Places To Stay by Tourist Area: East Cork

Spring may be a clichéd time for all things romantic, but there can never be a bad time to plan a twosome break. Here are just a few of our favourite romantic destinations in Ireland to get you thinking…

What better way to spend a few days away in some of Irelands most stunning landscapes than a short break at one of our famous fishing hotels? And, by a happy chance, they are all lovely places for non-fishing partners to visit too….

With soaring fuel prices affecting everything - and especially travel costs -picking a destination that's an hour or 90 minutes from home means better value for your break, as well as less stress and more chilling time. So if you're based in Dublin why not try one of our picks for a quick break within easy striking distance of the capital?

Not quite decided on your holiday plans yet? Consider the simplicity, relaxation and - if chosen wisely - better value, that airport-free home holidays offer. Parents holidaying with their kids will find there is plenty to choose from in many of the most beautiful and interesting areas of Ireland, and you’ll be made especially welcome this year.

10 of the best destinations for Gourmet Golfers

10 of the Best....for Romantic Weddings & Honeymoons

Autumn is perhaps the loveliest time of the year to enjoy gentle outdoor pursuits like woodland walks and foraging, and there are plenty of tempting places to stay that are surrounded by wonderful forested grounds or with parkland or gardens and beaches to visit nearby - and, perhaps, more challenging routes for dedicated walkers. Here are just ten of our favourites to think about…

You don’t necessarily need deep pockets when you’re looking for lovely comfortable places to stay in Ireland, that offer character and warm hospitality… Read on and take your pick from this selection of our best budget choices.

If you’re not the type to find relaxation in lying on a beach or loafing around, there’s great satisfaction to be found in an activity holiday. Whether to spend time doing something you always enjoy, or learning a new skill, this is one of the best ways to take a break in Ireland.

Why not make a winter or early spring escape to Kerry with the Great Southern Killarney’s Great Escape offer

Treat yourself to a luxurious stay at The Lodge at the family-owned Castle Leslie Estate in rural Co Monaghan early in 2023, for one night's accommodation in a classic or superior room.

Book 2 nights in The Lansdowne Kenmare and receive a 3rd consecutive night’s accommodation free.

Celebrating 100 years in 2022, this warm and friendly 4th-generation family-run hotel is situated on the Wild Atlantic Way in north-west Donegal, in the picturesque village of Dunfanaghy. It’s a place where you can relax, unwind and re-energise, explore the surrounding area by car or on foot - or try new activities.

Autumn GetAway, Explore Kildare + Shop at nearby Kildare Village 1-night stay for two, from €165 for dinner, bead & breakfast

Delphi Fly Fishing School - Embark on a new adventure with a Delphi Fly Fishing School holiday. Two half day lessons designed for beginner to intermediate anglers will allow you to explore Connemara or relax on the estate in between sessions.

Arnolds Hotel 100th Anniversary - Special Offer! Special Offer to Celebrate in April

Ardtara Country House Offer

Enjoy a short city break this winter - stay 3 midweek nights and avail of a 15% discount on Bed & Breakfast rates.

With a rich historical and maritime legacy, East Cork has a truly unique variety of attractions to offer the visitor. It is a haven for family holidays with a huge range of activities and attractions to keep the whole family entertained for hours.

In this extensive county, the towns and villages have their own distinctive character. In West Cork, their spirit is preserved in the vigour of the landscape with the handsome coastline where the light of the famous Fastnet Rock swings across tumbling ocean and spray-tossed headland. The county is a repository of the good things of life, a treasure chest of the finest farm produce, and the very best of seafood, brought to market by skilled specialists.

The town of Killarney is where the Ring of Kerry begins and ends for many, among the lakes and mountains where they are re-establishing the enormous white-tailed sea eagle, has long been a magnet for visitors. Across the purple mountains from Killarney, the lovely little town of Kenmare in South Kerry is both a gourmet focus, and another excellent touring centre. As one of the prettiest places in Ireland, Kenmare puts the emphasis on civic pride.

That Galway Bay coastline in Co. Clare is where The Burren, the fantastical North Clare moonscape of limestone which is home to so much unexpectedly exotic flora, comes plunging spectacularly towards the sea around the attractive village of Ballyvaughan.

Connemara, the Land of the Sea, where earth, rock and ocean intermix in one of Ireland's most extraordinary landscapes, and is now as ever a place of angling renown - you're very quickly into the high ground and moorland which sweep up to the Twelve Bens and other splendid peaks, wonderful mountains which enthusiasts would claim as the most beautiful in all Ireland. Beyond, to the south, the Aran Islands are a place apart.

The wonderful northwest

Rivers often divide one county from another, but Fermanagh is divided - or linked if you prefer - throughout its length by the handsome waters of the River Erne, both river and lake. Southeast of the historic county town of Enniskillen, Upper Lough Erne is a maze of small waterways meandering their way into Fermanagh from the Erne'e source in County Cavan.

Co Cavan shares the 667 m peak of Cuilcagh with neighbouring Fermanagh. No ordinary mountain, this - it has underground streams which eventually become the headwaters of the lordly River Shannon, Ireland's longest river that passes south through many counties before exiting at the mighty estuary in Limerick. A magnet for tourism now with boating, fishing, cycling and walking-a-plenty.

Between the sheltered bays at the foot of the Glens of Antrim, the sea cliffs of the headlands soar with remarkable rock formations which, on the North Coast, provide the setting for the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Giant's Causeway.