From Black Pudding to Model Trains and Blue Flag Beaches, here are the top things to do in and around Clonakilty, West Cork and where to stay.
Where to Stay
Incheydoney Beach
The West Cork Model Railway Village
Clonakilty Black Pudding Visitor Center
Supervalu & Picnic
Michael Collins House
Skibbereen Market
Kinsale
Where to Stay
📍Clonakilty Park Hotel
Located in the seaside town of Clonakilty, the Park Hotel is absolutely brilliant for families! Offering both family hotel rooms and self-catering options, this hotel works for all sizes of families! We went in 2021 with my 8-year-old Lily and my 11-year-old brother Philip. We stayed in a family room which had a double bed and two singles.
The room itself was fine, nothing to write home about and the beds were a bit too close together. We were also there during the heatwave last year and there was no air conditioning in the room, which wasn’t great when 6 months pregnant!! These two things would probably be the only negatives I would say about our 3-night stay in this hotel!
it has a multitude of facilities for families and kids such as:
- soft play area
- kids club
- pool
- mini golf
- cinema
- activity course
- outdoor food van
- evening disco and games
- games room
Things to Do
Incheydoney beach -
Located just 10 minutes from Clonakilty, this blue flag beach is absolutely stunning and the perfect place to spend the day. It's known as one of the most beautiful and family friendly beaches in West Cork and it's really not hard to see why! The sand is white, the sea is a gorgeous blue and the views are to die for.
There are toilet and shower facilities on site, a coffee and ice-cream van and the gorgeous Incheydoney Hotel and Spa if you want a bite to eat after taking a dip in the sea or having a surf lesson.
Parking can be a little tricky here, as with a lot of beaches in Ireland, so have a little bit of patience while looking for a space and be prepared to walk a little bit to the beach. I promise it will be worth it.
The West Cork Model Railway Village -
Located just on the outskirts of Clonakilty, this is the only model village in Ireland. It shows a cute replica of Clonakilty and the surrounding towns and villages that grew along the old railway line in the 1930's - 1950's.
Younger kids will love watching and following the little trains around the village, and the whole family will enjoy sailing their own boats down the river.
What we loved the most about our visit here was that we were able to point out the places we have been to already and pick out where we would like to go next, like Kinsale and Skibbereen.
There's also a road train onsite that brings you out of the park and around the town of Clonakilty. This was really enjoyable for the kids as they could wave to all of the people they passed, and we were able to see parts of Clonakilty we hadn't seen before, like the Emmet Square Park. The train is definitely worth doing and only costs a couple of euro extra on top of your entry ticket. Tickets for this can be bought at reception while entering the park.
There's a lovely playground onsite too with a play train and picnic benches, the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat. They also have an indoor play area which was closed when we were there due to Covid but is open now again!
Once you're finished exploring the model railway village you can pop into the tearooms for tea/coffee and a bun in the train carriage and have a browse in the gift shop for a little souvenir.
Prices and €10 per adult and €6.50 per child.
Clonakilty Black Pudding Visitor Centre -
This is a bit of a quirky one, but I think it's worth doing if you have a spare hour. Mr. Sheddon and I went to this while the kids were at the kid's club in the hotel.
You can't go to Clonakilty without tasting some of their famous pudding, so why not pair that with a tour of the factory to see where and how it's made and learn a little bit about the history of the secret recipe.
It's a self-guided, interactive tour that involves testing your sense of smell, walking into a replica of a butchers form the 80's and watching a clip from the Late Late Toy Show with Gay Byrne himself! The tour finishes with some samples of the black, white and veggie pudding and their sausages. You can have them there at the cafe with free tea or coffee or take them outside to enjoy the sunshine (if you're lucky enough to get any) on one of the picnic benches.
For €10 per adult and €5 per child, you can't go wrong really.
Supervalu - Just hear me on this one! -
Ok I know, I'm telling you to go to a supermarket!! But hear me out, I swear I'm not crazy. This Supervalu just hits different!
From mounds of spices like in the souks of Morocco, to every kind of cheese you could imagine, multiple types of balsamic vinegars and salad dressings that you can pour yourself into glass bottles and multiply types of teas and coffee beans it's a foodie's paradise, and the perfect place to pick up all of your bits for a picnic.
You just have to trust me and check it out :)!
Michael Collins House -
For anyone that has any interest in Irish History, this is a must visit.
Located in the centre of Clonakilty at Emmet Square, this museum is fully dedicated to Michael Collins and everything he did in the fight for Irish Independence. The museum has interactive displays, audio visuals and artefacts that will keep the whole family interested, even the smaller ones. There are also history talks and tour guides available on site if you want to get a bit more information and delve deeper into Irish history.
Entry for adults is €5 and €2 for children over 5.
There's a love park at Emmet Square too where you can an enjoy the snacks you picked up at Supervalu.
Skibbereen -
Skibbereen is a cute little market town about 25 minutes from Clonakilty. It really shows off the Irish charm with its colorful buildings and quaint coffee shops and pubs. If you plan to visit, make sure to go on a Saturday for the market, which can have up to 150 stalls in the summer months and is open from 9am - 2:30 pm.
A great place to taste some of the local wares, pick up some fresh eggs and homemade breads or find some vintage jewelry and antiques.
Kinsale -
This is where to go to get the insta shots! Kinsale is a historic port town in the West of Cork. It's best known for its beautiful colored buildings but also has a multitude of restaurants and bars to visit. It's definitely worth the day trip if you are in West Cork.
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Thanks for reading
Jess
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