Page 35 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

DRIVE 1: A Taste of East Cork 33

PLAN YOUR DRIVE

Start/finish: Cork City to Youghal.
Number of days: 2, allowing half
a day to explore Cork City.
Distance: 86 km (53 miles).
Road conditions: Roads are good,
with most of the drive taking place
on regional roads. There are some
smaller, unclassified roads towards the
end of the drive. On such roads there
may not be a central line marked, and
5 Above View across Ballycotton Bay to the fishing village of Ballycotton and its sheltering island, see p37 drivers should take care on bends in
case of oncoming vehicles.
When to go: East Cork is lovely in
ClashClash DungourneyDungourney YOUGHALYOUGHAL every season, but be prepared for
KnockrahaKnockraha BallynakillaBallynakilla mixed weather – warm sunshine, rain
KilleaghKilleagh or cold winds – at any time of year,
BlarneyBlarney SallybrookSallybrook CORKCORK MogeelyMogeely Youghal Harbour and pack appropriate clothing.
TowerTower KilcullyKilcully
VillageVillage Opening times: Most shops and
GlanmireGlanmire RiverstownRiverstown MIDLETONMIDLETON
Youghal Harbour
CastlemartyrCastlemartyr attractions open 9 or 10am–5 or 6pm.
BallinamoughtBallinamought CarrigtwohillCarrigtwohill YoughalYoughal Shops open Mon–Sat; in large towns
FotaFota
CORK CITYCORK CITY IslandIsland BallynacorraBallynacorra BallymacodaBallymacoda B ayB ay also 12–6pm on Sun. Convenience
BlackrockBlackrock Little IslandLittle Island FOTA WILDLIFEFOTA WILDLIFE LadysbridgeLadysbridge stores in villages open 8am until late.
Lee Lee BallincolligBallincollig BallintempleBallintemple PARK & HOUSEPARK & HOUSE Knockadoon HeadKnockadoon Head
CapelCapel
BawnardBawnard IslandIsland Main market days: Cork City: Mon–
DouglasDouglas Great IslandGreat Island Sat; Cobh: Farmers’ Market, Fri;
PassagePassage
CurraheenCurraheen WestWest CarrigaloeCarrigaloe SaleenSaleen CloyneCloyne GarryvoeGarryvoe Ball ycottonBall ycotton Midleton: Farmers’ Market, Sat.
COBHCOBH RostellanRostellan SHANAGARRYSHANAGARRY Shopping: In Cork City, explore the
MonkstownMonkstown CorkCork B ayB ay
CorkCork HarbourHarbour FarsidFarsid small shops of the pedestrianized
SpikeSpike BALLYCOTTONBALLYCOTTON Huguenot Quarter, and don’t miss the
BallygarvanBallygarvan RingaskiddyRingaskiddy IslandIsland WhitegateWhitegate ChurchtownChurchtown BallycottonBallycotton English Market. Midleton is home to
IslandIsland
BallinhassigBallinhassig CarrigalineCarrigaline BallinrostigBallinrostig Jameson Irish whiskey, where visitors
can purchase as well as sample.
CrosshavenCrosshaven
InchInch
GyleenGyleen Major festivals: Cork City: Jazz
Swansea,Swansea, Festival, Oct; Film Festival, Nov; Cobh:
RoscoffRoscoff
Maritime Song Festival, May–Jun;
Midleton: East Cork Early Music
Festival, Oct; Food Festival, Sep;
Below The peaceful promenade and bandstand in Cobh, on Great Island, see p36 Youghal: Visual Arts Festival, Jul.
DAY TRIP OPTIONS
For lovers of history, a day divided
between Cork City and Cobh would
be time well spent. Epicureans will
enjoy Midleton and Shanagarry,
which offer both fine whiskey and
fine food, while, for families, the
wonderful beaches, clifftop walks and
historic harbours of Ballycotton and
Youghal would be hard to beat. For
full details, see p37.

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