Garnish Island — Local services in West Cork

Went at 10:30 am on a Monday in late May. Weather was perfect and the island was uncrowded.

Took the Harbor Queen ferry; their online booking was working and they answered the phone. Turns out Blue Pool ferry, with parking adjacent to a public restroom, shopping, and more serene dock, were also running, but I couldn’t get their online booking or phone number to work. If I could do it over again, I’d try Blue Pool ferry.

Harbour Queen was still very nice, though. En route to the island, the driver took us up close to some seals and cut the motor for a minute for folks to ooh and aah and take pictures.

The island has a surprisingly nice Café! Had the cranberry scone and an americano, watching others arrive and depart by ferry. This and the bathrooms were technically our first stop.

First “real” stop was the Italian Garden. It was serene and symmetrical and everything I hoped it would be.

The walled garden was second. It was OK; perhaps not as groomed as one would expect, but handsome and romantic.

Third and last, we took the stairs up to the top of the little castle to look out over the bay. Saw an eagle in the nesting nearby.

Had to skip the rest, but felt this was good and well worth the time (2.5 hours including parking, waiting/riding the ferry both ways) and €15 ferry fare + €5 entry (plus whatever the scone and americano cost).

We followed this with a short hike in the Glengariff Wood Preserve/Forest Park, which my sweetheart found, in its serene natural state, more beautiful. It was also free and even...

Garnish Island is a must on your West Cork trip.

Garnish Island, is an island in Glengarriff harbour on the Beara Peninsula in County Cork

The Ferry departs from 9:45 - 15:45 at Glengariff Pier and costs €14pp and €2.50 on arrival. You get to stay 90mins on the island. It can only be booked 24hrs in advance.

(It takes roughly 10 mins to get to the island and if you’re lucky you might get to spot some seals along the way)

Its famous gardens are what attracts the crowds.The gardens on the island were designed by architect Harold Peto for the owner, John Annan Bryce who purchased the island from the War Office in 1910.

There is a number of paths around the garden and to the Martello Tower, which are outlined in a detailed map which you will receive on arrival.

The most outstanding part of the island is an Italian teahouse with colonnades, a pool and pavilion.

It was a little misty, but the views and walk around was still amazing.

#garnishisland...

Despite the current Covid-19 restrictions this was a well organised trip with a one-way walk around the island and a briefing on social distancing before starting. The Island entrance fee is just €2.50 (at the moment), the ferry trip is a separate charge. The island, which is well renowned for its plants, is owned by the state and is managed by The Office of Public Works and it is evident that they have a number of gardeners working on the island as anywhere that was visible from the public path on the island had had recent attention,. Despite it being the middle of September, there was a surprising amount of colour visible in most locations. The Italian garden was looking particularly well. Well worth...