To my eternal shame I had never visited West Cork before but it took just 24 hours in Clonakilty for me to fall in love with the place.
Clonakilty is a reasonably small town but there's not a chance of your visit being boring or having little to do. From beaches with stunning coastal views to a host of tourist attractions, buzzing nightlife and fantastic restaurants, there is no end to the delights of Clon.
My fiancee and I checked into the Clonakilty Park Hotel and were immediately impressed by the clean, spacious rooms and range of facilities. The hotel is just a short walk from the town centre and is a brilliant spot for families.
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It has a playground, climbing tower, adventure centre, cinema and more to keep the kids entertained for hours on end. They also run camps for kids aged 4 to 14 during school holidays.
There's plenty for adults to enjoy with a pool, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room - the perfect way to refresh in the morning if you've had a long evening the night before. The hotel also features a vibrant bar and bistro serving local craft beer, gin and whiskey while the on site Adventure Centre features the likes of a climbing tower, zip line, power fan jump and adventure golf.
Speaking of local beverages, no trip to the town in complete without a trip to the Clonakilty Distillery. The brand was founded by Michael Scully whose farm in the shadow of the Galley Head lighthouse has been in his family for nine generations.
We were lucky enough to meet Michael, who took us on a drive along the breath-taking coastline to visit the recently harvested barley fields. This barely will be used along with other locally sourced products to create Clonakilty Whiskey's unique blend.
After a stop at the warehouse to marvel at the barrels full of whiskey which is matured in casks that formerly contained the likes of bourbon, red wine and rum to create a unique flavour, we were understandably feeling thirsty. And so it was on to the distillery itself, which is conveniently located in the heart of the town.
There we were met by Visitor Experience Manager, Ewan - a man who knows all there is to know about the whiskey making process. He took us on a tour of the impressive building, explaining the whole process of how the whiskey, vodka and Minke gin is made.
Unlike other whiskey tours that focus on the history of the product, you actually get to see the pot stills and how the drinks are made at the Clonakilty Distillery. It truly makes for a unique tour. You can even make your own bottle of gin to take home with you at the Minke gin-making school!
Of course, the tour ends with a sample of the range of whiskeys on offer and we weren't disappointed with the delicious, smooth blends of the Double Oak, Single Grain and Port Cask. In fact, I was so impressed by the Port Cask that I simply had to pick up a bottle in the gift shop before we left the visitor experience.
All of that whiskey drinking works up an appetite and we didn't have to go far to satisfy our hunger, popping into the adjoining Whale's Tail Restaurant and once again, we weren't disappointed. In fact, we both agreed it was one of the best meals we've ever had.
We both opted to start with the seafood chowder - well, you have to try some fish if you visit West Cork - and we were seriously impressed. But we were even more impressed by our succulent lamb shank mains which just fell off the bone and were seriously filling - although we still managed to fit in dessert of course! We loved the decor of the restaurant and, as with everywhere we went, the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful.
The night was closed out the only way it could be, with a trip to the world famous De Barra's. The venue has hosted some huge names over the years, including Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon and former Clon resident Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and is the perfect spot to dance the night away to some live music and enjoy a few pints at very reasonable prices.
Perhaps Clonakilty's most famous export is its black pudding and so we headed to the Clonakilty Black Pudding Visitor Experience the following morning. You may think a tour centring on the making of black pudding might sound boring but the team at the centre have come up with a lively and entertaining attraction.
It takes you through the history of how the recipe for the famous pudding has been handed down through generations on an interactive journey that perfectly recreates the bustling streets of the town in years gone by. And, of course, the journey ends with a feast of pudding, rashers and sausages washed down with tea or coffee.
With just a short time in the town there was still much of Clonakilty left to explore. We didn't get the chance to visit the Michael Collins House and Museum, the Model Village and so much more.
But after falling in love with West Cork in such a short time there, it won't be long before I'm back again for a longer stay in this beautiful part of the world.
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