My family of five had an incredible week at the lighthouse. We easily found activities and day trips in this area of Cork that we loved, as well as friendly people and some great food, but we all looked forward to returning to the lighthouse each afternoon. My husband found everything he needed in the kitchen to cook most nights, and the house was full of board games and books. We found that almost all activities are exciting and relaxing when undertaken in a glass room overlooking the ocean! The area around the house had so many stunning views and places to explore, and the many wildflowers were just gorgeous. After a week’s stay, none of us were ready to leave, and my six-year-old has hatched a few schemes to get back that involve ponies.
A few things to know: you do absolutely need a car, and we (Americans used to roomy cars, roomy roads, and driving on the right) found the roads challenging in general and the long narrow lane lined with rock walls to reach the house really difficult. We had the hang of it by the end of the week, but kept a policy of only leaving and returning once each day, with 4-5 minutes of silence in the car so the driver could give full attention to getting us in or out and we could all hope that we wouldn’t meet a car going the opposite direction (which luckily, we didn’t). It was beyond worth it to stay in such an amazing place but definitely a consideration for planning. Also, there are a number of businesses that only take cash, and the closest ATM is in Schull. In terms of safety, after establishing some ground rules, we felt like the setup was perfect for our 6, 9, and 12-year-olds to enjoy, but it would have been tough to relax with, say, a strong-willed, climbing 4-year-old.
Our stay at the lighthouse made for an unforgettable family trip. We feel so lucky to have been there.