich heritage. Visitors can stop by the Bere Island Heritage and Information Centre to learn about the island’s military and cultural past. Its unspoilt landscape includes an impressive lighthouse, coastal scenery and quiet roads ideal for exploring on foot or by bike. With its relaxed pace of life and natural beauty, Bere Island is a tranquil West Cork escape.
Whiddy Island, only a short ferry ride from Bantry, is a peaceful haven with a distinctive ecology shaped by the Gulf Stream. The island is known for its abundant summer and autumn fuchsia displays, as well as rare plants such as the insect‑eating common butterwort. Its natural beauty is complemented by significant historic features, including a Napoleonic‑era fortified battery built after the French Armada arrived in 1796. Visitors can explore lakes, wildlife, and coastal scenery, enjoying a quiet escape rich in heritage and biodiversity.
Whether you’re drawn to beautifully manicured borders or enjoy a gentle wander through wild woodland, West Cork’s gardens are sure to inform and inspire. From exotic shrubs to quiet native wild‑flower meadows, these oases of tranquillity are shaped by the balm of the Gulf Stream. This mild Atlantic microclimate encourages luxuriant, often sub‑tropical growth more usually associated with lower latitudes, allowing West Cork’s to flourish from early spring onwards.
www.discoverireland.ie/cork/bere-island
www.discoverireland.ie/cork/whiddy-island
Long Island Schull, Co. Cork, P81 HX69
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Long Island sits in Roaringwater Bay and offers a tranquil escape just a 10‑minute ferry journey from Schull. True to its name, the island is 4.8km long and only 0.8km wide, making it perfect for leisurely exploration on foot. Visitors can enjoy peaceful shingle beaches, wild coastal flora, and opportunities to spot native fauna in an unspoilt island landscape. Its quiet lanes and natural scenery create an ideal setting for walking, wildlife watching, and taking a relaxing break from the bustle of the mainland.
West Cork has three major peninsulas – Sheep’s Head , Mizen Head , and Beara , each offering dramatic coastal scenery and a unique sense of place.
www.discoverireland.ie/cork/long-island
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