Rory and Sarah's essential guide to Kinsale Guidebook for Kinsale
Food Scene
O'Herlihys Kinsale | OHK Cafe
The GlenThe Bulman Bar & Toddies Restaurant Kinsale
and a fabulous pub
Man Friday
Drinks & Nightlife
The Spaniard Inn
Blue Haven Hotel Kinsale
3 Pearse StThe Greyhound
6 Market SquareSightseeing
Charles Fort
Tiny but interesting little museum with stories about the Lusitania, The Kinsale Giant, The Battle of Kinsale and the fishing industry in Kinsale.
7 locals recommend
Kinsale Regional Museum
Market Square Tiny but interesting little museum with stories about the Lusitania, The Kinsale Giant, The Battle of Kinsale and the fishing industry in Kinsale.
Goes every hour from the pier in front of Acton’s Hotel, in Kinsale Town. Really good
16 locals recommend
Kinsale Harbour Cruises
Goes every hour from the pier in front of Acton’s Hotel, in Kinsale Town. Really good
Courtmacherry and Timoleague and The Seven heads walk
A walk along Courtmacsherry village is lovely. There's a number of good cafes but with kids best drop into the Golden Pheasant cafe (and aviary) and find the Eagle Owls, well worth a look, especially at feeding time. The Lifeboat pub is gorgeous.
At the end of the village is the beach and the beginning of The Seven Heads Way, which goes pretty much all the way to Inchidonney (50k+). From Courtmacsherry go as far as you like and then back, worth it.
Courtmacsherry
Courtmacherry and Timoleague and The Seven heads walk
A walk along Courtmacsherry village is lovely. There's a number of good cafes but with kids best drop into the Golden Pheasant cafe (and aviary) and find the Eagle Owls, well worth a look, especially at feeding time. The Lifeboat pub is gorgeous.
At the end of the village is the beach and the beginning of The Seven Heads Way, which goes pretty much all the way to Inchidonney (50k+). From Courtmacsherry go as far as you like and then back, worth it.
Very quiet but beautiful village with a large ruined medieval abbey.
There are two great restaurants in Timoleague, Dillon's and Monks Lane. A real treat in Timoleague is to collect the key to the little Protestant church from Smith's shop.
Timoleague
Very quiet but beautiful village with a large ruined medieval abbey.
There are two great restaurants in Timoleague, Dillon's and Monks Lane. A real treat in Timoleague is to collect the key to the little Protestant church from Smith's shop.
Parks & Nature
The Scilly walk 4k
For a leisurely 4K stroll from our house, walk down the hill from our house, left at the T junction and a quick right onto the Scilly walk. Walk for 2.5 km to The Spaniard Pub
Into the Spaniard for coffee/ pint of Murph's, bowl of chowder. Lunch options are good in the Spaniard. Back up to our house along the high road.
15 locals recommend
Scilly Walk
The Scilly walk 4k
For a leisurely 4K stroll from our house, walk down the hill from our house, left at the T junction and a quick right onto the Scilly walk. Walk for 2.5 km to The Spaniard Pub
Into the Spaniard for coffee/ pint of Murph's, bowl of chowder. Lunch options are good in the Spaniard. Back up to our house along the high road.
Drive by car across the bridge, turn left and drive to the Dock pub in Castlepark, park here. Walk left past the pub, through the jetty area and you will see signs for James's Fort, follow the path up to the stone fort.
The stone fort is surrounded by a massive earthwork fort, you will find a little tunnel that will take you through the earthwork and along a steep path down to the blockhouse, an old artillery bastion at water level.
Walk back up and out through the front gate of the fort and then down to the Dock beach. From here follow a sandy path back to the Dock pub. Obligatory pint of Beamish in the Dock, ideally around Sunset.
22 locals recommend
James Fort
Drive by car across the bridge, turn left and drive to the Dock pub in Castlepark, park here. Walk left past the pub, through the jetty area and you will see signs for James's Fort, follow the path up to the stone fort.
The stone fort is surrounded by a massive earthwork fort, you will find a little tunnel that will take you through the earthwork and along a steep path down to the blockhouse, an old artillery bastion at water level.
Walk back up and out through the front gate of the fort and then down to the Dock beach. From here follow a sandy path back to the Dock pub. Obligatory pint of Beamish in the Dock, ideally around Sunset.
3 Compass hill walk 3k
From the White Lady pub in the centre of Kinsale, walk up the steep hill to “The Mall”, turn left and follow th road around Compass Hill on a loop back to the Mall. Some great views from up here.
Compass Hill
3 Compass hill walk 3k
From the White Lady pub in the centre of Kinsale, walk up the steep hill to “The Mall”, turn left and follow th road around Compass Hill on a loop back to the Mall. Some great views from up here.
Charles Fort walk (6 k from the fort or 12k from town)
Walk out of the house, out of the estate, down the hill and at the T-junction go left towards Charles Fort/ The Bulman / Summercove. Walk to Charles Fort. Take a left at the entrance and walk around the outside of the fort down to the sea. Follow the path along the sea past the boatyard and past Lower Cove to Preghane point. Come back the way you came.
Have a pint in the Bulman at the end to reward yourself.
Lower Cove Bay Beach
Charles Fort walk (6 k from the fort or 12k from town)
Walk out of the house, out of the estate, down the hill and at the T-junction go left towards Charles Fort/ The Bulman / Summercove. Walk to Charles Fort. Take a left at the entrance and walk around the outside of the fort down to the sea. Follow the path along the sea past the boatyard and past Lower Cove to Preghane point. Come back the way you came.
Have a pint in the Bulman at the end to reward yourself.
Sandycove swim/ kayak/ cliff walk plus Ballinspittle village (for lunch in Diva)
Cross the bridge go right, next left and immediate right. Keep the water on your left and you will come to Sandycove. A very beautiful spot and a great place for swimming or kayaking around the island - a 3k loop. Or walk past the boat slip along the cliffs for about 1 k, very beautiful.
Afterwards, take directions to Ballinspittle where you'll find Diva cafe a fantastic spot for a coffee or brunch.
6 locals recommend
Sandycove Beach
Sandycove swim/ kayak/ cliff walk plus Ballinspittle village (for lunch in Diva)
Cross the bridge go right, next left and immediate right. Keep the water on your left and you will come to Sandycove. A very beautiful spot and a great place for swimming or kayaking around the island - a 3k loop. Or walk past the boat slip along the cliffs for about 1 k, very beautiful.
Afterwards, take directions to Ballinspittle where you'll find Diva cafe a fantastic spot for a coffee or brunch.