9 Of The Most Beautiful Hotels In West Cork For 2024

There are an almost endless number of excellent hotels in West Cork.

Which is handy, as there’s an endless number of things to do in West Cork, so having your pick of many mighty hotels come sin useful.

Nestled in the southwest corner of Ireland, the beautiful region of West Cork is a perfect destination for a weekend trip.

In the guide below, you’ll find a clatter of brilliant West Cork hotels, from luxurious escapes to pocket-friendly getaways.

Our favourite hotels in West Cork

The West of the Rebel County is home to many of the best hotels in Cork, with a little bit of something to tickle every fancy (and budget).

In the first section of our guide, you’ll find our favourite hotels in West Cork, from the magical Gougane Barra Hotel to the Clonakilty Park and much, much more.

Note: if you book a hotel through one of the links below we’ll make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

1. Gougane Barra Hotel

We’re going to kick things off with arguably one of the most beautiful set hotels in West Cork. Well-known for its beautiful lakeside location at Gougane Barra is a charming family-run hotel tucked away in a picturesque valley right on the edge of Gougane Barra Lake.

With fabulous views of the lake, hotel rooms are nicely furnished and include private bathrooms. The on-site restaurant offers a bar menu throughout the day with foods like smoked salmon and fruit scones with jam. 

In the evening, choose something from the restaurant’s extensive a la carte dinner menu. If you wish to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities while staying at Gougane Barra, you’ll be pleased to hear that the hotel offers activities like cycling along the nearby scenic trails and fishing on the lake. 

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2. West Cork Hotel

An ideal base to discover West Cork, Skibbereen is a bustling town surrounded by rolling green fields and picturesque valleys.

Here, you will find the lovely West Cork Hotel. Overlooking the Ilen River, this property offers a mix of traditional and modern décor.

Elegant hotel rooms are fitted with everything you need for a relaxing stay in this picture-perfect town.

Make sure to stop by the hotel’s Kennedy Restaurant that offers traditional Irish cuisine. For light snacks and refreshments, check out the Ilen Bar that also offers pre-packed lunch boxes.

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3. The Barleycove Beach Hotel

The Barleycove Beach Hotel is one of the best West Cork hotels when it comes to views. Imagine kicking back outside with a beer and soaking up the view above?! Magic!

You’ll find the hotel right next to Barleycove Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches in Cork and arguably one of the best beaches in West Cork.

It’s close to an endless number of things to see and do and the reviews are sensational. There’s a brilliant restaurant in the hotel along with a bar. If you arrive when the suns out, there are few places better than on the large deck area at the Barleycove Hotel.

4. Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa

Next up is arguably the best known of the many West Cork hotels. Surrounded by the natural beauty of West Cork and overlooking the Atlantic, this fabulous hotel is an ideal place to stay for nature lovers who wish to get away from it all!

The highlight of Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa is definitely the spa centre with heated saltwater swimming pools and a wide range of beauty treatments. On the nearby Inchydoney Beach, there is a surf school and you get kites at the reception.

Inside the hotel, guests will find a lovely resident’s lounge, as well as a library with plenty of books and a snooker room. The tender lamb served at the on-site Gulfstream Restaurant practically melts in your mouth.

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5. Clonakilty Park Hotel

Formerly known as the Quality Hotel, the Park Hotel is the perfect place for exploring some of the best things to do in Clonakilty. 

Located just a 10-minute walk from the heart of Clonakilty, this luxury hotel is a short stroll from the town’s craft shops, historic buildings, restaurants and pubs.

The hotel itself has an indoor pool, sauna, and steam room. If you wish to stay in shape, there is a fitness room with modern equipment.

Guests staying at the hotel with kids will be delighted to hear that Clonakilty Park has an indoor play zone with Xboxes, Playstations, and Wii consoles. As for the accommodation, there is everything from single en-suite rooms to large two-bedroom apartments.

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West Cork hotels by the sea

The second section of our guide is packed with some of the best seaside hotels in West Cork, for those of you that fancy gulping down some fresh Atlantic air.

Below, you’ll find the gorgeous Dunmore House and Eccles Hotel to some lesser-known West Cork hotels that pack a punch.

1. Dunmore House Hotel

The gorgeous Dunmore House is one of the more popular seaside hotels in West Cork, and for good reason. 

Situated on the south-west coast of Ireland and just a short drive from the lovely town of Clonakilty, Dunmore House is an elegant family-run hotel with a private beach.

Rooms are decorated to the highest standard and many of them offer dramatic ocean views. There is a 9-hole golf course on-site and it’s a short spin from many of the best places to eat in Clonakilty.

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2. Eccles

Eccles is one of the best spa hotels in West Cork and it’s up there with some of the best spa hotels in Ireland. 

You’ll find Eccles Hotel & Spa is situated in Glengarriff and offers magnificent views of Bantry Bay. The village centre with its traditional pubs and restaurants is just a short walk away from this luxury property.

Guests can enjoy activities like sea kayaking, world-class golf, and cycling along the West Cork Garden Trail. Indoors, residents have access to spa treatment rooms that offer world-famous Voya Irish products. 

There are some other great places to stay in Glengarriff, like Casey’s, which you’ll find in our Glengarriff hotels guide.

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3. Actons Hotel Kinsale

Now, we put this in originally forgetting that Kinsale isn’t actually in West Cork, so forgive the error on our part!

While there are countless hotels in Kinsale, Actons is on of our favourite. This contemporary boutique property boasts 77 rooms including family apartments and luxury suites.

Guests will have access to modern leisure facilities such as the 15-meter swimming pool, steam room, and sauna. Feel free to work out at the on-site fully-equipped gym and have an unforgettable dining experience at the on-site restaurants and bars.

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4. Celtic Ross Hotel & Leisure Centre

Visit the charming town of Rosscabery in West Cork and stay at the lovely Celtic Ross Hotel & Leisure Centre.

This idyllic coastal retreat is nestled on the coast and offers easy access to some of the best beaches in Ireland. Indoors, you will find a wide range of leisure facilities such as a fitness centre, sauna, steam, room and a 15-meter swimming pool.

Guests who wish to enjoy a range of massages and other therapies can step inside the hotel’s Serenity Rooms. After all the sightseeing and pampering, have dinner at the Kingfisher Bistro that offers both local and international cuisine.

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West Cork accommodation: Where have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant West Cork hotels from the guide above.

If you have some favourite hotels in West Cork that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below. Cheers!

FAQs About the best West Cork hotels on offer

Since publishing our guide to the best Cork attractions many years ago, we’ve have heaps (literally!) of questions about where to stay in West Cork.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What are the best West Cork hotels for a weekend break?

This will change depending on what you’re looking for and where you want to be based, but I’d argue that Inchydoney Lodge and Barleycove Beach are two of the best West Cork hotels on offer.

What hotels in West Cork are next to the sea?

Dunmore House Hotel, Inchydoney Island Lodge, the Barleycove Beach Hotel and Gougane Barra Hotel along with Eccles are all right next to the water.