Glengarriff Travel Guide

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This is a wonderful forest full of ancient trees and with rivers running through. There are walks marked so it is easy to follow. In June you can see Rhododendrons open and this is beautiful. There are pick-nik tables and you can drive right up to where you can start the walks.

This is a large shop filled to the brim with Irish goods, such as, Irish linnens, woolens, crafts, typical Irish jumpers and other clothing. Quality Irish design labels among other things. Lovely sheepskins too. Music and juwelery in small quantity. Other Irish gifts or souverniers. I like to call in to this shop now and then and pick up some small linen items to send to friends abroad, or occasioally I have bought here a special piece of Celtic clothing.

What to buy: Nothing much different from Killarney or Blarney or Kenmare which also has got Quill's shops.

What to pay: From very little to very much depending on what you choose.

Across from the Eccles Hotel around the pier in Glengarriff and also in the village on the way to the Blue Pool you may be accosted by men wanting to bring you to Garnish Island. This can be a very helpful thing to you and you might be delighted, it becomes bothersome when you are stopped in your car to be asked this same question. Get yourself a good price.

Unique Suggestions: Be firm and ask the price, in this way you will get a good price and also.

Fun Alternatives: This trap is not so bad, only might get to some people.

Favorite thing: It is the way that it is so mild all year through. You see Palm trees growing there and other exotic shrubs and trees, among them is the Arbutus or Strawberry tree, also the Chillian Fire tree. The scents are lovely too, of the vegetation and the flowers. In the bay you can see the seals and you can visit the Flower Island, an exotic garden of Italian design.
But most of all I love the forest there, it is one of Irelands natural hardwood forest and it is protected and is called the National Forest. Years ago it used to be overgrow with Rhododendrons, I used to love all the purple flowers in June, then they were thinned out severely, but this was very neccessary because the Rhododendrons were sufficating the lovely ancient Oak trees. Now after lots of hard work this forest is looking good. There are walking paths and these are used by the many visitors. A river runs throught the forest and adds lovely atmosphere to the whole area. Glengarriff National Forest certainly warrants a visit of the Nature Lover.

Fondest memory: Listening to some of the older people telling stories of long ago is one lovely memory. These people are gone since. Glengarriff had its fair share of characters.
Seeing the first glimpse of the Blue Pool just outside the village which is a magic place.
Walking the road to Coomarkane and after turning a bend in the road, seeing a valley unfold, beautiful and peaceful beyond all imagination.
Climbing in the Caha mountains and seeing the views.
My first introduction to Glengarriff on holiday in my teens, the smell of the hay as we camped, the whole family, in a freshly cut hayfield. The walks we made through the Fuchsia hedges and the way that we explored the rocks and discovered the river behind the camping. I was, as a city girl very impressed with all this.

I would not realy miss anything as everywhere there is something nice, but yes, the scents and the views would be something that I would regularly think of. only now I can go there regularly so it does not bother me to have to miss them.