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Adrigole,
the gateway to the Ring of Beara, which commences
shortly after leaving Glengarriff, is a beautiful,
scattered village rich in history and natural scenery. .
The Adrigole coastline is varied, from a combination of
rocky cliffs and outcrops to the shallow, peaceful inlet
of Adrigole Harbour. The natural surroundings of
Adrigole make it a haven for hill walking, or cycling,
along the small roads that hug the sides of the
mountains. The
West Cork Sailing Centre is also based here.
We recommend that you contact Gail for a tailored
package that will compliment any holiday in West Cork.
The Tim Healy Pass road is a scenic
mountain road between Adrigole and Lauragh, cutting
through the Caha Mountains. It rises 334 meters above
sea level and passes between two of the highest peaks of
the Caha range. This is one of the finest mountain roads
in Ireland and is named after Tim Healy, the first
Governor-general of the Irish Free State, who was born
in nearby Bantry. We recommend that the Tim Healy Pass
be approached from the Adrigole side as this maximises
the view to the visitor. Park your car below the grotto
at the top and take in the breathtaking view of the
winding road that you have just travelled. Remember,
this was constructed before, during and after famine
times with no mechanically driven machines!
After calling to Don at 'Dons Mountain
Cabin' for an ice-cream, a postcard or maybe some local
fine crafts you should walk over the top, where you
cross the county bounds - the line dividing Co. Cork and
Co. Kerry. The view from here is spectacular but gets
even better when you take the short walk down to the
viewing area, overlooking both Glenmore Lake and Kenmare
River. If you are lucky you may find a spot where, to
your right you can just see Bantry Bay through the
mountain peaks and to your left the beautiful Glenmore
Lake and Kenmare River. Look out for the sheep here that
have become very friendly through the years of visitors
to the area!
Looming to the north is Hungry Hill
(which can be seen in the picture above), the highest of
the Caha Mountains. This towers over Adrigole Harbour
and Bantry Bay and boasts the highest waterfall in
Ireland and the British Isles. For the more adventurous
of visitors the summit will take your breadth away with
its magnificent views. To the East of Adrigole is the
smaller mountain peak of Sugerloaf Mountain, with an
equally fantastic view from the summit.
Nearby Glengarriff hosts the Italian
Gardens of Garnish Island and for those with green
fingers, Direen Gardens in Lauragh (over the Tim Healy
Pass) will be of great interest. |
