South West Ireland Beach Cottages

South West Ireland Beach Cottages and Coastal Places to Stay

Main towns, villages and coastal bases

County Kerry has some of the best-known coastal bases in Ireland. Dingle is a good choice if you want a lively harbour town with pubs, restaurants, boat trips and access to beaches along the Dingle Peninsula. Kenmare works well for exploring both the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula, while Cahersiveen, Glenbeigh, Waterville and Portmagee give you access to beaches, islands, cliffs and smaller coastal communities.

County Cork has a different feel, especially along the West Cork coast. Kinsale is one of the most popular bases, with a busy harbour, food scene and access to the Old Head of Kinsale. Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Baltimore, Schull, Bantry and Glengarriff all offer different styles of stay, from practical market towns to harbour villages and island gateways. This makes Cork useful if you want a coastal cottage with food, shops and day trips close by.

Beaches and coastal setting

Kerry’s beaches are often wide, open and backed by mountains, dunes or long Atlantic views. Inch Beach, Rossbeigh, Banna Strand, Derrynane and Ballinskelligs are all good examples of how varied the county’s coastline can be. Some beaches are ideal for surfing and long walks, while others work better for swimming, family days or quieter time near the water.

Cork has a strong mix of sandy beaches, coves and harbour settings. Inchydoney near Clonakilty is one of the best-known beach areas, while Barleycove on the Mizen Peninsula offers a more open Atlantic setting. Garrylucas, Garretstown, Owenahincha, Red Strand and Long Strand are also useful beach options depending on where you stay. Around the harbours and islands, the coast becomes less about long resort beaches and more about coves, piers, inlets and boat trips.

Points of interest and things to do

South West Ireland is ideal for holidays built around more than one type of day out. In Kerry, the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Killarney National Park, Skellig Michael, Valentia Island and Gap of Dunloe are some of the main highlights. Boat trips, scenic drives, hill walks and small harbour towns are all easy to build into a week, especially if you choose your base carefully.

In Cork, the main points of interest include Mizen Head, Dursey Island, the Old Head of Kinsale, Garnish Island, Baltimore, Cape Clear and the harbour towns of West Cork. Cork is also a good region for food, with Kinsale, Clonakilty and many smaller towns offering places to eat, markets and local produce. Together, Kerry and Cork give South West Ireland a good mix of beaches, islands, coastal roads, walking routes and lively towns without relying on one single resort area.