One of our favourite activities is to drive or take a bus from the central bus station to Blarney. While the Blarney Stone is famous, and also the Blarney Woollen Mills, the grounds of Blarney Castle are very beautiful and we enjoy walking around there. There is a bus a five minute walk from our house to the train station where you can get regular trains to Dublin for a day trip. Cork is situated on a river but as we like to go to walk at the seaside, the nearest one, Crosshaven can be reached by bus and of course by car. Other day trips that we make include a trip to Killarney or the west Cork town of Clonakilty and the nearby beach of Inchydoney (a car would be needed for Inchydoney). The city of Cork itself is well worth a visit and is a beautiful city with arts centres, cinemas, pubs, restaurants and shops. It's a very lively city. Our favourite vegetarian restaurant is Cafe Paradiso, and for non vegetarian we particularly like The Glass Curtain and Pigalle. Our favourite lunchtime restaurant is the Farmgate in Cork's downtown English Market. Closer to home for lunch we like to walk to Blackrock Castle Cafe.