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Strand View self-catering Holiday Homes
have been awarded a four star rating by Failte Ireland (Irish
Tourist Board). These three newly-constructed holiday homes are
situated in the picturesque village of Allihies, on the Beara
Peninsula, in West Cork. They offer spectacular views, including
views of beautiful Ballydonegan Beach, known locally as 'The
Strand.'
The expansive outlook from the two sea-facing homes takes in the
sweep of the Atlantic Ocean from Dursey Island to Cod’s Head.
The view also encompasses the stark beauty of the Caha Mountain
range as it sweeps down towards the sea.
 Allihies is a small coastal village, situated on the
western end of the Beara Peninsula, West
Cork. The area has a magnificent, rugged
beauty and a fascinating history.
From 1812 until the mid 20th century, Allihies was a
copper-mining centre. Two ‘Man Engine’ houses, built in 1861 to
provide power for the mine, still stand. They provide a
spectacular reminder of the area’s mining heritage. That
heritage was celebrated in September 2007 when President Mary McAleese officially opened the Allihies Copper Mine Museum.
There is a lovely café adjacent to the Mine Museum where a
selection of beverages, snacks and meals can be enjoyed.
’Veronica’s’, opposite the Mine Museum, serves a variety of
light meals.
O’Neill’s Bar in Allihies Village
provides a wide range of bar-food throughout the day and has a separate
restaurant, ‘Pluais Umha’ which serves delicious
 evening
meals. Local fish dishes feature prominently on its extensive
a-la-carte menu.
Traditional music and
ballad sessions feature regularly in the three village pubs and
visitors are always welcome to join in.
The village is built at the base of the
mountain. It, like nearby Eyeries, is renowned for its brightly
painted houses. These include a general store, a post-office,
three pubs and three restaurants. The village also features a
well-equipped children’s playground.
LOCAL AMENITIES
 Everybody who visits comments on the
sense of peace, of being ‘away from it all,’ that they experience
in Allihies. Indeed, the fame of the nearby Dzogchen Beara
Retreat Centre, which attracts visitors from all over the world,
is at least partly founded on the landscape’s ability to foster
such peace. Situated just 7 miles from Allihies, the centre, run
by RIGPA, an international Tibetan Buddhist organisation, offers
a variety of classes and daily meditation sessions which are
open to everybody. www.dzogchenbeara.org
For those who like more active pursuits, the mountains around
Allihies and the surrounding countryside provide a wide
selection of walks, including mapped Beara Way routes
www.bearaway.net . ‘The Strand’, the lovely sandy beach at
Ballydonegan Bay, only 15 minutes walk from the village, is the
perfect place to swim and sunbathe. The village has a recently
established Diving School
www.cluin.com.
Cycling and shore angling are other local options.
Pony- trekking
can be arranged by visiting Dunboy Riding Stables. At the West
Cork Sailing and Powerboating Centre in
Adrigole, visitors can rent a boat or enjoy group day-sailing
trips around Beara’s coastline, which include stops in scenic
locations.
www.westcorksailing.com.
There is a 9- hole golf course in nearby Castletownbere.
For those who wish to use Allihies as a
base for exploring West Cork and Kerry, many towns such as
Glengarriff, Bantry, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Kenmare and
Killarney are easily accessible as day-trip destinations.
Closer to Allihies, day trips on Ireland’s only cable car, to nearby Dursey
Island (6 miles away) or to Bere Island, near Castletownbere, by
ferry, are popular options.
www.irishislands.info
INSIDE STRAND VIEW HOLIDAY HOMES
Outdoor images on this page courtesy of
John Eagle Photography
www.johneaglephoto.com
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