The 2026 Bucket List Road Trip: 4 Weeks Exploring Ireland (Full Route + Itinerary)

Day 9 (Cork) – Exploring glorious West Cork

West Cork is hands-down one of my favourite places on earth, never mind Ireland.

The wild, remote, ever-changing landscapes, the isolation and the people make it an absolute gem of a place to spend a day or 5.

1 – Spinning through Glandore, Union Hall and Skibbereen en route to Mizen

// Clonakilty to Mizen – 1.5 hour drive (take your time and arrive to Mizen for 13:00) //

We’re going to take a little bit of time to spin around the gorgeous villages and towns of Glandore, Union Hall and Skibbereen.Cape Clear Island

We’ve no specific stops or places to visit in either town, but you can’t drive through this neck of the woods and not take some time to ramble around.

Give yourself an hour and stop-off anywhere that tickles your fancy. I’m a huge fan of Skibbereen.

Often referred to as ‘the Capital of West Cork’, it’s a gorgeous, lively little town that’s a great base for exploring some of the best that West Cork has to offer.

Hop out for a ramble. Your first handful of many gorgeous little towns that we’ll be visiting on this Ireland road trip.

2 – Mizen Head

// Aim to arrive at Mizen Head for around 13:00 //

It’s been a long morning and afternoon, so fuel up with a hearty lunch at the cafe at Mizen Head. If you haven’t packed any snacks or water, grab some here and pop them in your bag.

I visited here many times, and it is always an experience and a half! The Mizen Head Signal Station was built to save lives off the treacherous rocks at Ireland’s most south-westerly point.

Kick your visit off by spending a bit of time wandering around the the Maritime Museum.

From here, take a stroll down towards the Signal Station – it’s a 15 minute walk along a gravelly path, down 99 steps (these were closed on the day that I visited) and across the beautiful arched bridge.

3 – Attractions around Mizen

// Leave Mizen around 15:00 //

From Mizen, you’ve plenty of choice, as you can see from my map above. Here are some options:

• Dunlough Castle: 10-minute drive from Mizen Head and then a 25 minute walk each way from the car park with rough, uneven ground
• Barleycove Beach: 5 minutes from Mizen and an ideal spot to stretch the legs
• Brow Head: 10-minute detour. Expect dramatic views and a very narrow road to the viewpoint

4 – Bantry for the night

// Mized Head to Bantry – 45-minute drive (arrive whenever it suits) //

Photos via The Snug on FB

That was a long day – still with me? Let me know in the comments below.

On night number 9 of our Ireland road trip, I’m going to recommend that you stay at the Bantry Bay Hotel.

When you’re ready to eat, take the 2-minute stroll to Fish Kitchen for a hearty feed.

We’re going to round the evening off with a few pints in Ma Murphy’s pub right across the road from Fish Kitchen.

Keith O'Hara

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.