Sheeps Head Peninsula Drive

Sheep’s Head Peninsula Drive, Ireland

Do yourself a huge favour during your visit to Ireland and make time to do the lovely scenic Sheep’s Head Peninsula Drive around the Sheep’s Head Peninsula.  This is one of Ireland’s most beautiful and representative scenic drives, a loop around the southern-most section of Irish land that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean from west County Cork.  This slightly wild and very wonderful little piece of the Emerald Isle is just perfect to explore in a motorhome rental or campervan hire, which will give you unrivalled freedom to fully enjoy all the attractions in this relatively quiet part of the country.   The road may be a little daunting here and there with steep gradients and many hairpin bends, but the views are worth every second behind the wheel.

A good place to start your drive would be just outside Bantry, along the Goats Path to Kilcrohane, then back through Ahakista and then onto Durrus.   All along your route there are magnificent views and many places to stop and have some fun.  There are several fishing and bathing beaches along the coast and Kilcrohane boasts a good swimming pier, if you can manage the rather cold water!  From here you can go on a boat trip to the nearby Carbury seal island or visit a beautiful garden open to the public.  If you plan to visit at Easter you can attend the annual music festival held here.

From Kilcrohane your drive will take you south to Ahakista, a pleasant little village where you can visit the local pub and enjoy some Irish music and have a pint overlooking the ocean.  Here there is a small beach and a great walking trail.

From Ahakista the loop will take you to Durrus, a beautiful sea-side village overlooking Dunmanus Bay and a great place to stop and linger for a few days.  Here you can visit several attractions including the Forge, the Pottery and Ceramic centres, several lovely private gardens and the Durrus Cheesery.  There is also a golf course amid the spectacular scenery as well as all the usual beach-village activities.

There are no caravan parks on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula drive but motorhome rentals and campervan hires are allowed to park overnight in several places provided you get permission from the land owner. However, the Dunbeacon Caravan Park is on the Mizen Peninsula overlooking Dunmanus Bay, just 9miles from Durrus.