TOWN AND LOCAL INFORMATION

Clonakilty Town
www.clonakilty.ie
Clonakilty is our local town, just 10 minutes drive away. The towns homepage provides lists and links for some things to see and do but it has it's limits!

Probably the best Supermarket in town
www.supervaluclon.ie
Scally's Supervalu supermarket is right on the edge of town and also has a multi-story car park above and a petrol station at the back. This store is award-winning in many respects; for fresh vegetables, fresh meat, cheese, Deli and bakery. An excellent place if you want a one-stop shop.

The Historic Town Of Kinsale
www.kinsale.ie
The oldest town in Ireland is full of many interesting historical sites, as well as great shops and restaurants.

Crosshaven Town
www.crosshaven.ie
Home to the Royal Cork Yacht Club, which claims to be the oldest yacht club in the world.

West Cork
www.westcork.ie
For all sorts of information on things to see and do in the local area, then visit this website.

Bandon Town
www.bandon.ie
This website gives a lot of useful information including a list of recommended walking routes.

GARDENING

West Cork Garden Trail
www.westcorkgardentrail.com
The West Cork Garden Trail has many beautiful, formal and informal gardens that are open, some for a limited period and others open all the year round. Ardnavaha is part of 'The trail'!

Hosfords Garden Centre
www.hosfordsgardencentre.ie
Our local Garden centre almost as well known for it's cafe as it's range of plants. The Owner is also one of the main 'players' in the return of the Swansea-Cork Ferry!

ACTIVITIES

Geocaching outdoor activity
www.geocaching.com
This outdoor activity is akin to treasure hunting and orienteering rolled into one. Open to anyone with a hand-held GPS it will introduce you to some out-of-the-way places that are well worth a visit in their own right and can lead to a highly addictive and entertaining global outdoor pursuit. There are many 'caches in the area and well worth the effort

Rebel Adventures outdoor activity
www.rebeladventures.com
For the more adventurous, active and physical “Rebel Adventures” offer Laser Clay Pigeon shooting, Archery, 'Airsoft BB Gun' days as well as 'War Games along the lines of the old 'Paintball' games./ Book in advance and have a great day!

Lisselan Estates, Clonakilty
www.lisselan.com
Lisselan Estates offers a great 9 hole 18 tees course, river fishing and beautiful gardens.

TRAVEL

CAR FERRIES

Swansea – Cork Car Ferry with “Fastnet Line”
www.fastnetline.com
Re-starting in March 2010 after a regrettable ending this new company will make the journey from Great Britain that much easier. Take the overnight ferry, dine & sleep aboard and arrive in Ringaskiddy, Cork in the morning. You save the drive to Fishguard or Pembroke and then from Rosslare via New Ross and Waterford.

This is the best way to bring your car over to the Emerald Isle!

Stena Line Ferries
www.StenaLine.co.uk
Offering a variety of routes, speeds and prices with an extensive timetable this is directly competitive with Irish Ferries and often it is difficult to get a cigarette paper between their prices. An excellent record of safety and comfort they have a number of 'Fast Cat' services between Ireland and England.

Irish Ferries
www.IrishFerries.co.uk
Competing directly with Stena Line Irish Ferries do offer a service to Cherbourg from Rosslare should you wish to include a visit to the hypermarket before you go home or, better still, on your way to Ireland (alcohol is a fearful price here!).

P & O Ferries
www.poirishsea.com
With routes to Dublin and Larne P & O are well placed to serve those travelling via Scotland or the North of England. Competitive rates and a regular service are assured.

Brittany Ferries
www.brittanyferries.ie
Travel in style between Cork and Roscoff with their welll known high standards in the restaurant and their modern ferry. This is a great way to get two countries into one holiday.

MUSIC

De Barra's Folk Club, Clonakilty
www.debarra.ie
A fantastic music venue in our local town of Clonakilty and great music history with it.. Visit the website to see what's on and remember that for 'ticket' events you must book early as they sell-out very quickly.

"An Teach Beag", Clonakilty
www.odonovanshotel.com/teachshtml
Another great music place and much more 'traditional' in it's music. Well worth a visit if you're here for the music.

Guiness Cork Jazz Festival
www.guinnessjazzfestival.com
A great musical event that 'spills over' to Kinsale. This takes place in October each year and is well worth making it a reason to be here. Take the opportunity to include it in your holiday plans and our local (and trustworthy) taxi driver Niall will take you there and bring you back with no drink/drive worries!

EATING

Pink Elephant Restaurant
www.pinkelephant.ie
Our favourite and well worth the short drive; to sit there of an evening on a summers evening with the views out over the bay and enjoy the company of your hosts Niall and Jeremy and the food of their chef Mick. Many of our guests have enjoyed it so much they have been there two or three times in one week.

An Sugan Seafood Restaurant, Clonakilty
www.ansugan.com
One of many good restaurants in Clonakilty town and enjoyed often as a reasonable price for good food on the first night (for those who don't want to cook!). Parking is close by and the atmosphere is great. Enjoy it!

Fishy Fishy Seafood Restaurant, Kinsale
www.fishyfishy.ie
This world renowned sea-food restaurant is always a hit with our sea-food gourmets and is always recommended by our guests. No trip to Kinsale is complete without a lunch here but, be advised, go early (noon) to avoid disappointment!

PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO SEE

Inchy Doney Island, Clonakilty
www.inchydoneyisland.com
An absolutely beautiful beach, just 15 minutes from here, overlooked by Inchydoney Lodge and Spa. The bar at the hotel does excellent meals for those not wanting a formal sit-down meal in the main restaurant upstairs. This can be a great day out for the family.

RNLI Lifeboats
www.rnli.org.uk
The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat (and the inshore lifeboat at Kinsale) continue the traditions of the mainland U.K. and are surprisingly part of the same organisation as are all lifeboats around the coast of Ireland. Always deserving of support please visit them and, if the shop is open, feel free to spend a few Euros!

Jameson Whiskey Distillery visit
www.jamesonwhiskey.com
A great morning or afternoon can be had in Midleton visiting the old distillery (just around the corner from the new distillery. A great view inside the old workings, get the history of Irish Whiskey and sample some at the end. There is an extensive Gift experience at the end but I believe that it's cheaper to buy the actual spirit cheaper at the supermarket but there are things here you cannot buy elsewhere!

TRAVEL

FLIGHTS AND ROUTES

Aer Lingus
www.airlingus.com
Aer Lingus, the Irish national airline, is allied to British Airways, United. Cathay Pacific, Qantas and KLM. Competitive prices from Heathrow (when booked early!) but watch out for the Ryanair style luggage policy!

Aer Arann
www.aerarann.com
Aer Arann is not one of the largest airlines but it does fly to most places in Ireland! The only flight between Dublin and Cork it has many connections with the U.K. From Cork but some, like Southampton, are seasonal so check their website carefully!

Air Southwest
www.AirSouthwest.com
If you're coming in from the U.K. West Country (Newquay or Plymouth) then this is the way to do it. A great little company continuing a long tradition of contact between the West Country and County Cork that goes way back before the days of tin mining.

Wizz Air
www.wizzair.com
Five airports in Poland are connected to Cork by this airline and County Cork is as popular with the Polish as is Poland with the Irish!

bmi Baby
www.bmibaby.com
Serving East Midlands and Manchester bmi baby can offer some spectacular fares and convenient flights.

Jet2
www.jet2.com
Whilst only flying from Newcastle to Cork this is another airline offering very good prices and the only one serving the North East coast of England.

Ryanair
www.ryanair.com
Enough said – you either love them or loathe them. Daily flights from a number of locations into Cork.