A 50ft white cone of a beacon, built in 1849 and known locally as "Lot's Wife", stands on a 160ft cliff at the mouth of Baltimore harbour — free to visit and reached by a short walk or a steep clifftop scramble.
Drive to the end of Beacon Road and take the short but steep path up through a field to the tower. Ground can be slippy or muddy, and the beacon sits on a tall cliff with no barriers, so keep back from the edge in sudden gusts.
The linear route from the village is 1.64km (about 22 minutes) each way, starting near Dún na Séad castle and following Beacon Road between stone walls and small fields. Allow roughly 45 minutes there and back plus 20 minutes at the top, and walk on the grass where you can — the road is narrow with bends.
The beacon stands on a cliff around 160ft high above the channel, looking across to Sherkin Island and its lighthouse, with the West Cork mountains behind. From up here you may spot whales offshore.
On a clear evening the walk out from town is a fine spot to catch the sun going down over the Atlantic before heading back for a pint. Avoid scrambling down to the water's edge — large waves break there in rough conditions.
The village, 1.6km back up the road, has the restored Dún na Séad castle, a harbour and most of the eating. Options include Dede at the Customs House, Baba'De, La Jolie Brise, Rolf's Country House, The Algiers Inn, Bushe's Bar and the Síbín.
Ferries to Sherkin and Cape Clear and whale-watching trips leave from Baltimore pier. Dolphins are seen year-round, with minke whales and harbour porpoises likely from April to December.
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