West Cork Highlights. Mizen Head, Ballydehob and Bantry House

West Cork Highlights

Mizen Head, Ballydehob and Bantry House

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Mizen Head

Looking into Dunlough Bay from one of the viewing points in Mizen.

The Head itself

The bridge you pass over as you walk to the lighthouse.

A full Irish, well almost. Hasn't been touched by the lighthouse keeper.
It has been on the table in front of him for decades!

Opening times for the summer are 10.00am to 6.00pm - there are no online tickets. To find out more about this spectacular place, click on the website here. Plenty of free parking but there is a reasonable admission fee to get onto the head itself and to the various interesting exhibitions that tell of the history of the place and surroundings and much more. You also have toilets in the visitor centre along with a café.

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Also on this trip:

Dine Cent'Anni. Stay Schull Harbour Hotel

Looking for a mid day snack in West Cork. A shortlist including newcomer Harnen.

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 Ballydehob

The 12-arch Ballydehob Viaduct was built in 1886 and is still intact and safe. The narrow-gauge railway line would link the isolated, rural communities of West Cork with the market town of Skibbereen and the port of Schull. It was closed in 1953.  A public walking trail (highly recommended), with scenic views of the local estuary and beyond, incorporates the viaduct. We came on an excellent day and enjoyed the walk and the views, not to mention a lunchtime snack at Béal Blásta in the centre of the village.

Lunchtime treat at Béal Blásta, Ballydehob: Toffee and Nut Cake

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Bantry House

Bantry House and Gardens. No photos allowed inside the house.

Bantry House and Garden is a stately home overlooking Bantry Bay in Cork, in the south west of Ireland. The House has been in the family, the Whites, since 1739 and was opened to the public in 1946. They offer Bed and Breakfast accommodation in the East Wing. There is an important private collection of furniture and objects of art. 

The Estate is a popular wedding and events venue, visitors can explore the formal garden, visit the House and Tearoom, book Afternoon Tea in the Library and stay in the East Wing. The Estate is unique since it is still lived in and managed by the family. To read more, including opening times and events schedule, click here Bantry House.
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The house, from the top of the 100 steps, with Bantry Bay in the background.
The steps are closed at present but there is an unsigned "walkaround".
A sign or two would be helpful. It is worth getting up there as the
view to Bantry Bay is amazing. 

Corner of the gardens at Bantry House.

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Ron D's Food Truck Brings The Muffuletta From New Orleans To Ballydehob!

 Ron D's Food Truck Brings The Muffuletta

 From New Orleans To Ballydehob!

The Muffuletta

The Muffuletta has landed! It is on the menu of Ron D’s Food Truck every Wednesday in Ballydehob.

Simon and Liz are the American couple behind this wagon of wonderful sandwiches. Liz fills us in on the Muffuletta: “We first had this amazing Sandwich in New Orleans @centralgrocerynola where it was first made by a Sicilian immigrant in the 1900's. If you haven't guessed it, Simon & I love Sandwiches & this one is damn close to being at the top of the list!”

“The bread is our homemade Sesame Sourdough, not traditional, but this is our take on the original. Next are layers of salty cured meats Capicolla & @gubbeen Salami followed by the softer Mortadella. Lots of Provolone cheese & the amazing Giardiniera (also not traditional). It's a delicious pickled vegetable Italian relish that we make. Traditionally it would be just olives but Giardiniera gives the sandwich a real zing. Hope you guys love this classic New Orleans Sandwich as much as we do!!”

We do. It is just an amazing and harmonious concertina of tasty layers, the different types of meat, the relish, the zing of the Giardiniera, the superb bread, the quality, the quantity, a classic that rocks from first bite to last.

And speaking of classics. They do a mean Reuben too: Salt Beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Russian Dressing (not the mass-produced one!). Another amazing sandwich to make those taste buds stand up on full alert. Because of the drizzle, we had to eat our two, the Muffuletta and the Reuben, in the car. There weren't too many full sentences spoken for quite a while, just lots of oohs and aaahs!

The grilled sandwiches come on their own sourdough and other choices last Wednesday were a Veggie Reuben, The Grilled Cheese and The Vegan Dream. 

It isn’t just big flavour-filled sandwiches though. You can get doughnuts here, if you’re fast. And you need to be faster still to get their potato versions. 

“Donuts for me bring me back to my childhood. Where I'm from in New England or Cape Cod, Massachusetts to be specific, hole in the wall, mom 'n pop donut shops still exist. Mostly all are family owned and are packed full of delicious homemade donuts and usually bad coffee.”

 “The donuts are big and they have funny names like Honey Dip, Cruellers, Old Fashioned, Bear Claws, the list goes on. My first Potato Donut was in Portland, Maine, and it was fluffy, so fluffy, more so then a traditional yeast raised donut and so good. I thought they would be perfect for the truck especially since we are in Ireland the land of potatoes.” 

Looking for something sweet to bring home? How about a Hand Pie? “In America the pie is enjoyed throughout the year, each season showcasing a different delicious pie, my favourite being Rhubarb! So I decided to make a smaller version of my classic pie for the truck. These hand pies are filled with a local rhubarb compote and Irish apples.  These are a perfect treat for after your sandwich or better yet bring it home, warm it up, and enjoy it with your cup of tea! And if you’re feeling fancy, put a scoop of ice cream on top for an amazing dessert!”

Simon and Liz have been in the West Cork area for quite a while now but it all started before when they were in San Francisco. “We were absolutely blown away with all the amazing bread there, especially from @tartinebakery. We were hooked on REAL bread and never looked back. So our focus now is baking sourdough for y'all and turning those loaves into delicious grilled sandwiches. Which we'll be selling from our trailer, Ron D's, in the Ballydehob Community Hall Car Park, Wednesday's from 12:30-3. I will be baking up some sweet treats as well and diving in to my American roots for inspiration.”

So you may be asking who is Ron D. Well the truck is named after Liz’s father, quite a foodie! 

Ron D’s Food Truck  

Parked outside the Community Centre in Ballydehob. Coming from Skibbereen, take the first left after you go over the bridge. Wednesdays from 12:30-3.00pm.

Also on this trip:

Visiting the home of Clonakilty Blackpudding

Garden Restaurant at Lee Ard Estate