Activities

A few reasons for choosing this part of Ireland for your holiday:

Westcove is an ideal base from which to explore the many fascinating areas in this, the most scenic corner of Ireland.

There are numerous possible excursions:- north to Killarney with its famous lakes, northwest to the legendary Dingle Peninsular, west to Waterville, Balliskellings and Valencia Island, from where you can take an unforgettable boat trip to the Skelligs.

To the south lies Bantry Bay, which is reached via spectacular mountain passes. Kerry and West Cork are dotted with wonderful tropical gardens, especially beautiful in May and June.

The countryside immediately surrounding Castlecove is ideally suited for all types of walking, ranging from gentle strolls along lovely sandy beaches to more serious hikes over craggy hills. The famous 'Kerry Way' walk takes you along the ridge of hills, all the way from Waterville to Kenmare and is well signed, but still wonderfully unspoiled.

Watersports: You can swim, row and shrimp nearby and there are several sandy beaches within ten minutes drive. Derrynane, 4 miles away, has an excellent watersports centre in the summer - with facilities for all ages, including water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing and canoeing. Scuba diving facilities are also available locally.

Fishing: Salmon, trout and sea fishing can be arranged locally. Some of our visitors enjoy spinning for bass, mullet etc. from nearby beaches and rocks. (More details below on this page)

Shooting: During the winter, challenging shooting over the wild stretches of bog land for woodcock and snipe can be arranged. Irish gun licences must be obtained in advance.

Riding: Beach riding and pony trekking are available 2 miles away at Caherdaniel.

Eating Out: There are several excellent and varied restaurants around. The convivial atmosphere of the Irish pub is legendary - the whole family can be assured of a very warm welcome, and after closing time, during the summer, there are often discos for the young, and 'young at heart'!

More Options:

Golf Courses>	Sea Fishing>
Outings within 15 minutes drive>	Salmon and Sea Trout Fishing>
Local Walks>

Golf Courses

There are five excellent and varied golf courses within ¾ of an hours drive of Westcove (UPDATED April 2007):

1 *Waterville Tel: 066 94 74102, www.watervillegolflinks.ie
A challenging, immaculately maintained 18 hole links course, only 10 miles (20-25 minutes drive) to the west. Tiger Woods and other top pro's often use it as a 'practise ground' for the British Open. Well worth a round for more serious golfers but be warned - green fees are high - about €150 at the time of writing - if you can get a time at all - although they're half price if you're prepared to tee off before 8am or after 4pm, Monday to Thursday. Well worth an early start, as you're less likely to be held up by over-zealous golfers wanting to hole every put! (Cheaper green fees apply before 8am and after 4pm Monday to Thursday.)

2. Skellig Bay Golf Club Tel: 066 9474133, www.skelligbay.com
An excellent new addition to our local golfing options. Just as you approach Waterville (it’s on the left). The panoramic views back over Lough Currane and across the sea to the Skellig Islands are stunning on a clear day. This links-type course boasts many challenging unusual holes. There is, as yet, no clubhouse although one is planned for the near future but lunch is available at the Waterville Lake Hotel just over the road. The green fees - €60 weekdays, €70 Saturdays and Sundays are still very reasonable, making it a ‘must’ for golfing enthusiasts of any standard.

3 Parknasilla Tel: 064 45122
This 12 hole course on the estuary (3 miles beyond Sneem towards Kenmare) has to be one of the most stunningly beautiful, short courses in the world. Take lots of old balls - they tend to plug in damp conditions and there is a lot of woodland and gorse. Every hole however is very challenging - a really pretty walk for non-golfers too. No booking necessary though it's worth checking with the Parknasilla Hotel (Tel: as above) to make sure you won't clash with a society or competition - weekday recommended when you can often have the course to yourself. Green fees €35 for 18, €25 for 12 and €20 for 9 holes are payable at a small, basic 'clubhouse' - usually manned, but no food or drink. The Parknasilla Hotel, to which the course is attached, is very comfortable with an excellent bar and lunch menu.

4 'Ring of Kerry' Tel: 064 42000, www.ringofkerrygolf.com
A relatively new 18 hole course about 5 miles on the Sneem side of Kenmare. We don't know this course well but it is hilly with lovely view over the Kenmare Estuary …. reasonable green fees €45 - €80, take a buggy if you don't like hills. Our son and his young, fit friends really enjoy this course.

5 Kenmare Tel: 064 41291, www.kenmaregolfclub.com
About 45 minutes drive away, this is another pretty course on the right, just as you go out of Kenmare on the Cork road. Originally a 9 hole course, it now has 18 holes. It is still possible to play the 1st nine only and pay accordingly - ideal when you want to combine a few holes with a shopping spree in Kenmare! (The 2nd nine are much more hilly!) Booking not usually necessary, but as at Parknasilla, worth checking in case of pre-booked competitions. Green fees are €42 (for 18 holes), €50 on Sundays.

Other main courses in Kerry worth considering, all within 2 hours drive:

Dooks Tel: 066 97 68205, www.dooks.com – scenic links course, 1 ¼ hours drive, near Glenbeigh
Tralee Tel: 066 713 6379 - seriously challenging and pricey, designed by Arnold Palmer
Killarney Tel: 064 31034, www.killarney-golf.com – 3 courses by the beautiful Killarney lakes
Ballybunion Tel: 068 27146, www.ballybuniongolfclub.ie – 2 hours drive ‘but a household name’
NB. These courses need proof of ‘handicap’ and booking well in advance, especially in high season

A few suggestions for “Outings” within 15 minutes drive:

Derrynane

Turn left towards Waterville and then left again at Caherdaniel … lots of possibilities … If you just want a stroll along the dunes (dogs paradise with endless rabbit burrows) turn left (under 5’9” barrier) just as you get to a fork in the road … go straight on to visit Derrynane House – a fascinating insight into Irish history – the house of Daniel O’Connell, “The Liberator” – I’ve seen the 25 minute video at least 20 times and am still intrigued ... the house and gardens are also worth a tour … in summer the tea rooms have an irresistible selection of home-made cakes.

Continue on, and at the end you get to a Car Park. On the left is a very good, sheltered beach for swimming/sunbathing (?!). On the right is an attractive little harbour where Helen Wilson and other qualified instructors at “Derrynane Watersports” provide facilities within a fine, safe harbour for windsurfing, waterskiing and sailing – with small ‘canoes’ for younger children. In low tide well worth a stroll over to Abbey Island – ruins of an old abbey and lovely views across the sweep of Derrynane Bay.

On the way back, why not call in at Keatings Bar on the left? Drinks and sandwiches usually available.

Derrynane House (066) 9475113 - Check opening times, particularly in low season.

Derrynane Watersports (066) 9475266 - Summer only

Caherdaniel

In Caherdaniel itself – stop for a Guinness at Freddy’s – a well known local pub which has been there forever, or go to The Blind Piper – a younger atmosphere and excellent food – last orders about 8pm (see page on “Eating Out”). In summer, there’s a market in the village hall between 10 and 12 on Friday mornings – well worth a visit – lots of local produce and crafts. There is also an excellent food market on Sundays.

Just before Caherdaniel, there is a sharp left turn signed Eagle Rock Equestrian Centre. This is well run by Caroline Donnelly, an excellent horsewoman herself, with safe ponies/horses (suitable for all ages and levels of experience). Try to book at low tide as the best rides are across the sands of Derrynane Bay. Hard hats provided. Tel: (066) 9475145. Mobile 087 2462981

If you drive on past the riding centre, you eventually get to a pretty little natural harbour. You can park there and walk up the hills or out to an unspoilt rocky shoreline – especially dramatic in heavy storms! When walking over any local hills, always watch out for slippery rocks and unexpected boggy patches … and please keep dogs on leads if there are sheep about.

Arguably the best example of a pre-Christian fort in Ireland, Staigue Fort is less than 15 mins drive away. Turn Right towards Castlecove, it is signed to the left, just before the village. Well worth a visit, especially on a clear day, when the views out over the Atlantic are breathtaking. On your way back you will see the Staigue Fort Hotel on your right just before joining the main road. There you will find a small ‘Visitor Centre’ which makes a thought provoking attempt to explain the origin of this magnificently built stone circle. More importantly, this is an ideal venue for Sports Fans as they have Sky T.V. in their very welcoming Pub area. Sheila Galvin, the proprietor will probably make you sandwiches and although West Cove is only a mile away, will arrange transport back for you…(if necessary!)

Signed left off the Staigue Fort road is the Llama Farm. Dick welcomes children to meet and feed his very friendly pet Llamas. Geeskemaria, his wife, creates and sells unique silk and felt designs on the premises - Scarves, Jackets etc. – These are now successfully marketed all over Europe.

Local Walks

Apart from strolling around the beautiful beaches and dunes of Derrynane as already described, there are a couple of excellent, slightly more challenging walks you can try, starting from Westcove itself.

An ideal 1-1¼ hour walk we often do, is to follow ‘Kerry Way Walk’ signs over the crossroads, up the road ‘til just past a graveyard on the left. Turn left and follow the track straight over the hill, eventually coming down conveniently just by Freddy’s pub (the lazy way of doing it is to be driven up to the graveyard by a ‘non-walker’ who can then meet you an hour later at one of the Caherdaniel pubs and drive you back!) …… for more serious ‘hill’ walkers, a lovely 2-2½ hour walk is to start off the same way but about ¼ mile after turning left after the graveyard, take a dog-leg right – this track takes you up to the top of the hill (only attempt it on a clear day) and then right down, to a road which eventually ends up alongside Loch Currane, near Waterville … you definitely need to be picked up (about 2¼ hours after you’ve started, somewhere along the continuation of the lake road …) As you can imagine, magnificent views of the estuary from the top.

Sea Fishing

John O’Shea (Tel: (066) 9475129 Mobile: 087 689 8431) has a well equipped fishing boat and is happy to take groups of up to 10, deep sea fishing, but usually only in the evenings, from Derrynane Pier. He will sometimes come to Westcove Pier for longer trips by arrangement. John will also take you all the way to Skellig Islands – a longer boat trip than from Port Magee but much less driving. (More info on Skelligs in brochure.)

Michael O’Shea (Tel: 064 45369 evenings) has 2-3 deep sea fishing vessels and will take groups out by arrangement, starting from a pier just beyond Sneem (advance booking advised).

Salmon and Sea Trout Fishing

For many years Lough Currane – a beautiful lake, 5 miles long and 2 miles wide, nestling in the hills behind Waterville – attracted anglers from all over Europe. Although the sea trout were in decline for a few years, the salmon farm off the coast, generally considered to have been the cause of the problem, ceased to exist a couple of years ago, so now the fishing on the lake, both for sea trout and salmon is taking off again with a vengeance.

Dominic McGillicuddy (Tel: (066) 9474023, mobile 0872051515) – is a real expert and will take you to the best spots himself – or he will hire you a boat for the day if you think you can manage without him. Take a picnic – there are some idyllic coves and islands where you can break for lunch. “Butlers Pool” is a narrow stretch of river linking the sea with Lough Currane. Keen salmon fishermen may like to try 3 hours on it, probably best after rain and at high tide … for availability and more information telephone (066) 9474244 (Waterville House).

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