Location and Directions

Cape Clear is in the extreme South West of Ireland which might make you think it's difficult to get to. Quite the contrary! Once you reach Cork, just follow the signs for West Cork and then Baltimore. Park your car, get on the ferry and you're there! The only major mistake you can make - and it has been done - is to get on the wrong ferry!

The road you need from Cork is the N71 and just stay on this until you reach Skibbereen, having passed through Bandon, Clonakilty and Rosscarbery. The latter two places are well worth stopping at to check the estuaries for waders, etc. In Skibbereen, follow the signs for Baltimore. This last section of your journey takes you along the worst roads, so allow a bit extra! In Baltimore, there are plenty of parking spaces but these fill up very quickly in the summer and especially at weekends. Visitors regulary miss the ferry becase they have not allowed enough time to find parking.

Most UK airports have flights into Cork International Airport and from there you can either hire a car or get a bus into the city and then bus it down to Baltimore. If you are taking this option, buy your ticket to Baltimore even though the bus only goes as far as Skibbereen. The ticket covers the final leg of the journey on a different bus for the same price - if you had bought your ticket to Skibbereen, then this last leg will cost you another 2-3 euro!

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