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Tourist village in County Cork, Ireland
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Spircle at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh, "rough glen") is a village at the base of the Beara Peninsula of County Cork in southwest Ireland. It's in an inlet of Bantry Bay, and became a tourist resort in the late 19th century. In those days tourists arrived by paddle steamer, and there was no road across the hills to Kerry until a tunnel was hand-hewn through. The resident population in 2022 was 211.
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Reached by a 10-min ferry ride, the island was originally a military outpost, with a barracks and Martello Tower built against Napoleonic invasion. In 1910 it was sold to Annan Bryce, who commissioned English architect Harold Peto to design a house and garden. Thousands of tons of topsoil were imported to this bare, rocky island and shelter belts were planted, creating a micro-climate in which a number of tender plants thrive. The house was never built, and the Casita and Italian garden remain the centrepiece. There are also fine herbaceous borders. The ferry fare doesn't include admission fee.
This cafe bar gets mostly good reviews for food and service, but standards inconsistent.
Great trad pub with beer garden.
Well-run, well-equipped site with bar and restaurant, open April-Sep.
Decent B&B in village centre, though breakfast disappoints.
Clean, friendly efficient place in village centre. 10 bed mixed dorm, 6 bed female dorm and private rooms.
Friendly comfy mid-range hotel with good bar and dining, open April-Oct and partially in Nov.
Upscale place established in 1745, good reviews for comfort, service and cuisine. The spa isn't much rated.
Charming guesthouse 1 km east of village.
By road follow N71, which runs from Bantry to Glengarriff then to Kenmare in County Kerry - for large vehicles check dimensions for the tunnel. R572 winds along the coast to Castletownbere.
Read in the guideThe forest nature reserve and Bamboo gardens can be reached on foot. It's a long hike to Barley Lake, but a firm trail for a mountain bike.
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Farranfore · Regional · KIR
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