Today we are on the Wild Atlantic Way, on the border of Counties Cork and Kerry  come with me to visit the village of Glengarriff – that is located in County Cork !

For Movie Fans, Glengarriff was the home of famous Hollywood actress, Maureen O’ Hara , and the village has been a popular visitor destination dating back over two hundred years.

 

Let’s park our car at the famous Eccles Hotel that has welcomed visitors since 1745 . With splendid views over the bay this is a lovely setting for us to start and end our walk. A sign tells us that the property was originally named the Glengarriff Inn when first mentioned in 1745. The name Eccles first appears in the records when in 1835 Thomas Eccles rented the land and buildings . His son John Eccles carried out major reconstruction of the Eccles in 1890 and this is what we see today.

It has a long and colourful history and has welcomed many famous guests over the years .

 

As we walk up towards the village let me tell you a little more about this charming place that is home to a population of around 150. The name Glengarriff comes from the Irish : An Gleann Garbh, meaning ‘the rough glen’. We are lucky with the weather right now ; it was raining earlier but for the next while it will be dry.

The village comprises of a busy main street and we can see that there are plenty of shops, pubs and cafes for us to visit and browse for gifts . I love the way the local community take such pride with their flowers and window boxes, even the Garda ( Police ) Station boasts a fantastic floral display.

 

At the northern edge of the village the road will lead us towards Kenmare and the ring of Kerry – you can see that there are plenty of destinations and attractions signposted !

In the centre of the village a path leads us to the famous bule pool, it is a natural inlet from the Atlantic Ocean and yet another place to stop at the WAW ( wild Atlantic way ) signpost that stands along important points along this iconic coastal route.

In the inlet lies the famous garnish Island ,sadly, we have just missed the ferry that can take us there – and I highly recommend a visit – but let me tell you about this lovely place.

 

Garnish Island extends to 15 hectares (37 acres) and is renowned for its gardens which flourish in the mild humid coastal climate. The Italian inspired garden was designed by Harold Peto in the mid-19th Century and is laid out in classical lines. Structures include a clock tower, a Greek temple, a Martello Tower and an Italian casita. It was privately owned until 1953 when it was bequeathed to the nation and is now it is maintained and open to the public.

 

I’m ready for that cup of tea and a scone so let’s head back to Eccles hotel for a spot of refreshments overlooking the bay.

I hope that you enjoyed our walk in Glengarriff and see you next weekend. Oh and have you seen our massive new offer over on my website? We have BUY 2 GET A 3RD FREE on all our Celtic Bracelts – even our top seller our Colours of Ireland Bracelet! You can shop at www.connemaramarble.com

Stephen.