Activities

Below you will find details of the many activities ‘on land and sea’ which are available in our area. Most of these – especially boat trips, which are dependent on the notoriously unpredictable Irish weather – cannot be arranged too far in advance. Katherine, our manager, will always advise and help you with bookings soon after you arrive.

Angling and Boat Trips: As you will see, there are several very experienced and fully insured boatmen happy to take you on a variety of sea trips, most have informative websites – Katherine knows them all and will help you make the right choice!

Derrynane Sea Sports: Located in one of the safest and most picturesque little harbours imaginable, Helen and her experienced young helpers offer a huge variety of sea sport activities for all ages during the summer months. All details on their excellent website!

Please note: For those of you who may have enjoyed riding over the Derrynane dunes with Caroline Donnelly ay her Eagle Rock Equestrian centre near Caherdanielover the years, she has now sadly had to close her business. Although a longer drive, we had excelent reports of the Ring of Kerry (ROK) Equestrian centre. Please see detail below.

Riding: The ROK Equestrian Centre on the N70 between Cahersiveen and Waterville (about a 35 minute drive) offers a wide variety of ride-outs taking in the beautiful local scenery of Ballinskelligs Bay. They cater for all levels of rider from the complete novice with little or limited experience to advanced intermediate. Tel: +35366 9478948 or mobile: +35387 6353999, email: clare.duff@gmail.com

Golf: The golf courses of Kerry are legendary! Four of these are within 3/4 of an hour’s drive of Westcove and many more a bit further afield but still well worth the journey for serious golfers…

Walks: Kerry is a walker’s paradise – from gentle strolls over sandy beaches to more challenging hikes over craggy hills – and our favourite local walks described here are ideal for dog owners, but please be sure to keep them well under control, especially on the hills where there are always sheep around. We suggest that the more serious walkers amongst you visit www.kerryway.com At 200km the Kerry Way is one of the longest – and certainly the most scenic signposted walking trails in Ireland. The 3 legs worth considering and easily walkable from Westcove are – ‘Waterville-Caherdaniel’, ‘Caherdaniel-Staigue’, and ‘Staigue-Sneem’ – details are on their ‘trail description’.

Sightseeing Trips: Kerry Experience Tours organise private day trips that show you the highlights of the southwest of Ireland, as well as the most beautiful places off the beaten track. Enjoy a private sightseeing experience that can be tailored to suit your wishes. Explore the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Beara Peninsula, Killarney National Park, Mizen Head, and much more. Let Kerry Experience Tours do the driving, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the most beautiful scenery, history, and culture.

Seaweed Discovery Walks and Feasts: John and Kerryann Fitzgerald run Seaweed Workshops from their base in Caherdaniel: Their love of nature and all things marine has lead them to focus on seaweed which they have been harvesting, eating and experimenting with for many years. Kerryann uses her culinary skills to create delicious dishes from hand harvested local seaweeds. Click here to see what they can offer at Westcove. Contact John on +353 (0) 86 1062110 or email seaweedwalks@gmail.com

Sneem Seaweed Baths: are one of the most enjoyable ways to immerse yourself into the beautiful Kerry countryside along the shores of the Atlantic. An hour long outdoor hot water soak in our lovely customized Irish oak whiskey barrels, with the healthy benefits of locally harvested seaweed, overlooking the Kerry mountains and sea, this will indeed, wash your worries away. A little piece of heaven. www.sneemseaweed.ie.

Arts & Crafts for children. Crohan and/or Marjanneke can come to any of our Westcove properties for 2-3 hours to bring out your children’s creative instincts with activities such as painting, paper craft and simple woodwork projects, depending on the ages of the children. Call Crohan on: +353 (0) 87 2620921 or email: marjanneke.vandenhove@gmail.com

Yoga: We are lucky to have French born Julie Pujol of Green Blue Yoga, living very close by. She is an experienced teacher of various types of yoga and is happy to come to the Function Room in The Stables to give private classes to guests staying on the Westcove Estate.
Visit her website: www.greenblueyoga.ie, email: pujol.julie@gmail.com, or call: +353 (0) 86 203 7238.

Personal Fitness Trainer Róisín Galvin of RG Fitness in Caherdaniel offers private 1-1 training sessions and group sessions for both adults and children. She also holds fitness classes on Derrynane beach on a weekly basis. Contact her on +353 (0) 8716 92565 or visit her on Facebook.

Boat Trips – Fishing and Leisure

John O’Shea now has two boats, so not only will he be happy to takes groups of up to 12 for long boat trips to Skellig Islands – (of ‘Star Wars’ fame!) – but also offers shorter fishing trips. For more infomation and booking, please contact him through Mobile/WhatsApp: +353 (0) 87 689 8431 his website: Skelligtours.com or his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/skelligtours

Fishing from the Shore

Michael Casey (Katherine’s husband) mobile +353 (0) 876 312718 knows all the best spots for catching fish (mainly pollock and sea bass) off local rocks and beaches and will happily discuss it with you.

Salmon and Sea Trout Fishing

For many years Lough Currane – a beautiful lake, 5 miles long and 2 miles wide, nestling in the hills behind Waterville – has been attracting anglers from all over Europe. Although the sea trout were in decline for a few years, the salmon farm off the coast, generally considered to have been the cause of the problem, ceased to exist a few years ago, so now the fishing on the lake, both for sea trout and salmon is taking off again with a vengeance.

Dominic McGillicuddy (Tel: +353 (0) 66 9474023, mobile +353 (0) 872051515) – is a real expert and will take you to the best spots himself – or he will hire you a boat for the day if you think you can manage without him. Take a picnic – there are some idyllic coves and islands where you can break for lunch. “Butlers Pool” is a narrow stretch of river linking the sea with Lough Currane. Keen salmon fishermen may like to try 3 hours on it, probably best after rain and at high tide. For availability and more information telephone (+353 (0) 66 9474244 (Waterville House).

Golf in Kerry

Westcove, the perfect choice for your Kerry golfing holiday!

(The paragraph below only applies to tenants of Westcove House, The Stables and Garden Cottage)

Our 3 Westcove properties make an ideal base for friends or golf societies to combine an idyllic holiday with golf in the legendary ‘Kingdom of Kerry’. Westcove House, The Stables and Garden Cottage can together sleep up to 15 in separate bedrooms (16 if 2 share a twin!)… and of course many more if there are couples in your group. Set off after a full Irish breakfast, play one of the great Kerry courses listed below and return to enjoy one of Katherine’s delicious home-cooked dinners in the beautiful dining room at Westcove House . You can use your own cars or we can arrange a local mini bus for all your transport needs.
Please note: Although we can only accept full week bookings during the summer months, weekend breaks (min 3 nights) are available the rest of the year.

“Great Golf Accommodation
We had 12 Golfers staying at Westcove House (including the Stables & Garden Cottage) for 5 nights as we golfed various courses around Kerry. It was an eclectic and spacious location with plenty of room to spread out. We took advantage of the catering and were very glad we did. We had hot breakfasts every morning and a warm, home cooked meal waiting for us each night we returned home. The meals were delicious and we will never forget coming home out of the cold, rain and sleet to a hot, delicious, homemade Irish stew!
Having a home base like Westcove House made our golf trip very relaxing and very cost effective. There is plenty of space to either gather and enjoy stories of the day or retreat and drown your sorrows privately. Location is good, we made it as far as Old Head and back in a day. We also played Waterville, Hogs Head (both very close), Tralee and Adare Manor. There are a number of other options in the area.
Susannah, the owner, was great to work with and very attentive. Katherine and Bernie made our stay wonderful and were great cooks. They were always on time in the mornings and very accommodating around our arrival times for evening meals. I highly recommend taking advantage of their catering services. They were also a wealth of local knowledge and information which made our stay even more memorable.
We will definitely stay here again the next time we are golfing in south west Ireland!
Harper from Brooklin, Canada, October 2019″

There are four excellent and varied golf courses within ¾ of an hour’s drive of Westcove:

1 Waterville*
Tel: +353 (0) 66 94 74102, www.watervillegolflinks.ie– Email: wvgolf@iol.ie
This challenging, immaculately maintained links course, only 10 miles (20 minutes drive) to the west, is played by many top pros to prepare for the British Open.. ‘A must’ for serious golfers. Green fees are high – at the time of writing April to October: €300 and from November to March contact them direct to enquire. Well worth an early start as you’re likely to have a clearer, faster round!

2 Parknasilla Tel: +353 64 6675600
www.parknasillaresort.com/activities/estate-activities/golf/ – Email: info@parknasillagolfclub@eircom.net
This 12 hole course on the estuary (3 miles beyond Sneem towards Kenmare) has to be one of the most stunningly beautiful short courses in the world! Take lots of old balls – they tend to plug in damp conditions and there is a lot of woodland and gorse. Every hole is very challenging and set up so you can play 18 holes – a really pretty walk for non-golfers too. No booking necessary, though it’s worth checking with the Parknasilla Hotel +353 (0) 64 667 5600 to make sure you won’t clash with a society or competition – weekdays recommended when you can often have the course to yourselves. Green fees from May 1st – September 30th 9 Holes: €35 and 18 Holes: €50 usually payable at the small ‘clubhouse’ – if unmanned they can always be obtained at the reception in Parknasilla Hotel. This legendary hotel has an excellent bar and lunch menu, and a spa with fabulous facilities open to non residents.

3 ‘Ring of Kerry’
Tel: +353 (0) 64 6642000, www.ringofkerrygolf.com – Email: reservations@ringofkerrygolf.com A relatively new 18 hole course, about 5 miles west of Kenmare, on the Sneem/Kenmare road – about 40 minutes drive. It is hilly, with fabulous panoramic views over the Kenmare Estuary. Please contact the Pro Shop on guestservices@ringofkerrygolf.ie to book Tee Times. Take a buggy if you’re not a mountain goat! Our son and his young, fit friends really enjoy this course and find it an excellent contrast to Waterville, being parkland in character, but equally challenging, with a welcoming clubhouse serving drinks and bar food at the end!

4 Kenmare
Tel: +353 (0) 64 6641291, www.kenmaregolfclub.com – Email: info@kenmaregolfclub.comAbout 45 minutes drive, this is a pretty course on the right, just as you go out of Kenmare towards Cork. Originally a 9 hole course – there is now a second, (rather hilly !) 9. Green fees all year round for 9 Holes are €25, for 18 holes from May to October on weekdays they are €50 and €55 at Weekends. From November to April weekday green fees are €40 and €45 at weekends. The Clubhouse offers drinks and bar food.

Other legendary courses in Kerry worth considering, all within 2 hours drive of Westcove:

• *Dooks
  Tel: +353 (0) 66 9768205, www.Dooks.com – 1¼ hours drive, near Glenbeigh, on the Ring of Kerry – a classical, unspoilt links course with stunning views over the Dingle peninsular – a family favourite! Green fees from 20th March to 16th April are €100, from 17th April to 22nd October they are €170 and from 23rd October to 31st October €100. Unfortunately, it’s members only through November and December.
• *Tralee Tel: +353 (0) 66 7136379 www.Traleegolfclub.com – seriously challenging and pricey with green fees at €180 through April and €275 from 1st May to 6th October. Designed by Arnold Palmer.
• *Killarney Tel: +353 (0) 64 6631034 www.killarneygolfclub.ie – 3 courses by the beautiful Killarney lakes.
  Summer: Monday – Thursday: Green Fees with Golf Ireland are €65 or International €150. Friday – Sunday: Golf Ireland €80 and International €175.
  Winter: Monday – Thursday: Green Fees with Golf Ireland are €50 or International €75. Friday – Sunday: Golf Ireland €65 and International €90.
• *Ballybunion Tel: +353 (0) 68 27146 www.ballybuniongolfclub.com – 2 hours drive ‘but a household name’. Green fees between 17th April – 6th October on the Old Course are €300 or €125 for the Cashen Course.

* These courses need proof of ‘handicap’ and booking well in advance, especially in high season.

Wildlife

Wildlife Walks and Excursions

1) Flowers of the forest and Sand dunes.
A walk through Derrynane National Historic park followed by a looped walk around the Sanddunes. Flower identification, natural history of the formation of the dune system, geology of the area including a visit to the protected Natterjack toad ponds.
2 hours @ €150 per group. Own transport required, meeting at Derrynane House Car Park.

2) Rock Pool Explorer.
A trip to some of the local rockpools to explore the animals inhabiting these shallow marine environments. This includes learning about how animals survive, what they eat, how to identify them and distinguishing their behaviour. Fishing with nets (provided). Each participant get the chance to catch animals and get their feet wet in this fun learning environment.
1½ hours @ €150 per group (weather and tide dependent). Own transport required, meeting at Derrynane House Car Park.

3) Mountain walking in the Caherdaniel Locality
A walk to the top of Coom, along the old bog road across the ridge to see the beautiful scenery and back along the Kerry way to Caherdaniel village. Walk includes talk about the local geological formations, the copper mines, the flora and fauna.
2½ hours @ €150 per group. Own transport required. Meet in the Caherdaniel village.

4) Kenmare Bay Motorised Kayaking Expedition
Early morning from Westcove. Explore the inshore coves of Kenmare bay including Seal watching and possible Dolphin and Whale watching. See seabirds and possible exotic species such as sunfish close up.
This trip involves the use of motorised Kayaks. Easy to use, a brief training and safety session (30 minutes) will be provided before departure. All safety equipment including life jackets and spray decks are provided. Light refreshments also provided. Guided by qualified Skipper and wildlife guide Vincent Hyland.
Duration 3 hours, €300 for 5 persons (weather and sea condition dependent.)

5) Snorkelling in Derrynane
A 1 hour snorkel along Abbey Island. Take in the underwater beauty of our temperate maritime shallow seas. This trip will open your eyes and senses to the beautiful clean underwater environment of Derrynane. Wetsuits and masks are provided.
Duration 3 hours, €125 for a group of 5 persons, or €25 each. Own transport required. Meet at Derryanne Sea Sports.
web: http://www.derrynane.ie
email: hylandvincent@gmail.com