A Day Out to Crosshaven and Camden Fort Meagher

Carrigaline's seaside neighbour

Crosshaven is the harbour village at the end of the Owenabue, about five kilometres from Carrigaline and a few minutes by car or an hour on foot along the greenway. It is where the river finally meets the open harbour, a place of moored yachts, a working RNLI station, and the oldest yacht club in the world. It makes an easy half-day or, with a bit of walking, a full one.

Getting there

You have a choice, and the nice option is to walk one way and ride the other. The five-kilometre greenway follows the estuary from Carrigaline past Drake's Pool to Crosshaven; the 220 bus runs between the two roughly every fifteen minutes during the day. Walk out, bus back, or the reverse. If you would rather drive, it is a short hop on the R612 with parking in the village.

Camden Fort Meagher

The main event is Camden Fort Meagher, the great Victorian coastal fort cut into the headland just south of the village. Restored with the help of local volunteers, it is a maze of tunnels, batteries, ramparts and magazines, with dramatic views across the harbour mouth to Fort Carlisle opposite. For 2026 it runs from May to the end of October: Wednesday to Sunday in May, June, September and October, and daily in July and August, opening at 10am with last entry at 4pm. Admission is around eight euro for adults, five for concessions. Allow a couple of hours and wear decent shoes for the steps and tunnels.

Currabinny Woods

If the fort is closed for the season or you want more air, head for Currabinny Woods, the Coillte forest on the promontory across the river, about ten minutes from Carrigaline. The short Gazebo Loop climbs through mature trees to a hilltop summer house and cairn with sweeping views over the harbour, Crosshaven and Camden Fort itself; the longer Terrace Loop circles the perimeter. There is a large car park and the views from the top are the best free thing going in the area.

Where to eat

Crosshaven punches above its weight for food. Cronin's Pub on the waterfront is a family-run institution with an award-winning seafood menu and a cafe next door for brunch and coffee. The Oar Bar offers harbour views and food the locals rate. Either makes a good lunch or dinner stop to round off the day; both lean on the harbour's seafood, which is the right call here.

Making a day of it

A relaxed plan: walk the greenway out from Carrigaline in the morning, stopping at Drake's Pool; tour Camden Fort Meagher around the middle of the day; lunch on the Crosshaven waterfront; and either bus back or climb Currabinny for the views before you head home. It is one of the most rewarding low-effort days in south Cork.