Outdoor Fun in Cork City
If you are planning on visiting Cork city, be sure to make the most of the weather and enjoy all the lovely things to do outdoors. Whether it be a family trip, a trip with your partner or a group of friends there is something to suit everyone!
Below is a list of our favourite outdoor activities, to ensure you have the best time in Cork!
Get Those Steps Up
Discover Cork city on foot with Free Walking Tours of Cork. Starting from Daunt’s Square you can enjoy a 90-minute tour of Cork exploring the ancient city, visualising its castles, river channels, visiting back streets and sites of long ago. Or for the brave of heart take a walk on the spooky side with Cork Ghost Tour. Enjoy horrible hilarious histories, tall tales, ghastly ghost stories & shenanigans! A walking tour in Cork city, that takes in the sights, interweaving local Ghost stories, Cork’s dramatic history, and Boo-Scares. For those who want to walk it alone, there are many walks to choose from – the Shandon Mile Walk, Cork Street Art Walk, South Parish Walk, or Cork University Walk. Visit the website to plan your route!
Riding Along on a Push Bike
Hiring a bike in Cork is easy as the city operates a bike-sharing scheme, with 32 stations where you can pick up or drop off your bicycle. Take a trip around the city on wheels or venture down to the Marina by the River Lee and Pairc ui Chaoimh where you can take a bike tour of the Mahon Walkway. The walkway/cycle track extends along the Old Passage Railway line from The Marina at the northern end to Rochestown at the southern end with lots of options to exit along the way at Blackrock, Mahon, etc. Alternatively, book a cycle tour and get a 3-hour tour of the city on wheels.
A River with a View
Discover Cork City from a different perspective and take a Kayaking trip on the River Lee. Guests of Clayton Hotel Cork City can avail of special rates by calling Jim Kennedy of Atlantic Sea Kayaking. For a different kind of boating experience, you can visit Cork Harbour Boat Hire that is located in Cobh. They can offer you a day to remember whether it’s Self-Drive Boats, High-Speed Ribs, or Sailing Tours there is something for everyone. This is an ideal day out in Cork for groups of all ages and sizes.
To the Infinity and Beyond
For the adventurous of spirit why not visit Zipit at Farran Woods. It is only 20 minutes from Cork city, beside the National Rowing Centre and Inniscarra Lake. With a children’s playground, deer enclosure, and duck pond, there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Another option is to visit the outdoor adventure centre Ballyhass Lakes and go kayaking, paddle boarding, raft building on the water alongside rock climbing, and abseiling on the natural cliff faces all available for a day trip.
To the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle
Fota Wildlife Park is a 100-acre wildlife park located on Fota Island, just 20 minutes’ drive from the hotel. A fantastic day out for all the family you won’t want to miss when visiting Cork. Opened in 1983, it is an independently funded, not-for-profit charity that is one of the leading tourism, wildlife and conservation attractions in Ireland. Walk the wildlife park and see the tigers, oryx, monkeys, penguins, kangaroos, red panda, giraffes, the much-loved lemurs and so much more. Preserving animal life and habitats in the wild are two of the primary objectives of the park.
