Rodeen Country House
- How
to get to the Beara Peninsula and us?
If travelling from outside Ireland you can fly to Dublin, Cork or Shannon of which Cork
is probably the best. You can hire cars from these airports if you wish. You can
sail to Rosslare or Cork either as foot passengers or with your car. Whichever way most aim for Bantry.
A.
Form Rosslare/Cork.
Air passengers to Cork or foot passengers on the Swansea Cork Ferry can make use
of the bus services to the Bantry/Castletownbere area. For bus time details
see Bus Times .
For those arriving in Ireland by car, the journey to Bantry
can be whatever you wish to make it. The most direct takes 3 – 3 ½ hours from
Rosslare and 1 ½ hours from Cork or longer depending upon whether you manage
to remain on course or wish to go the scenic route, which should not be discounted.
A further 45 minutes should get you to Rodeen, not allowing for viewing stops
you will probably wish to make on the way. Directions plus maps are below.
Whichever way you decide upon take your time and relax.
If you hurry you will take just as long, or probably longer, and you will miss
some stunning scenery. West Cork is renowned for its magnificent mountain scenery
and coastline, scooped by the Atlantic, and is not something that should be missed.
- From Rosslare to Cork.
From the Ferry the journey is easy with roads varying from
excellent to good, with a couple of towns that can slow things down a bit.
Take the N25 the whole way through New Ross, Waterford, Dungarvan (a good
stopping off point), Youghal and Cork. As you come into Cork you will turn
left onto the Southern Ring Road (N25) and follow the signs all the way round
it for the N71 to Bandon.
- From Cork to Bantry – the simplest route - (Map 1).
The roads on this section are generally good though can be
rough in the small towns. They are mostly totally clear of traffic.
Ringaskiddy (The Cork Ferry Terminal) is at the end of the
N28. Follow this until you meet the N25 Southern Ring Road and turn left
heading for the N71 to Bandon.
From the Airport take the N27 towards Cork until you meet
the N25 Southern Ring Road and turn left heading for the N71 to Bandon.
Take the N71 to the outskirts of Bandon. At a roundabout
with a large Texaco garage ahead leave the N71, taking the next exit to the
town centre with the garage immediately to your left. At the T junction, with
a Methodist Church facing, you turn right. Go immediately over the river
bridge and in 100 metres turn left at the next T junction. Go up the hill to a
Y fork at a Courthouse and take the left fork, with the Courthouse to your
left, on the R586 to Enniskean, Dunmanway and Bantry joining the N71 5 miles
before Bantry.
Map 1 
- From Cork to Bantry – the scenic route - (Map 1).
Some of the roads on this section are excellent but others
are poor. They are mostly totally clear of traffic but can become busy near
towns in the holiday season, in particular.
Ringaskiddy (The Cork Ferry Terminal) is at the end of the
N28. Follow this for about 1 ½ miles (2 ½ km) then turn left on the R613 to
Carrigaline. After about 3 miles (4 ¾ km) it crosses the R611 (at Carrigaline). Here
you turn left towards Kinsale. In about 8 miles (13 km) you will turn left onto the
R600, again towards Kinsale which is then about 3 miles (4 ¾ km) distant.
From the Airport and at the roundabout on leaving the
Airport turn right on the R600 signposted to Kinsale and stay on this road
until you reach Kinsale.
Remain on the R600 through Beal Atha and Timoleague until
you meet and turn left onto the N71 just before Clonakilty. Stay on this road
through Ross Carbry, Leap and Skibbereen and on to Bantry. Between Clonakilty
and Ross Carbery there is a good alternative section down the R598 on the
left. A second coastal route between Ross Carbery and Leap is the R597.
- From Bantry to Rodeen - (Map 2).
This is straightforward 24 miles (39 km) with roads varying from
excellent to "Hold onto your hats". As you entered Bantry you would
have passed a Cemetery on your left and then the end of the Bay. The road then
enters the town at the corner of the very large square - or rectangle, depending
on how fussy you are. It is worth while pausing here to start getting a feel for
the place and to take a deep breath of sea air, even if you do get blasted with
a force 9! Your exit is from the diametrically opposite corner of the square
staying on the N71 (narrow as you leave the Square) which takes you to
Glengarriff.
At Glengarriff you turn off to the left leaving the main
tourist route and taking the road signed the Ring of Beara and Castletownbere. A
fascinating and beautiful ride brings you to Adrigole, a small village with a
very sharp bend over the River Adrigole Bridge. Take note of the mileometer
reading and add 7.5 miles (12 km). When you have covered the next 7.5
miles you should be at a sign for the Bere Island Ferry down a lane to the left.
Continue for a further mile (1 ½ km) past the Golf Course and Mill Cove Gallery. You will see a sign to Rodeen on the left pointing to a turning to the right up a steep hill.
Take this, continue up to the cross roads and take the left turn. Rodeen
is 150 metres on the right.
Map 2
B.
From Shannon Airport, Kerry Airport.
(Also from Limerick, Tralee, Killarney, Kenmare).
Air travellers to Shannon will take the N18 to Limerick,
staying on the bypass road until it crosses the river. Follow the signs
for the N21 to Tralee. The N21 will take you through Rathkeale and
Abbeyfeale to Castleisland where turn left to join the N23 to Farranfore/Killarney.
At Farranfore (Also Kerry Airport) turn left on to the N22 to Killarney. When you arrive at the
roundabout on the Killarney bypass there is a choice of the quickest route or
the beautiful scenic route to Kenmare. However, be warned during the
tourist season, the scenic route is winding and narrow in places. If you
go in the Killarney to Kenmare direction, particularly in the mid to late
afternoon, you will be met by a continuous stream of coaches travelling in the
opposite direction.
For the scenic route take the second exit from the roundabout
into the town centre and follow the signs for the N71 to Kenmare. This
will take you through the National Park and bring you into the centre of
Kenmare. For the faster route take the first exit from the roundabout and
follow the N22 over the next roundabout and signposted to Cork. After
approx. 9 miles (14 km) turn right on to the R569 to Kenmare via Kilgarvan.
You will enter Kenmare at the top end of the town.
You leave Kenmare on the N71 Glengarriff and Bantry
road. Immediately after passing over the Kenmare River bridge turn sharp
right
on the R571 signposted to Castletownbere. This will take you through Tuosist, Lauragh, Ardgroom, past Eyeries and to Castletownbere. There are
several signposted detours to the right for the Ring of Beara, taking in
frequently narrow, but beautiful, coastal areas, and to the left for lakes,
waterfalls and mountain scenery. At Lauragh you can turn to the left and
go over the Healy Pass to Adrigole (in which case see the last part of the
Bantry to Rodeen section of theses notes to complete the journey)
You will arrive in Castletownbere at the harbour. Turn
left on to the Glengarriff Road. At the Millbrook Bar, immediately after
the bridge, turn sharp left and follow the signs to Rodeen Country House.
