Rising 50ft above the cliffs, the cone-shaped Baltimore Beacon was built in 1849 as part of a coastal warning system after the 1798 Rebellion, and it remains one of West Cork’s most iconic landmarks.
There are two ways that you can get to it:
- The easiest/quickest way: Park right next to it and take the short but steep trail
- The longer/still easy way: Walk from Baltimore town, which is 1.64km/1.02 miles (22 minutes) each way
Visiting the Baltimore Beacon
Although a visit to the Baltimore Beacon in Cork is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
Located on the wild south-west coast of county Cork, you’ll find the beacon in Baltimore, around a 90-minute drive from Cork City. The beacon itself is a further 6-minute drive south to the coast.
2. Parking
Driving down south along Beacon Road from Baltimore, you’ll eventually come to the end of the road where there’s room for around 5 cars.
3. The nickname
With a nickname that’s arguably even stranger than the shape of the white tower itself, there’s plenty of mystique here! Known locally as “Lot’s Wife”, the strange name is a reference to a Biblical story of a woman getting turned into a pillar of salt.
4. Getting up to the beacon
Once you’ve exited your car, it’s then a short, steep walk through a field to reach the beacon. Though the scenery around you is gorgeous, the walk can be slippy/muddy at times and also note that beacon is situated on a tall cliff with no barriers. So be wary of any sudden gusts of wind too.
The story behind the Beacon in Baltimore
The history of the Beacon goes back over 200 years. Following the Irish Rebellion of 1798, the British decided to build a series of lighthouses and beacons along the coast as part of a warning system.
The waters around this corner of Ireland (and in many parts of the country) can get very wild, at times, and you’ll find ancient shipwrecks dotted around our little island.
By the 1840’s, the lighthouse at Baltimore had been vandalised and fallen into disrepair. Because of its huge importance to fishermen and other sailors, it needed to be reinstated.
By 1849 the 50ft high white Baltimore Beacon that we know and love today had been completed, with the small sphere at the top added at a later date.
The Baltimore Beacon Walk
If the sun’s shining, then the walk up to the beacon from Baltimore is a lovely little stroll that’s easy on the legs for walkers of most fitness levels.
This is one of our favourite walks in Cork, and it’s a great spot to catch the sunset before you nip into one of Baltimore’s pubs.
The trail to follow
Starting from the 800-year-old Dún na Séad in the town cenrtre, head south from the charming harbour and follow the curving Beacon Road.
You’ll find yourself walking between stone walls and a patchwork of small fields and eventually you’ll see the beacon’s white conical shape in the distance. Make the short scramble up from the car park to reach the iconic beacon.
How long it takes + safety
The Baltimore Beacon Walk is a 1.64km/1.02 miles (22 minutes) linear trail. Allow a round 45 minutes to walk to and from the town and a further 20 minutes to enjoy the views from its elevated position.
The trail takes you along a narrow country road with plenty of bends, so care is needed – stay tight to the side of the road and walk on the grass where possible.
Things to do nearby
One of the beauties of the Beacon is that it’s a short spin away many of the best places to visit in Cork, like:
- Whale watching: Head out from Baltimore on a whale watching tour around Baltimore, Sherkin Island and Cape Clear Island for close-up wildlife encounters
- Barleycove Beach: A stunning sandy stretch near Mizen Head, Barleycove Beach is perfect for a stroll, a swim, or a bite at the Beach Bar (it’s one of the best beaches in West Cork)
- Mizen Head: Visit the dramatic cliffs of Mizen Head for Wild Atlantic Way views, wildlife, and the historic Signal Station Visitor Centre
- Brow Head: The true southernmost point of mainland Ireland, Brow Head offers scenic coastal walks and mining ruins from its 19th-century history
- Sherkin Island: Just 10 minutes by ferry, Sherkin Island comes alive in summer with beaches, live music, and the Sherkin Family Regatta.
- Cape Clear Island: Accessible via a 40-minute ferry, Cape Clear Island boasts Irish-speaking culture, scenic views, Fastnet Rock sightings, and possible whale or dolphin encounters
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.