Rare Flora & Fauna

Top Seven Views enjoys a rich abundance of natural habitats with high biodiversity. These areas provide the opportunity of observing scarce species of animals and seeing rare plants. Glengarriff is well known for its natural 4. Lady ´s Lookout Local people appreciate the natural treasures of the area and Locally known as Fhaill na geat (the cliff of the cats), Lady ask visitors to treat the natural habitats and their inhabitants beauty. Here are some local tips on how to with caution and respect. reach the best viewpoints and where to take Bantry’s Lookout is well worth the short but steep climb to this viewpoint. Access the steps to the lookout via the car Rare Fauna the best photos of the area. See the brochure park in Glengarriff Nature Reserve or via the Coomerkane Glengarriff holds internationally important populations of Walking in Glengarriff for more information. road. From the top you can appreciate the full beauty animals which are rare elsewhere in Europe and are therefore of the Nature Reserve, the Caha Mountains and listed in Annex II of the European Habitats Directive. 1. Top of Sugar Loaf Mountain Glengarriff Harbour. • Common or Harbour seal (Glengarriff is home to one of the You will have to work hard for this one, but once you reach largest colonies of Harbour seals in ) • Porpoise the top of Glengarriff´s most popular mountain on a fine 5. Seal Point and the Blue Pool (Poul Gorm) • Otter • Lesser Horseshoe Bat • Freshwater Pearl Mussel day you will be rewarded with 360˚ panoramic views across The destination for a pleasant afternoon stroll. Walk to Exclusive to West & Kerry the Caha Mountain range and . Unrivalled! the Blue Pool Ferry and follow the loop walk to Seal Point • Kerry Slug • Downy Emerald Dragonfly with its marvellous outlook over the waters and islets of Rare and scarce birds 2. Old Road below Cob Dubh Glengarriff Harbour. If the tide is out you may spot the • Peregrine Falcon • Short-eared Owl • Barn Owl • Kingfisher • Walking the old mountain road south-east of Glengarriff Harbour seals resting on the rocks below you. • Common Tern • Arctic Tern • Little Egret • White Tailed Eagle high above the N71 road, stretching between Coomhola • Hen Harrier (winter visitor) • Chough (Caha Mountains and Dromgarriff, provides you with the best vistas of 6. Carrigrour high above the Eccles Hotel and seacliffs) Garinish Island and Glengarriff Harbour. Spectacular views Take the road to the right of the Hotel. At the crossroads Rare Flora of Glengarriff village and the adjoining Glen. Best time: you can opt for either direction. The road to the left Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve covers some 300ha, mornings and evenings. leads you up to Carrigrour, keeping straight brings you with the dominant habitats being old oak woodland and into Rossnashunsoge. As vegetation has grown up over regenerating woodland, which has been cleared over the last 3. Viewpoints along the Caha Pass (N71) past years, walk up as high as needed to sneak a peek of few years of non-native conifers and Rhododendron. These destinations have easy access by car or for road fabulous Bantry Bay. Be prepared for a tough hike. Rewards The woods form one of the best examples of oceanic walkers on foot via the Glen and guaranteed on clear days. sessile oak woodland in Ireland, being rated second only in Rossnagreena. Panoramic views importance to the Killarney oakwoods.

of The Rugged Glen, Barley 7. Martello Tower on Garinish Island Red Data Book Plants Lake nestled in the Caha Garinish is famous for its Italian Gardens and the rich • Narrow-leaved Helleborine • Smooth Broome • Irish St. John’s Mountains and across collection of trees and shrubs from all over the world. It Wort • Irish Lady’s Tresses • Recurved Sandwort • Killarney Fern Bantry Bay. offers great views as well. Climb to the top of the Martello The last two species are in the Caha Mountains rather than Tower for panoramic views of the Inner Harbour, the Glengarriff. There are other Red Data Book species found on Glengarriff Castle area and the surrounding mountains. the such as Betony, Sea Kale and Kerry Lily but they are found only in the western part of Beara, west of . Scarce plants exclusive to West Cork & Kerry • Strawberry Tree • St Patrick’s Cabbage • Large-flowered Butterwort • Irish Spurge

Holiday Destination Glengarriff RING OF KERRY Glengarriff is ideal as a centre for touring the delightful places of West Cork

The Beara Peninsula is on our doorstep offering some of BEARA PENINSULA GLENGARRIFF the most spectacular scenery anywhere in Ireland. GPS The Ring of Beara takes in all of the area including Adrigole, N 51˚45’ 00” Bantry Healy Pass, Lauragh, , Allihies, Dursey Island and the W 9˚ 33’ 06” fishing port of Castletownbere.

South of Glengarriff lies the bustling town of Bantry and Where to stay: Glengarriff has a wide range of the Dunmanus Peninsula. Tour the area via the Goat’s accommodation offering a choice of hotels, B&Bs, self- Path or walk the countryside on the Sheep’s Head Way. catering houses, caravan and camping sites and hostels. Travel north via the Caha Pass to County Kerry and stop at For more details, check out our web site www.glengarriff.ie. Kenmare, winner of Ireland’s Tidiest Town Award, with its many restaurants and cafés together with some interesting Where to eat: West Cork is the home of good food. places to see on the town’s Heritage Trail. The quality and choice available within Glengarriff will surely please every palate. Eastward, in the Lee Valley, is Gougane Barra. Imagine a secluded enchanting valley with a lake and island Shopping: Glengarriff is a shopper’s dream! Local shops, church at the centre of it, all surrounded by large or small, offer a magnificent range of products. steep wooded slopes that seem Knitwear, crystal, fashions, leatherwork, pottery, to rise to the heavens. woodwork, china and books with prices to suit all pockets. At the end of your day’s outing, nothing for it Non-EU customers can avail of Tax Free Shopping. but to return to Glengarriff and make plans Entertainment: Look for lively traditional music sessions in for tomorrow! the local bars nightly and open air events at weekends.

Published by: Glengarriff Tourism & Development Association © 2016 Photographs: John Early, John Eagle, Cork Kerry Tourism, Markus Baeuchle, Kloe Wood, Tessa Dennison Graphics: www.dennisondesign.ie

TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IN GLENGARRIFF AROUND AND ABOUT GLENGARRIFF

N71 1 s ILNACULLIN – R569 GARINISH ISLAND N70 A short boat ride across the Sneem harbour, will bring you to this MacGillicuddy Reek internationally renowned sub-tropical garden paradise. Waterville

N71 The Skelligs 2 BRYCE HOUSE The home of Mrs Violet Bryce, owner of Garinish it R572 R584 was expanded by her son, Roland who lived here until Caha Mountains his death in 1953. Opened as R572

a Visitor Centre in 2016. R586 3 GLENGARRIFF R572 NATURE RESERVE N71 Situated just outside the village, the nature reserve is one of the finest oceanic R592 N71 Sessile Oak woods in Ireland. N

4 BLUE POOL – Indoor Activities POULGORM Outdoor Activities A beautiful public area in the heart of the village ideal for exploring and relaxing. It takes in the two ferries and adventure playground. 13 Beara Scenic Drive – Drive around the most 32 Molly Gallivan’s – A 200 year old cottage and 5 THE EWE GALLERY & beautiful and unspoiled peninsula in Ireland farms shows life before electrification and modern SCULPTURE GARDEN 14 Zetland Pier – Sandy coves for swimming conveniences Ireland’s only interactive 15 Beara Way Walking Route – Superb walking 33 Caha Pass – A very scenic mountain road Sculpture Garden – in a between Kenmare and Glengarriff magical riverside setting with country bridges and waterfalls. 34 Bantry Museum & Trail – History of the town and fascinating town trail, loop walks 35 Indoor Leisure Centres Bantry – Swimming pools 6 GLENGARRIFF and gyms in Bantry’s Hotels BAMBOO PARK An unique exotic garden with 36 & Gardens – Unrivalled setting with 30 species of bamboo, views of Bantry Harbour tropical plants, romantic paths 37 Whiddy Island – Haven of peace and tranquillity, a 16 Healy Pass & Glanmore Lake – Highly and breathtaking views. short ferry ride from Bantry recommended scenic drive across the peninsula 38 Sheep’s Head Walk – A beautifully scenic long 17 Hungry Hill Waterfall – The highest in Ireland 7 SEALS & SEA EAGLES distance walking route 18 Castletownbere – The largest whitefish port The largest colony of 39 Air India Disaster Memorial – A memorial garden Harbour seals on the Irish in Ireland and sundial honours the memory of the victims of Coast. Seals can be seen from 19 , Yacht Marina & Heritage Centre – the 1985 Air India disaster Seal Point and from ferries to Catch a ferry to this popular island Garinish Island. Look out also 40 West Cork Garden Trail – Private gardens open to for White-tailed Eagles. 20 Dunboy Castle – The ruined castle was the seat the public, enquire locally for details of the O’Sullivan Bere Chieftain which was 41 Mizen Vision Centre – Lighthouse visitor centre on 8 WALKING & beseiged in 1602 Ireland’s Land’s End RUNNING 21 Dzogchen Beara Meditation Centre – Buddhist Glengarriff has a great choice 42 Barley Cove Beach – The largest expanse of Meditation Centre and Café of marked walks. Why not golden sand in the South West join the Park Run? Every Sat 43 Roaring Water Bay – Whale watching @9.30 from the car park in the Nature Reserve. 44 Schull Planetarium – Discover the heavens 45 Ballydehob Bridge Park – Shoreside park with 9 GLENGARRIFF walks, picnic areas and playground GOLF CLUB This stunning 9-hole course 46 Skibbereen Famine Heritage Centre – History of offers outstanding views of the Great Famine and nearby Lough Hyne Glengarriff Harbour and the 22 Dursey Island Cable Car – The only cable car in 47 Lough Hyne – A salt-water lake connected to the surrounding mountains. the country, a truly unique experience sea by rapids. Ireland’s first Marine Nature Reserve 23 Allihies Copper Mine Visitor Centre & Beach – 48 Carriganass Castle & Stone Circle – Fine example J GLENGARRIFF Dedicated to the history of copper mining in the of a fortified castle in tranquil riverside setting SHOPPING Allihies area A wide variety of shops sell 24 Eyeries Village & Ogham Stone – Colourful award- sell craft products, woollens, winning rural Irish village jewellery, crystal, fashion and antiques. 25 Ardgroom Stone Circle – Stone circle of 9 standing stones and 2 prostrate stones, 8 metres in diameter 26 Dereen Gardens – Mature woodland estate and K THE HERITAGE TRAIL Gardens OF GLENGARRIFF 49 Gougane Barra Forest Park & St Finbarr’s Investigate the built heritage 27 Gleninchiquin Waterfall and Park – Spectacular Oratory – The scenic valley, the source of the River of Glengarriff. Booklet with waterfall and breathtaking scenery Lee contains a Forest Park and Oratory map available locally. 28 Star Outdoors – Sailing, kayaking and more, just a short drive from Kenmare 50 Kilgarvan Motor Museum – Vintage cars and tea rooms 29 Kenmare Seafari – The original eco-cruise from L BARLEY LAKE For more things to do in the area there are Kenmare Pier with seal and white tailed eagle two informative brochures available locally. A spectacular corrie lake watching set high up in the Caha Walking in Glengarriff,serves as the 30 Kenmare Heritage Centre & Town Trail – walker´s reliable companion. Mountains. Providing a intregal insight into the history of the Visit Garinish Island tells all you need to town and its lace making know about this garden paradise. 31 Bonane Heritage Park – A Walk through the 5000 An annual Directory of businesses and accommodation in Glengarriff is also years of the archaeology of Bonane available locally. www.glengarriff.ie