Tailor made wildlife & whale-watching holidays in Ireland

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Whale & dolphin watching in West Cork from £295pp for 3nts

Seeing whales in the wild is still one of the greatest thrills in nature, and it is perfectly possible in the waters off the South West of Ireland. Since the government declared the coastal waters a whale and dolphin sanctuary in the early 1990's, the area of West Cork in Ireland has become established as a renowned destination for lovers of these magical animals.

Our short break to Ireland includes a half day whale-watching boat trip with an expert resident marine biologist. With three nights in the attractive coastal village of Baltimore, you will also have plenty of time to relax and explore more of the quaint villages, quirky craft shops and friendly bars and restaurants that dot the beautiful coastline of West Cork. This is where the Irish themselves like to holiday – but they don’t mind sharing the secret!

What you might see

Coastal waters off the South West of Ireland are a summer feeding ground for a number of whale species - commonly seen off the South coast are both Fin Whales and Minke Whales, whilst Humpback Whales make a slightly later, yet spectacular entrance. All in all, whale watching in Ireland is some of the best in Europe. In recent years over 12 cetacean species have been seen in the clear, unpolluted waters here. The area also plays host to resident populations of Common Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises. In addition, there are frequent sightings of other dolphin species at different times throughout the year including Bottlenose Dolphins and Risso's Dolphins. There are some opportunistic sightings of Killer Whales (Orca), Long-finned Pilot Whales, White Beaked Dolphins and Atlantic White Sided Dolphins. Other marine mammals regularly sighted on our wildlife boat tours include both the Atlantic Grey Seal and the Common Seal.

When to go on your whale-watching holiday

While Porpoises and Common Dolphins are resident, Minke Whales arrive off this part of the Irish coast starting in May. Fin Whales traditionally arrive in June or July. Both species continue through August into the autumn. The less predictable Humpback Whales traditionally arrive during August or the early autumn months.

The whale-watch West Cork experience

Your vessel is a comfortable, well-equipped, twin-engine catamaran, licensed to carry 12 passengers and 2 crew, so this will be an intimate experience. She is fast and stable and has all round excellent visibility, ideal for whale and dolphin watching tours. With a toilet on board, facilities for making hot drinks and a spacious wheelhouse with seating, passenger comfort is assured. You should dress warmly and bring any food or drink you may require.

The whale-watching trips depart from Baltimore harbour, a short walk from the hotel. Your guide is a very experienced skipper and marine wildlife expert. He has also drawn up a code of conduct for whale watching to encourage best practice in conservation and education in the whale watching business.

Your Hotel

Just on the outskirts of Baltimore, but within easy walk of the harbour and centre, this traditional inn features a bar area crammed with memorabilia of years gone by, leading into a bright and airy restaurant. Sup on sumptuously-fresh seafood as you gaze out to the boats bobbing on the water, or chat over a Murphy’s with the locals. Rooms are extremely spacious, and neatly decorated with splashes of cheery colours. A feeling of being beside the seaside pervades the place, and the welcome is every bit as warm as you’d expect.

Prices & Dates for our tailor-made holiday

This wildlife holiday can be arranged from late April to end October 2012.

The price is £295 per person for April & October, £305 per person for May to September, for 3 nights on a bed & breakfast basis, and includes a half day whale-watching boat trip.

Travel to Ireland

We would be delighted to book your travel to Ireland for this wjhale-watching holiday.

The most convenient ferry routes are the overnight Swansea to Cork service or the Pembroke or Fishguard to Rosslare day time services.

There are direct flight connections to Cork from many UK airports including London airports, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Luton, Southampton and Edinburgh.

Note for Ireland wildlife trips:
We of course cannot guarantee that you will see any of the wildlife described - these are wild animals and as such cannot be called to order, and no refund will be made if you are unlucky enough not to see any of the animals described, despite the very best efforts of the guides.

All our wildlife holidays include a map of Ireland with recommended routes from your specified starting point, suggestions on places to see and visit depending on your personal interests and our expertise to help you get the most from your holiday in Ireland.

All holidays and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.

The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee

All our holiday prices include a service charge of £8 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday.

We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.