A tiny island garden of rare beauty in Glengarriff harbour — Italianate gardens, a Martello tower, and subtropical planting flourish in the warmth of the Gulf Stream, reached by a seal-spotting ferry ride.
The island's showpiece, designed by Harold Peto. A formal pool, a Bath-stone casita (tea house), colonnades, and classical statuary sit surrounded by lush planting from around the world. The mild microclimate makes palms, tree ferns, and exotic shrubs thrive here.
The restored Edwardian cottage of the island's creators, Annan and Violet Bryce. Guided tours reveal the family's story, with period rooms, archival exhibits, and a fascinating look at life on this remote island. Tours are more frequent in summer but limited in shoulder season.
Built in 1805 as a Napoleonic defence, this vertical-walled tower stands at the island's highest point. Climb up for panoramic views across Bantry Bay to the Caha Mountains and Whiddy Island. Annan Bryce once planned to turn it into a music room for a grand mansion that was never built.
The 10–15 minute boat crossing from Glengarriff is an attraction in itself. Ferries detour past Seal Island where a colony of harbour seals bask on the rocks. Lucky visitors may also spot the resident pair of white-tailed sea eagles, reintroduced after extinction in Ireland.
The walled garden bursts with colour from climbing roses, herbaceous borders, and exotic plants. A charming clock tower presides over this more intimate space, which also serves as the island's nursery. At its best in midsummer.
A roofless rotunda frames postcard views of the Caha Mountains and Bantry Bay. Follow the paths through the Happy Valley for an extensive collection of plants from Australia, New Zealand, and South America, sheltered by windbreaks of Scots and Monterey pine.
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