Come explore the rugged coastline, our rolling green hills, world class adventure and world renowned artisan food. West Cork in the south west of Ireland has some fascinating places to explore. The Wild Atlantic Way kicked off on our door step in 2014, and marked the beginning of an exciting journey for West Cork. This list is compiled from photographs taken in and around West Cork, and some are truly worthy of a feature in the National Geographic. This collection captures wonderfully the beauty of our West Cork landscape and paints a magical picture of what living in West Cork is really like. We hope you enjoy and marvel at these images, and can take inspiration to get out there to enjoy the West Cork Experience.
Can’t wait to visit us? There are a number of flights direct to Cork International Airport, explore your options here: https://www.corkairport.com
#westcork
1. Pony Trekking, Sheep’s Head
Photo via Instagram: @digilou48
2. The Old Head, Kinsale
Photo via Instagram: @jeromvanrijt
3. Dunmanus Bay
Photo via Instagram: @jc__photography_
4. Stairway to Heaven, Warren Beach, Rosscarbery
Photo via Instagram: @Mrfruity2
5. Kenmare Bay
Photo via Instagram: @wander__far
6. Kilcatherine graveyard, Beara
Photo via Instagram: @skymanblue
7. Glandore
Photo via Instagram: @irishmandrew
8. Long Strand, Clonakilty
Photo via Instagram: @brianrgs
9. Dunmore, Ardfield
Photo via Instagram: @kieranhayesphotography
10. Oileán Chléire/Cape Clear Island
Photo via Instagram: @gl72
11. Bantry Bay
Photo via Instagram: @digilou48
12. Coomnageehy Hill, Skibbereen
Photo via Instagram: @jeromvanrijt
13. Galley Head
Photo via Instagram: @irishmandrew
14. Beacon, Baltimore
Photo via: Petra Reimers
15. Glengarriff Bay
Photo via Instagram: @enicreamoinn
16. Cable Car to Dursey Island
Photo via Instagram: @milly_kelleher
17. Horse grazing at Long Strand
Photo via Instagram: @kieranhayesphotography
18. Mizen Head Rocks
Photo via Instagram: @tina_quirke
19. Healy Pass – Cork/Kerry
Photo via Instagram: @morrisseyphotography
20. Castletownshend Bay
Photo via Instagram: @jeromvanrijt
21. Mizen Head Bridge
Photo via Instagram: @alan_brett
22. Gougane Barra Church
Photo via Instagram: @morrisseyphotography
23. Fields of Gold, West Cork
Photo via Instagram: @shaz_om
24. View to Crookhaven
Photo via Instagram: @daveol97
25. Dursey Island
Photo via Instagram: @ibogalito
26. Knowen Hill, Dunmanway
Photo via Instagram: @tonygireland
27. Barley Cove Beach, Mizen Peninsula
Photo via Instagram: @jjpowaa
28. Fairy Tree, Rineen Woods
Photo via Instagram: @Mrfruity2
29. Fields of Mizen Head
Photo via Instagram: @glarch
30. Sky Garden, Liss Ard Estate, Skibbereen
Photo via Instagram: @plataform_a
31. Beara Peninsula
Photo via Instagram: @martaisarollingstone
32. Glengarriff Nature Reserve
Photo via Instagram: @vobi7
33. Crimson sunset, West Cork
Photo via Instagram: @comeraghphoto_
34. Cycling on Oileán Chléire/Cape Clear Island
Photo via Instagram: @todestinationunknown
35. Borlin Valley, Bantry
Photo via Instagram: @jc__photography_
36. Ahanafunsion bridge, Drimoleague
Photo via Instagram: @jeromevanrijt
37. Sunset in Schull
Photo via Instagram: @chili434
38. Three Castle Head
Photo via Instagram: @ireland_travels
39. White Horse, West Cork
Photo via: @emmajervisphoto
40. Fastnet Lighthouse
Photo via Instagram: @kurtarrigo
41. Drombeg Stone Circle
Photo via Instagram: @chovahanis
42. Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve, Skibbereen
Photo via Instagram: @stephaniehorganphotography
43. Courtmacsherry Woods
Photo via Instagram: @juliaherreros
44. Charlesfort, Kinsale
Photo via Instagram: @s_wriggt
45. Baltimore sunset
Photo via Instagram: @grainneod
46. Dunmanus Bay
Photo via Instagram: @mikebrownphotography
47. Dolphins spotted while ‘Whale Watching’ in West Cork
Photo via Instagram: @hot_hatch
48. Summer at Inchydoney Beach
Photo via Instagram: @eoghan_o_shea
49. Dromillihy Woods, Connonagh
Photo via Instagram: @louisemargaret_
50. Kilcoe Castle
Photo via: www.dennishorgan.ie
Note: Please do not use any images for commercial gain without the consent of the photographer.
Can’t wait to visit us? There are a number of flights direct to Cork International Airport, explore your options here: https://www.corkairport.com
VisitWestCork 
Glorious
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No 14 was taken in Baltimore but not by Sinead Konnolly. This picture was taken by myself on Dec. 2nd. Unfortunately I posted this to my own fb page where it was taken from. So, the credits are incorrect for this.
Cheers, Petra
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That is very unfortunate, but your response is very kind.
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Beautiful photos. My friend asked me to research Skibbereen, which led me to the West Cork website. His father from there, my grandmother from Kells, Co.Meath. Hope we get to visit.
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HOMESICK!
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No picture of the 12 Arched Bridge in Ballydehob, travesty!!!
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You will have to send us in one Simon 🙂
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Maybe this link will work….
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22779657@N00/10859361766/
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There’s a nice one here 🙂
http://www.mikebrownphotography.com/gallery_671224.html#photos_id=14149718
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I miss it so much. When I’m ‘home’ all of a sudden life gets a little less complicated and I can truly relax. I hope to introduce my new daughter Pixie to it beauty this year….
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Pixie, what a wonderful name.
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Kenmare is in Kerry!
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We know, but we can see Kenmare Bay from the safety of the Cork border 🙂
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Part of Kenmare Bay is in Co Cork!
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Now now lets not go to war over it still very beautiful
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All are absolutly stunning with room for hundreds more this page could be updated every week. Myross wood outside leap village radiates peace and tranquillity
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Just breathtaking! Coming for a week long visit in June. How will we ever fit everything we want to see and do in a week?
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missing a lot. Home sikness photos
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lots of wonderful places missed. …….. Like Coolim cliffs SERIOUS MISS, Dunworley Bay, Timoleague Abbey, Courtmacsherry Bay, Ring?????? But most of the ones included are great
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These are truly beautifully tKen pictures. They brought back so many happy memories of holidays when I was a child, so many years ago. Thank you.
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It is a heavenly place, an unexpected view waiting around every corner of the winding roads. The simple pubs passed by on the way provide excellent food and hospitality. A holiday in West Cork is time we’ll spent!
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All my family came originally from West Cork and I loved it when we visited as a child! Still love it now! Great photos and great place and people!
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Nothing beats Gougane Barra Church for beauty and serenity.
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I never realized the beauty we have in our own back yard.
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I think West Cork is one of the most Beautiful Places in the World ..Confirmed by these outstanding pictures
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Beautiful locations, but some of these photos are spoiled by injudicious use of coloured filters, in my opinion anyway. West Cork is, along with the North West Highlands, the greatest place on earth.
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Thanks for the comment Tricia – Instragram filters tend to ‘tropicalise’ photos alright none the less we are blessed to be located in the Rivera of Ireland 🙂 – must visit the North West Highlands sometime!
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Hi my name is Sara Haggerty. i am the designer of a new publication called Clonakilty Living, we are an internationally distributed magazine, twice a year, with our first issue out 26th June. I would love to use some of these beautiful images in our magazine, particuarly the golden fields and the stairway to heaven for a credit. Please, can you put me in touch with the photographers who took these fabulous images.
For more information about this exciting new magazine go to facebook http://www.facebook.com/ClonakiltyLiving
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Hi Sara, you can contact the photographers directly through their credited social media accounts (listed as active links under each picture). FIelds of Gold @shaz_om (Instagram)
Sharon Hennessy and Stairway to Heaven @Mrfruity2 (Instagram)
Eoin Milner. This is a non-commercial blog, but you will need to contact both directly to seek permissions to use images for commercial use. Thanks for getting in touch and we look forward to seeing the publication 🙂
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we need a ferry service from Fishguard to Rosslare,the majority would bring a car if there was a car ferry .
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I wish they could bring back the Swansea to cork,have they stopped the fishguard to rosslare ferry then.
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What fabulous photography, breathtaking pictures, wonderful to
See them n so near us.
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What fabulous photography, breathtaking pictures and all
So near us..must take hols.in west cork again..
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The island of Ireland offers so much beauty–I hope heaven is similar to Ireland.
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Ireland is definitely on my bucket list. Such beauty and history!
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Thanks for the comment Sharon – make sure you let us know if you are visiting our beautiful part of the world 🙂
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It looks like heaven just beautiful
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Superb photography! 🙂 We are indeed so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place as West Cork!Our guests seem to keep returning year after year!
Our cottages overlook beautiful Coulagh Bay
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Ive been to Ahakista a few times and to me it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and just love travelling to Bantry to the markets.
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What amazing views!…the home of my family.It is a wonderful place to visit…but how special it must have been to grow up there.
To my West Cork family and friends..I miss you all.Most of all I miss my beautiful Mother and my Aunts .Uncles and Grandparents.
Beara will always be home
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Beautiful photograph’s, thank you, I was brought up overlooking Bantry Bay, left there in 1962 when I was 14, but still able to be homesick when I leave there after a holiday, and yes Kenmare is in Kerry but nobody said that the beauty of west Cork didn’t run into south Kerry
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All of Ireland has its beauty spots. So come on over and enjoy.it stina in Bantry.xx
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Kenmare town is in Kerry. Kenmare BAY borders West Cork…
West Cork sure as hell does not run in to south kerry.
Great pbotos.
Been singing the praises of West Cork most of my life.
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Amazing Photos, so good I can paint from them
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