If you have time, Bantry's location in West Cork makes it the perfect jumping-off point to explore the South West.

The Irish Road Trip has some great suggestions for the whole area of West Cork and detailed information about specific towns and locations.

If you have more time, you could visit Ireland's largest national park and the country's highest mountains, just over an hour's drive from Bantry, in Killarney.

Some of our favourites in the area:

To do:

- Three Castle Head Walk

- Sheep's Head Peninsula

- Beara Peninsula

- Garnish Island

- Barleycove Beach

- Whale watching

- Lough Hyne Bioluminescence Kayaking

- Dzogchen Beara Buddhist Temple

To eat & drink:

- Ma Murphy's, Bantry

- The Stuffed Olive, Bantry

- O'Sullivans Bar, Crookhaven

- Dede at the Custom House, Baltimore (Michelin Star)

- The Chestnut, Ballydehob (Michelin Star)

- Hackett's Bar, Schull

- Kitchen Stories, Ballydehob

- Cent'Anni, Durrus

- Casey's, Baltimore

Coffee

- Forest & Flock

- Sam's Pottery & Coffee Bar

- Budds, Ballydehob

Traditional Irish Music Sessions

- Ma Murphy's, Bantry, Thursday nights

- Rosie's Ballydehob, Friday nights

- Hackett's Schull, Sunday nights

- The Mariner Bar, Bantry

- The Anchor Bar, Bantry