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The Heron's Cove

When the tide is in and the sun is out there can be few prettier locations than Sue Hill’s restaurant overlooking Goleen harbour.

The Heron’s Cove philosophy is to use only the best of fresh, local ingredients and in summer there’s a natural leaning towards seafood - typically in wholesome starters like plump, perfectly cooked Bantry Bay moules marinières or, more unusually, West Cork smoked sprats.

Main course specialities include fillet of John Dory with balsamic butter. If you’re not in a fishy mood, there might be Goleen lamb cutlets (served on a bed of champ, with rosemary jus, perhaps) or crispy roast Skeaghanore duckling, and there’s always at least one vegetarian dish.

More-ish desserts include the Heron’s Cove signature dessert, a baked chocolate & vanilla cheesecake, and a wide selection of home-made ice creams - passion fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, rum & Michigan cherry (to name a few of the less usual ones).

Great ingredients, pleasing cooking and friendly attentive service should make for an enjoyable meal - and, considering the quality of ingredients, a fairly priced one.

An unusual Wine on the Rack system offers a great selection of interesting, well-priced wines that change through the season - they are listed but the idea is that you can browse through the bottles and make your own selection.

Seats 30; children welcome. D daily in summer, 7-9 (bookings essential Oct-Mar); á la carte. House wine €22.50. SC discretionary. Closed Christmas & New Year.

Accommodation:

Comfortable en-suite rooms have recently been refurbished, making this an appealing place to stay. Some have private balconies, and all have satellite TV, phones, tea/coffee-making facilities and hair dryers.

Rooms 5 (4 shower only, all no smoking, 1 family room); children welcome (under 5s free in parents' room, cot available free of charge). B&B €55 pps, ss €35. Garden. Open for dinner, bed & breakfast all year except Christmas/New Year, but it is always advisable to book, especially off-season. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Turn left in middle of Goleen to the harbour, 100 m from village.