Spectacular views, hairpin bends, an open crab sandwich... annual road trip to Mizen Peninsula remains as a highlight on the calendar

I THINK I was doing something pretty banal, like loading the dishwasher when it happened. I looked out the window and could hardly believe my eyes – it was finally raining! I rushed out and did a little jig on the patio in joy, a rain dance, as the dogs looked on in bemusement. And then three second later it stopped. I’m not sure who was more disappointed – me or my hydrangeas.

This has been the summer that keeps on giving but what we need it to give us now is a good drop of rain. My lawn has turned orange (it wasn’t exactly at putting green standards to start with but still). So has my hair. There are leaves falling. Not to mind the more serious situation farmers are finding themselves in. Even the daily swim is getting hazardous. There are jelly fish everywhere. It’s like they’ve had enough, and want their territory back. I think we’re all agreed: a good shot of rain is in order, like a palate cleanser. We could all get ourselves (our houses and our hair) in order and start fresh for August? Universe, are you listening?

In the meantime I’ve been flat out making the most of the summer of ’26. I’m absolutely wrecked! At the beginning of the week we took a trip down to Mizen Head. I had always put this spin off as I thought it was ‘too far away,’ but it’s not at all. Well it’s as far away as you can get on the southerly coast but still very accessible and so incredibly beautiful and unspoiled. It was quite busy when we were there, tonnes of international tourists, which was great to see and they were all as impressed as myself. An added bonus was that we got all the young members in my group out of the gift shop without buying anything (I’m all for supporting local but at this point in the summer you need to keep an eye on budgets). With the Mizen box ticked, and the photos to prove it, we took in all the highlights of the Peninsula including Ballyrisode, Goleen, and enjoyed an open crab sandwich on the pier in Crookhaven. When in Rome etc...

Canty’s Cove was another spot I wanted to tick off the list that day and we nearly didn’t make it. Google Maps was taking us here, there and everywhere on insanely narrow roads, with impossibly tight corners. The views were gorgeous but my heart was in my mouth (the crab sandwich suddenly not seeming like the best idea), and I’m honestly not sure what we’d have done if we’d have met a car, we’d have had to reverse for miles. By ‘we’ I meant my sister as she was behind the wheel. Anyway, the universe provided and having not seen a vehicle for ages, an An Post van appeared over the hill and … delivered for us. It was as lovely as I had hoped, even lovelier in fact – and we had it all to ourselves. And of course we said at least 12 times ‘sure would you want to be anywhere else?’ And you wouldn’t.

A stop-over in Crookhaven part of scenic road trip.

Later in the week we went on our annual trip to Fota Wildlife Park. It was a lovely afternoon out even if I was gutted not to see my favourite, the sloth, as his house was being cleaned; or my second favourite, the capybara (who must have been having a siesta). And we didn’t get so lucky in the gift shop this time, although I just got stung for a magnet (of a cute capybara. We couldn’t leave that behind). You can never go wrong with a trip to Fota.

And in no particular order this week we also took in: a duck race in Timoleague, a picnic in Schull and crab fishing in Courtmacsherry where the summer festival is in full swing (and all crabs were returned to their natural habitat!). This is their 50th festival and as always the programme of events is beyond impressive. The location of the village is gorgeous but without people prepared to get stuck in, nothing would happen and community spirit is alive and well here. I think it’s a blue print for all villages, everywhere.

While I have been busy, I’ve still managed to squeeze in some TV. You know me! I had been looking forward to seeing ‘Five Star Weekend’ – a new series starring Jennifer Garner and Chloe Sevigny. It’s an adaptation of a best-selling novel but I can spare you the time and the torture: it’s atrocious. Absolutely brutal. What I have been loving though is the US sitcom ‘The Middle’ on Netflix. If you haven’t already devoured it, get stuck in. It will make you laugh and cry in snappy 20 minute episodes. It’s up there with Schitt’s Creek in my opinion. Best of all there are 219 episodes and nine seasons – if you pace yourself it should take you to Christmas.

Anyway this week is looking even more packed than the last: next up is the festival dog show. We took Billy last year and while he got lots of attention, it was when he was outside of the ring. Inside the ring, not so much. As I coaxed him around (you might say dragging, I wouldn’t), I inwardly vowed that we’d be out of town when the event rolled around in 2026. But we’re not. Pray for us. We’re going to see a play in Skibbereen and if the mood takes us we might hit the road to Mayo. It’s going to be some week, make that month, up there.  Although my day touring Mizen will be hard to top. I’m so full of love for West Cork now I feel I should be some kind of ambassador for Fáilte Ireland. I’d just need a driver.