Glengarriff is a tiny West Cork village with fewer than 200 permanent residents, but don’t let its size fool you – this is one of the best bases for exploring the Beara Peninsula.
Surrounded by mountains and perched on Bantry Bay, it offers handy access to everything from island trips and mountain passes to forest trails, sculpture gardens and endless cycle routes.
The village itself has a mighty mix of cosy pubs, cafés and places to eat, making it a handy spot to return to after a day on the road or out exploring the wilds of West Cork.
The best things to do in Glengarriff
Photos via Shutterstock
The lovely little town of Glengarriff is a fine base for exploring; it’s close to many of the best things to do in West Cork and the village itself is home to some great pubs and places to eat.
The first section of our guide tackles the various things to do in Glengarriff, for those of you that don’t fancy leaving the area.
1. Glengarriff Nature Reserve
Glengarriff Nature Reserve spans 300 hectares of ancient and newer woodland just 1km from Glengarriff village.
Managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, it features four well-marked walking trails ranging from a 15-minute stroll to a tougher climb to Lady Bantry’s Lookout.
There’s also the waterfall walk, pictured above, which is one of my favourite short walks in Cork!
Highlights include old oak trees, a scenic waterfall, open meadows, and panoramic views over Bantry Bay. Once part of the Bantry Estate, the area has a rich history of woodland conservation.
2. Glengarriff Bamboo Park
Photos by Eileen Coffey via Fáilte Ireland
Glengarriff Bamboo Park sits right on the main N71 road in Glengarriff, just a short walk from the village and overlooking Glengarriff Harbour.
This privately owned garden spans several acres and is home to over 30 species of bamboo, along with palms, tree ferns, and other tropical plants.
Stone paths weave through the grounds, leading to sea views and a private shoreline with glimpses of Garnish Island. There’s a plant shop, a sunny terrace café, and plenty of space to sit, wander, or simply soak up the scenery.
Related read: Check out our guide to the best hotels in Glengarriff (with something to suit most budgets)
3. Garnish Island
Garnish Island is a 37-acre garden island in Glengarriff Harbour, known for its subtropical planting, Italian-style garden features, and striking views from an 1805 Martello Tower.
Accessed only by ferry from Glengarriff, the trip includes a detour to a nearby seal colony. Once planned as a grand estate, the island became a retreat for artists and writers.
Highlights include a walled garden, exotic plants thriving in a mild microclimate, and peaceful walking trails.
4. The Ewe Experience
Tucked into a lush hillside just outside Glengarriff, The Ewe Experience is one of the most unique things to do in Glengarriff.
This imaginative outdoor space combines sculpture, storytelling, and environmental themes, all set along a steep trail beside a waterfall.
Visitors follow a winding route filled with interactive art, clever installations, and unexpected bursts of humour. It’s open daily from 10am during the summer season, with no need to book.
5. Set off on the Ring of Beara
Glengarriff is the perfect starting point for the Ring of Beara – a 148km scenic loop around the Beara Peninsula, spanning parts of Cork and Kerry.
Less trafficked than its famous neighbour, the Ring of Kerry, it offers dramatic coastal views, colourful villages, and mountain passes.
The route features stops like Glengarriff Nature Reserve, Healy Pass, Allihies, Eyeries, Bere Island, Kenmare and Gleninchaquin Park.
6. Drive the Caha Pass
The Caha Mountains stretch across the Beara Peninsula in southwest County Cork, with Hungry Hill (685m) as the highest point. Formed from Old Red Sandstone, the range features craggy ridges, boggy plateaus, scree, and heathland.
One of the best ways to see the area is on the route that I’ve outlined in the map above. Now, the map shows Kenmare as the starting point, but you can easily begin from Glengarriff.
Things to do near Glengarriff
As mentioned earlier, there are a handful of places to visit in Glengarriff but there are endless things to do near Glengarriff.
Below, you’ll find a mix of attractions a relatively handy spin from the town. Cheers!
1. Healy Pass
Healy Pass cuts through the Caha Mountains, skimming two of the range’s highest peaks. Built as a famine relief project in 1847, it links Cork and Kerry via a series of sharp bends and narrow lanes.
Even in summer, it feels wild and remote, and that’s half the magic. At the top, you’re rewarded with sweeping views across Bantry and Kenmare Bays.
It’s not a route for nervous drivers, but if you’re confident on tight mountain roads, it’s one of the most scenic drives in Ireland.
2. Bere Island
You can visit and enjoy Bere Island for a couple of hours, but a more extended stay is possible and more satisfying.
The island sits at the mouth of Europe’s deepest harbour, and since the Bronze age, Berehaven and Lawrence Cove have been providing safe shelter for all sizes and types of boat.
The whole island is like a museum, from the Druid’s Altar wedge tomb to the more recent Martello towers, signal tower and Lonhort, a military fortification housing six-inch guns, a trench and underground constructions.
If you’re lucky, you might see a killer whale in the deep waters and make sure to visit the Heritage Museum before you leave.
3. Bantry House
Photos via Shutterstock
The unique Bantry House and Gardens has been owned and managed by the White family since 1739, and since its opening to the public in the 1940s, visitors have enjoyed viewing the original furniture and objects d’art.
The formal gardens are set out over seven terraces, with the house sitting on the third terrace.
The Wisteria circle is fabulous, and you can give your legs a stretch by walking up the 100 steps to the woodland behind.
The garden and tearoom are open daily from Easter to October, and even in poor weather, the views out to the Bay are beautiful. A tranquil oasis to while away an hour or two.
4. Gougane Barra
Today Gougane Barra is a 138 Ha. Park with twenty species of tree and a significant number of native flora and fauna. Hillwalking is popular in the Park, and you can drive it for about 5km.
In the past, the Gougane Barra was richly significant for the Catholic Church, its name originally having come from St Finbar, who built a monastery on a nearby island during the 6th Century.
During the Penal Times (when laws were imposed to try to force Catholics to accept the Church of Ireland), Gougane Barra’s remote location made it a safe place for the celebration of Mass.
A 19th Century oratory, St Finbar’s Oratory is the final destination of St Finbar’s Pilgrim Path, one of Ireland’s five pilgrim paths.
5. Whiddy Island
Whiddy Island sits near the head of Bantry Bay and historically was crucial to the protection of Bantry Bay’s deep-water anchorage.
The population of 450 in 1880 has now been reduced to 20 permanent residents, increasing dramatically during the summer months.
The 10-minute Ferry ride gives you great views of the Island, the Bay, and Bantry town and is lovely even in cloudy weather.
The island is a haven for wildlife, and without cars, it’s a pleasure to wander around and enjoy all the beautiful views of the nearby peninsulas. The ferry’s departure point is at the Marina opposite Bantry House, and there’s plenty of free parking around.
6. Gleninchaquin Park
Gleninchaquin Park captures my imagination like nowhere else. On the one hand, it’s a privately owned farm, and on the other hand, there’s this magical place that formed after the Ice Age 70,000 years ago and has barely changed.
Six well-signposted routes take you around the farm, alongside a river, over the waterfall and into the upper valley, as well as a walk around the boundaries and the Heritage Trail.
It’s still a working farm, so keep a lookout for sheep on the upper levels. This is where you can take a dip in the rock pools or have a picnic, and if you have lunch at the top of the waterfall, it’s an unforgettable experience.
Explore West Cork beyond Glengarriff
There are endless things to do in Cork beyond Glengarriff. In the map above, I’d created a West Cork road trip itinerary for you to follow.
It takes in everything from well-known attractions, like Mizen Head, to lesser-known historical sites, like Dunlough Fort.
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.