Blogger: Lauren Lucy Crowley
There is something special about Baltimore, a tiny village nestled deep into West Cork along the Wild Atlantic Way, approx. 13 km from Skibereen. As soon as I pull into the coastal village… I instantly feel as though I’m on my holidays!
With an intriguing past, (apparently in 1631 the entire population of the village were kidnapped by pirates never to be seen again ), an abundance of water based activities, stunning scenery, delicious food, and an eclectic mix of festivals there really is something to please everyone!
Here at #OnTheQT we LOVE to visit summer festivals around the country, and so we took a road trip down to see what the wooden boat festival in Baltimore had to offer! Three days of sailing, interesting talks, markets, a boat building competition and partying in true West Cork style… we knew we were in for a good weekend! As the festival coincides with Baltimore Seafood Festival, it is most certainly the perfect time to visit Baltimore!
My favourite part of the festival was the boat building competition which commenced at 10am on Saturday morning. Teams of 4 were given a supply of raw materials… and 6 hours to make a boat! They worked together under the heat of the hot sun in attempt to create a masterpiece… which was judged on appearance overnight before the big race on Sunday morning! Baltimore pier was full to the brim with spectators as the race took off and they paddled out to a buoy… for the boats that didn’t sink before arriving at the buoy, the rules outlined that all boats had had to sail back to shore! There was great excitement as the winners sailed in well ahead of anyone else!
There was a great atmosphere after with the sun shining brightly, live music, delicious food stalls, market stalls selling handmade jewellery and local crafts, a bouncing castle and plenty other entertainment for young children!
Sunshine, sailing, and a super atmosphere… We will most certainly be back to visit the unique festival next Summer!
Other fun things to do in Baltimore:
- Take a trip to Lough Hyne either for a refreshing swim or a hike (with an amazing view at the top),
- Learn how to sail at Baltimore sailing school,
- Go scuba diving to explore one of the many nearby shipwrecks,
- Visit the Beacon,
- Hop on a boat out to one of the nearby islands such as Cape Clear, Sherkin or Heir Island,
- Sit and watch the world go by as you eat delicious pizza at Jacobs just off the pier!
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast (or concert if you’re lucky) at The Glebe gardens.
I’m sure you can understand why Baltimore is one of our favourite places here at #OnTheQT! Hope you enjoy your next visit there, be sure to let us know how you get on! 🙂 x
