The Motorcycle Grill Café is on the N71 (the main Cork-West Cork route). It is centrally situated in the West Cork village of Leap between Rosscarbery and Skibbereen. When approaching from Cork, the café is located after the Topaz service station, on the left hand side of Main Street (in what was previously O’Sullivan’s Butchers). It is conveniently sited on the corner of the turn-off for Glandore/Union Hall and is a 5 minute drive from these picturesque villages. It is a pleasant 50 minute drive from Cork City. GPS: N51° 34.865 WOO9° O8.596 West Cork is globally famed for its breath-taking scenery, colourful towns, historical attractions and for the great craic it offers! All visitors will receive the warmest and friendliest of welcomes. West Cork, which is steeped in Irish culture and tradition, serves as the ideal base for exploring Ireland. With so much to see and do, West Cork places you at the hub of infinite year-round activities. This popular holiday destination has always been a haven for touring motorcyclists, so please come and experience, for yourself, its hidden treasures! Here is a just a taste of what West Cork has to showcase … Scenic Drives and Sightseeing along the Wild Atlantic Way: West Cork abounds with winding coastal routeways which are intersected by a whole host of unique maritime villages and towns. The charming fishing villages of Glandore and Union Hall are just a five minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill. Why not visit Ireland’s most southerly point at Mizen Head? See the signal station and experience the wild, romantic cliff scenery and views of the famous Fastnet Rock; the peninsula is just an hour’s drive from the Motorcycle Grill. Alternatively, the beautiful Beara Peninsula is a popular tourist trail. The Beara Ring circumnavigates the peninsula for about 195 kilometres, delivering views of rugged coastline and an array of upstanding prehistoric archaeological sites, including the Bronze Age copper mines in Allihies. Along the way you can make a stop-off at Bantry, Glengarriff, Castletownbere, Dursey Island, or continue on your travels onto Kenmare, in Co Kerry, by crossing the Healy Pass. Another favourite coastal route takes the visitor to the nearby seaside towns of Courtmacsherry, Timoleague and onto Kinsale. There you can explore the Old Head of Kinsale, its picturesque landscape and the lighthouse. Quiet country roads lined with flowers link the various West Cork towns of Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, Skibbereen, Baltimore and Schull, to name but a few; all offer pleasant views of the native flora and fauna, which are sure to satisfy all nature lovers. On these pleasant country drives you will experience all types of landscape from rolling green fields to awe-inspiring scenes of the Atlantic Ocean. Why not ask the staff in the Motorcycle Grill about other popular tourist routes in West Cork? We’d be delighted to provide you with directions or to be of assistance in any way we can. Or perhaps you would like to stop for a picnic along the drive; at the Motorcycle Grill we can prepare some tasty treats for your journey! Quad Biking: A quad-trekking adventure centre located in nearby Castletownshend, is just a 10 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill. It delivers an action-packed exertion for all the family! Ford Model-T Replica: Every car enthusiast enjoys a trip to view the replica of the Ford Model-T at Ballinascarty, the birthplace of Henry Fords ancestors. The Model-T, which was produced from 1908 to 1927, was the first affordable automobile for middle-class Americans. The replica is just a 30 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill. The West Cork Rally: Running since 1976, the annual West Cork Rally is organised by Cork Motor Club and takes place on the St Patricks Day Bank Holiday Weekend (around March 17th). It is regarded as one of the most exciting calendar events for Irish and European rally enthusiasts alike. For more details check out westcorkrally/ Blue Flag Beaches: West Cork offers an abundance of golden sandy blue flag beaches. With life guards on duty, these beaches are safe for children and ideal for bathing and paddling. The Warren Strand and Ownahincha are each a 5 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill, while the blue flag beaches beside the renowned 4 star Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa, is a 25 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill. Surfing, Diving and Snorkelling: West Cork’s many beaches and coves are surfing hotspots! Learn to surf at the West Cork Surf School, at Inchydoney, just a 25 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill. Every visitor to West Cork should embark upon some diving or snorkelling in the calm, clear unpolluted waters around Baltimore Bay and Lough Hyne, just 20 minutes from the Motorcycle Grill. Other Outdoor Water Sports: Naturally, given its location much of the action in West Cork is water based. It is the perfect destination for both novices and advanced sailors alike. Beginners and young families love the sheltered harbour in nearby Baltimore, just a 20 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill. Here you can hire keelboats, catamarans and powerboats to suit all abilities or take a pleasurable trip on a chartered yacht. Kayaking offers the ideal way to explore the creeks and inlets of the fascinating West Cork coastline. Alternatively, some local chartered ferry operators offer short cruises and can be privately hired for special occasions, such as weddings. The Lagoon Activity Centre, in Rosscarbery, just a five minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill, guarantees a fun day out for all the family. Facilities include paddle-boats, row-boats, dinghies, canoes and kayaks. For those lacking sea legs, kick back and admire the wonderful surroundings in the laguna. Whale and Dolphin Watching: Whale and dolphin watching is one of the fastest growing pleasure activities in West Cork. Regular sightings include fin whales (2nd largest mammal in the world), minke whales, pilot whales, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. Dolphins frequently stage incredible leaping displays beside the chartered crafts. If the whales and dolphins don’t make an appearance, sightings of a wide variety of other interesting marine animals, such as seals, basking sharks or even leatherback turtles, are guaranteed! Holiday makers will cherish these memories forever. Fishing: West Cork provides lots of great fishing spots with a choice of sea, river or lake fishing. Baltimore, just 20 minutes from the Motorcycle Grill, is one of Irelands premier deep sea angling centres, with an international reputation. The largest white fishing port in Ireland (and 2nd safest natural harbour in the world) is located in Castletownbere, just 90 minutes from the Motorcycle Grill. Fishing permits can be obtained in the local tackle shops throughout West Cork. Leisure Centres and Swimming Pools: The nearby Celtic Ross Spa Hotel (Rosscarbery), the Quality Hotel (Clonakilty), the 4 star Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa and Baltimore Community Leisure Centre all provide heated indoor swimming pools and fully equipped leisure centres. These are all located less than 30 minutes from the Motorcycle Grill. Golf: There is a wide choice of golf courses throughout West Cork including the open 18-hole parkland golf course at Skibbereen, the 18-hole championship course at Bantry Bay, the challenging 9-hole golf courses at Dunmore, Lisselan Estate, Glengarriff, Castletownbere and Barleycove. Skibbereen Golf Course, just a 10 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill, is set against the backdrop of Lough Hyne, Ireland’s first marine nature reserve. Rosscarbery Driving Range, just 5 minutes from the Motorcycle Grill, delivers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It provides indoor and outdoor bays with lessons available on request. Pitch and Putt: The kids love a round of Pitch and Putt at the two 18-hole link courses, situated amid sand dunes, at the Warren Strand, just a 5 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill. Walking: With an intricate network of way-marked walks in West Cork and with an abundance of beaches, native Irish woodland, riverbanks, lakesides, bogs, hills and valleys, the energetic walking enthusiast is spoilt for choice! The Sheep’s Head Way, Toe Head, the Beara Way, Drimoleague walkways and Gougane Barra provide a variety of both challenging and pleasantly invigorating walks. Along these walking routes you’ll experience the unique ecology and wildlife of West Cork. There are a number of rapidly expanding walking clubs in West Cork, which host walks of various grades weekly; newcomers are always welcomed. Cycling: Cycling is a great way to see West Cork at one’s own leisure. Why not rent a bike and explore the hidden coves and inlets dotted throughout West Cork? Skibbereen and Clonakilty have been designated official ‘Hub Towns’ under the National Cycleways Initiative. This initiative provides the cyclist with approved, signed, looped cycle routes. Island Hopping: West Cork serves as the ideal stepping stone for exploring its many off-shore islands. Baltimore, just a 20 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill, is the main ferry-port to both Cape Clear and Sherkin Island. Cape Clear (Oileán Chléire) is Ireland’s southernmost inhabited island and is a native Irish speaking region or Gaeltacht. Sherkin Island has beautiful sandy beaches, including Silver Strand and Trabawn. The small island of Illnacullin, or Garnish Island, as it is more commonly known, is located in Glengarriff’s sheltered harbour, which forms part of Bantry Bay. Its 15 hectares of manicured Italian gardens are visited by thousands of tourists annually. Dursey Island, in the Beara Peninsula, is connected to the mainland by Irelands only cable car service (the only one in Europe to cross seawater). With a population of less than 10, its unspoilt environment is popular among walking enthusiasts and nature lovers. Heir Island situated in Roaring Water Bay and Whiddy Island and Bere Island, both in Bantry Bay, are perfect for those seeking quiet walks and peaceful relaxation. Bird Watching: West Cork is a haven for a wide variety of birdlife, of both indigenous and migratory species. Pony and Horse Trekking: Equestrian centres, based in Clonakilty and Rosscarbery, offer country and beach treks, as well as indoor and outdoor horse-riding lessons. Pamper Yourself: Pamper yourself at Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa Luxury 4 star Hotel or the Celtic Ross Hotel and Leisure Centre. Leap and the surrounding villages and towns have a wide range of local beauty salons and hair salons for you to choose from, including Sharpen Up Hair Salon (Leap) and Rebecca’s Beauty Salon (Rosscarbery). Local Pubs and Traditional Irish Music: Many visit West Cork for the “craic agus ceol” offered in its lively country pubs. Trad and folk sessions are held regularly in many local venues, including the renowned De Barra’s, in Clonakilty. Shopping and Local Produce: Spend your days leisurely browsing the small, unique boutiques, craft shops and book shops in the nearby bustling towns of Skibbereen and Clonakilty. For those of you embarking upon a self-catering holiday, these towns also provide large supermarkets, including Super Valu, Dunnes Stores and Lidl, to cater for your everyday needs. West Cork is famous for its food and craft products so while you shop be sure to look out for the Fuchsia logo. The Fuchsia logo is the symbol attached to quality-approved local produce; for more details check out westcorkaplaceapart/home/. Here, in the Motorcycle Grill our high quality ingredients are sourced locally where possible. Why not check out the country farmers markets in Skibbereen (every Wednesday and Saturday) and in Clonakilty (every Friday) for an amazing range of locally-grown and organic produce, foods, plants and crafts. Every tourist must try the famous Clonakilty Blackpudding! Kinsale, the gourmet capital of Ireland is one of the most fashionable resorts in the south-west coast of Ireland; it too boasts a variety of interesting shops offering value and choice. Museums and Visitor Centres: Visit our many local museums and visitor centres, including Skibbereen Heritage Centre, The Lough Hyne Visitor Centre, West Cork Arts Centre, Clonakilty Regional Museum, the Model Railway Village, Bantry 1796 French Armada Exhibition Centre, Schull Planetarium, the award-winning Mizen Head Signal Station Visitor’s Centre, Cape Clear Heritage Centre and Allihies Copper Mine Museum. Skibbereen Heritage Centre is just a 10 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill. At the centre the Great Famine Commemoration Exhibition depicts local tragic events of the period in the 1840s known as the Great Hunger. The centre also offers an archaeology trail of the local area, and for those tracing their Irish ancestors the in-house genealogist will assist your endeavours. The West Cork Arts Centre, also based in Skibbereen, exhibits the diverse works of contemporary local, national and international artists. The nearby Lough Hyne Visitor Centre explores the unique nature of this salt water marine lake, the origin, geology and unusual wildlife of Ireland’s first Marine Nature Reserve. Clonakilty Regional Museum, just a 20 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill, provides a unique display of memorabilia associated with the local Irish revolutionary leader, Michael Collins. The Model Railway Village, also in Clonakilty, portrays life in West Cork in the 1940s, through a miniature display of the West Cork railway line and the towns it served. Why not take a ride around Clonakilty on the road train and learn the local history? With a tearoom located in an authentic train carriage, overlooking Clonakilty Bay, and with indoor and outdoor playgrounds, this is a much-loved tourist spot for both young and old alike! Schull Planetarium is a 30 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill. This is the only planetarium in the Republic of Ireland. Its eight-metre dome displays the night sky and the various star configurations through recorded history. Historical and Archaeological Sites: The West Cork area is rich in sites of historical and archaeological interest. Sites that will interest the prehistorian include standing stones, boulder burials and stone circles. The stone circle at Drombeg, just a 5 minute drive from the Motorcycle Grill, is one of the most visited megalithic tombs in Europe. For those interested in medieval Irish history the area displays a dense distribution of early medieval ringforts and early and later medieval ecclesiastical sites. Timoleague Franciscan Abbey, erected in the 13th century, stands picturesquely at the water’s edge. In its day it was one of the most important religious houses in Ireland. There are also a large number of later medieval tower houses and more recent castles. The woods surrounding the 18th-century castle at Castle Freke, Rathbarry, provides a wonderful setting for a family picnic. Experience some of West Cork’s finest stately houses at Bantry House and Gardens or Lisselan Estate and Gardens, Clonakilty. Why not visit the birth place of the famous Irish revolutionary leader, Michael Collins? The National Michael Collins Memorial Statue was unveiled in Clonakilty by actor Liam Neeson in 2002. Historical tours of West Cork are available on request by local historians. motorcyclegrillcafe Festivals: Every year dozens of festivals are hosted to celebrate the local culture, traditions, music, food, crafts, sports, history, archaeology and topography of West Cork. There are also regattas held every summer in all the seaside towns and villages. “The Gathering Ireland 2013” will be a one-off, year-long celebration of all things Irish. In 2013, Ireland plans to welcome hundreds of thousands of friends and family from all over the world. West Cork has a diverse range of festival activities organised for “The Gathering Ireland 2013”. Here is a sample of our annual festivals: Festival of the Carberies (Leap and Glandore), Rosscarbery Family Festival, Festival by the Sea (Rosscarbery), Clonakilty Waterfront Festival, Clonakilty International Guitar Festival, Liss Ard Festival of Music, Literature, Drama and Food (Skibbereen), Skibbereen Arts Festival, Kinsale Arts Festival, Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival, Courtmacsherry Storytelling Festival, West Cork Chamber Music Festival (Bantry House), The Baltimore Fiddle Fair, Bandon Music Festival, Kinsale Fringe Jazz Festival, West Cork Walking Festival, Baltimore Deep Sea Angling Festival, International Gourmet Festival (Kinsale), Seafood Festival (Baltimore), Timoleague Festival and The Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally. In 2013, Clonakilty will celebrate the 400th year anniversary of receiving its town charter; in commemoration of this event the town has organised year-long festive activities and events. Other Local Facilities and Attractions Hotels B&Bs Guest Houses Self-catering cottages Churches Playgrounds (Rosscarbery, Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry) Tennis & basketball courts Cinemas (Clonakilty and Bantry) - See more at: motorcyclegrillcafe/reasons-to-visit.html#sthash.W2ejsuv8.dpuf
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 21:34:52 +0000
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