139s. The Scilly Walk from Kinsale to Charles Fort via Summercove and beyond

SCENES from IRELAND - County Cork

This a great scenic walk from the Town of Kinsale to Fort Charles and beyond.

It is essentially a linear walk, but what's wrong with seeing great views twice on the same day.

The 'Scilly' connection of the area apparently comes from the visiting Cornish sailors (fishermen) who ended up settling in this part of Kinsale, now known as Scilly.

There are two great pubs on the route, The Spaniard near the start and The Bulman at Summer Cove, just before you reach Charles Fort.

See also 139b The Town of Kinsale - street scenes and the harbour marina  139c St Multose Church, Kinsale

139f Charles Fort, on Kinsale Harbour  139g Desmond Castle, Kinsale 139h James Fort and Dock Beach near Kinsale

* *

You start the walk by heading east along the Long Quay, marked on the maps as the start of the lower road of the Scilly Walk.

Near the start of the High Road, overlooking Kinsale harbour, is The Spaniard pub, Scilly, on the Scilly Walk, with views across Kinsale harbour. The Spaniard Inn is apparently built in the 1600s on the ruins of an ancient castle.

The mural painting of the poet Desmond O'Grady on the side of the Spaniard bar.

The Spaniard is a popular pub across the harbour from Kinsale town, and, as part of a Kinsale Arts Weekend, a mural was painted on the side wall of the main building. The graphic artist Ominous Omin created a huge mural for The Spaniard, making it an even more iconic spot than it already was. Omin chose to paint local legend and poet Desmond O'Grady as part of the mural (image above). Desmond O'Grady was a regular at The Spaniard, and called a poem after the pub. O'Grady referred to the pub as "the cape of no hope" because he could never resist passing The Spaniard without going in for a drink!

At the end of the Long Quay, you swing right round on River Road (a continuation of the Lower Road) heading south-west on the Scilly Walk.

You then pick up the path of the Scilly Walk from the River/Lower Road close to the shoreline with views across to the marina and Pier Head of Kinsale

You just follow the Scilly Walk path and road to Summer Cove, a lovely place to pause for a drink at the pub and a first view of Charles Fort.

The brightly coloured Bulman pub in Summercove, a popular watering hole on the Scilly Walk route.

The Bulman Bar & Toddies Restaurant, well known in Kinsale for quality food and drinks and a dash of history!

Gentlemen' involved the failed 1601 Battle of Kinsale Earl Hugh O'Neil pictured on the front of the Bulman pub.

A peaceful Summer Cove in the early evening.

A general view of Summer Cove situated in Kinsale Harbour as you continue south on the Scilly Walk to Charles Fort.

On reaching Charles Fort, passing by one of the great bastions, the path continues for quite some way to Middle Cove and beyond.

There are various information plaques on the walk concerning the history of the area

Approaching Middle Cove with a full distance view of the entrance to Kinsale Harbour - the estuary of the River Bandon.

Middle Cove where many yachts are parked up on the quayside.

Further on is Lower Cove, the footpath continues along the shoreline to Preghane Point, but we turned back at this point to return to Kinsale.

Another view of Charles Fort on the way back to Kinsale Town.

Past Charles Fort again as we return to Kinsale on the Scilly Walk..

Return views of Kinsale for the Scilly walk.

The little dog was getting a bit tired of the Scilly Walk.

A telephoto shot back to Charles Fort from the Scilly Walk.

See also 139b The Town of Kinsale - street scenes and the harbour marina  139c St Multose Church, Kinsale

139f Charles Fort, on Kinsale Harbour  139g Desmond Castle, Kinsale 139h James Fort and Dock Beach near Kinsale

 Irish holiday tour docspics photos images pics photographs pictures © Phil Brown * Irish holiday tours, touring in Ireland, top tourist attractions, tourism information, luxury hotels, self-catering holiday cottages, airbnb air b and b air B&B accommodation, historic towns & cities in Ireland archaeological sites, museums, cheap flights, get there by flying of Ferry, Irish Ferries, Stena Line, Ryanair Travel, dining out in Ireland, good food guide to Ireland, top Irish restaurants, Irish coach tours, weekend breaks trips to Ireland docspics images photos of Scilly Walk © Phil Brown Tourist information on Scilly Walk, Walks near Scilly Walk, Having holidays near Scilly Walk, Ireland, Top tourist attractions near Scilly Walk, luxury hotels near Scilly Walk, self-catering holiday cottages near Scilly Walk, airbnb air B and B near Scilly Walk, good B&B near Scilly Walk, friendly pubs near Scilly Walk, cafes near Scilly Walk, eating out in fine restaurants near Scilly Walk, weekend breaks near Scilly Walk, wining & dining weekends near Scilly Walk, walking holidays around Scilly Walk, touring coach tours including Scilly Walk, pretty villages near Scilly Walk, historic towns and pretty village near Scilly Walk, museums near Scilly Walk, local art galleries near Scilly Walk, guided walks from Scilly Walk, excellent fell hill walking around Scilly Walk, rambling near Scilly Walk, exploring the landscape near Scilly Walk, good places to eat near Scilly Walk, tourist attractions near Scilly Walk, tourist information for places near Scilly Walk, good places for wining and dining near Scilly Walk, good walks near Scilly Walk, properties for sale near Scilly Walk, renting a flat or house near Scilly Walk, property for rent near Scilly Walk, houses for sale near Scilly Walk, lettings near Scilly Walk, places to rent near Scilly Walk, holiday cottage accommodation near Scilly Walk docspics images photos of Scilly Walk Ireland © Phil Brown Tourist information on Scilly Walk, Things to do in Scilly Walk, What to see in Scilly Walk, guided walks in Scilly Walk, weekend breaks in Scilly Walk holidays in Scilly Walk, Top tourist attractions in Scilly Walk, luxury hotels in Scilly Walk, self-catering holiday cottages in Scilly Walk, airbnb air B and B in Scilly Walk, good B&B in Scilly Walk, friendly pubs in Scilly Walk, cafes in Scilly Walk, eating out in fine restaurants in Scilly Walk, bargain holiday breaks in Scilly Walk, wining & dining weekends in Scilly Walk, touring coach tours visiting Scilly Walk, pretty areas in Scilly Walk, historic buildings in Scilly Walk, visiting museums in Scilly Walk, local art galleries in Scilly Walk, guided walks in Scilly Walk, history of Scilly Walk, architecture of Scilly Walk, historic houses in Scilly Walk, historic churches in Scilly Walk, information centre in Scilly Walk, heritage places in Scilly Walk, good places to eat in Scilly Walk, top tourist attractions in Scilly Walk, tourist information for things to do and see in Scilly Walk, good places to eat out in Scilly Walk, good places to walk to in Scilly Walk, tourist attractions properties for sale in Scilly Walk, renting a flat of house in Scilly Walk, property for rent in Scilly Walk, houses for sale in Scilly Walk, lettings in Scilly Walk, places to rent in Scilly Walk, holiday cottage accommodation in Scilly Walk