Ballycotton

Rediscover Road Trips during your stay at Great National Ballykisteen Golf Hotel and take a trip to Ballycotton, a hidden gem of East Cork. It is a small picturesque fishing village which sits on a rocky-ledge overlooking Ballycotton Bay and is surrounded by sandy beaches, Ballycotton is the perfect escape to the beautiful East Cork countryside.

Ballycotton, East Cork

The Ballycotton Bay area has a character all of its own. Rich plains, clean and unspoiled sandy beaches, historic towns and heritage centres, rocky bays and dramatic coastal cliff walks and scenery. There are small towns and villages, castles, ruined monasteries, a living cathedral and a beautifully preserved round tower at Cloyne, a unique coastal bird sanctuary and at Fota a unique Wildlife Park. This is ideal cycling country, and motoring country too. In the area there are still undiscovered places and secret sandy bays for you to discover and explore.

Ballycotton Cliff Walk

Set off on a stunning coastal walk through rural Cork on an unforgettable stroll on the Ballycotton Cliff Walk. Take in unparalleled views of the roaring Atlantic Ocean and watch as waves crash into the base of the Ballycotton Cliffs. Start off in the beautiful harbourside village of Ballycotton in wonderful East Cork. Find the trailhead beside the Mary Stanford Lifeboat and take in uninterrupted views of lush meadows meeting rugged coast and the glistening Atlantic Ocean. Gaze out to the ocean and see ferries sail to Ballycotton Island, home to one of Ireland’s only two black lighthouses. The waters around the Ballycotton Cliff Walk are popular with dolphins, so keep an eye out for pods playing in the waves. Enjoy a 9.25km walk that takes about 3 hours to complete from Ballycotton and back again via Ballyandreen and country roads. If you want to stay by the coast for the entirety, just head back the way you came once you reach Ballandreen, this route is 7km in total.

There is lots to discover in the beautiful, tranquil fishing village of East Cork.