Fastnet Line - Cork Swansea Ferry - Blog » Cork Swansea Ferry

Cardiff

Fastnet Line — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:58:57 +0000

Cardiff Bay

The capital of Wales is an exciting place to visit with a compact city centre containing all you need and being a great place to base yourself for an assault on all things Welsh. The advent of a degree of autonomy for Wales within the United Kingdom, with its own government, elected representatives and legislative assembly has given Wales a self-confidence to face the challenges of the new millennium. The Castle remains an iconic feature of the city as it has for over two thousand years alongside the more modern features such as the Millennium Centre, the visitor centre known as “The Tube” and the stylishly classic National Museum. Many people will come for large sporting occasions such as the biennial Six Nations clash between the Celtic cousins Wales and Ireland but Cardiff Bay boasts an impressive array of watersports to participate in as well as nearby walking, horseriding, rock climbing, kayaking and cycling. Golf of course is the vogue sport with the 2010 Ryder cup taking place at Celtic Manor just twenty minutes from Cardiff and is sure to attract thousands of spectators from Europe and the USA. Don’t forget to unwind with shopping, bars, cafes and restaurants or make a beeline for a concert or opera to keep the culture quotient high.

Swansea

Fastnet Line — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:58:03 +0000

Swansea is the second most populous city in Wales after the capital Cardiff and is situated on the south west coast of Wales an area noted for its sandy beaches. The nearby Gower peninsula is an area of outstanding natural beauty and the seaside village of Mumbles is a must visit collection of art galleries, shops, cafes and restaurants. The city itself has risen from its industrial past to become a vibrant modern city with new developments giving the city a forward looking aspect in the 21^st century. In the nearby Afan and Vale of Neath area there is world class mountain biking, walking and the largest forest south of Scotland. There is almost no sport that is uncatered for in the area including fishing, sailing, golfing, wind and kite surfing, golf, canoeing and if that leaves you breathless you can pause to take in the rich heritage of the area including diverse galleries and museums and the Dylan Thomas Centre celebrating the world famous poet and prose writer of “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” and “Under Milk Wood”. The area hosts numerous arts festivals and sporting events throughout the year which means that Swansea has more than enough to occupy several return visits so take the time to get to know the area and you won’t regret it.

Killarney

Fastnet Line — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:56:21 +0000

Killarney is known the world over for its magnificent scenery with a truly unforgettable mixture of mountain and lake preserved in a National Park which is a national treasure. Killarney has a year long programme of events and in some ways is the Irish equivalent of the “city that never sleeps” with something to do every day as it constantly reinvents itself year after year. There are a myriad of activities here for young and old, singles and families, with accommodation from hostels, to self-catering to hotels and with food and drink and music to hand at almost every turn.

Blackwater Valley

Fastnet Line — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:47:21 +0000

Lying to the north and west of Cork city encompassing towns such as Mallow, Fermoy and Millstreet the Blackwater Valley tourism area taking its name from the world famous anglers paradise that is the Blackwater river, is a diverse area of commercial towns and rolling countryside amongst the most fertile in this region of Ireland. There is equine heritage here in abundance with the original steeplechase being a horse race first run from Buttevant church to St. Leger Church in the village of Doneraile in 1752. As well as fishing, golf, hillwalking and cycling the area has an abundance of natural beauty and Millstreet Country Park encompasses this beauty with an educational program, archaeological sites, managed wetlands and planned gardens not to mention a number of water features and a replica of a famous Belgian fountain the Mont Des Arts opened in 2009.

Goleen/Mizen

Fastnet Line — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:42:37 +0000

The Mizen peninsula is the most southerly part of Ireland and the lighthouse and visitor centre at Mizen Head are a must see when in the area. Along the way you will marvel at the breathtaking beauty of this rugged landscape and perhaps wonder at the strength and resilience of a local population who have survived for generations farming and fishing this difficult terrain and at times, wild seas. The village of Goleen is for many a refreshment stop on the way to Mizen but many visitors bewitched by the landscape choose it as their “get away from it all” piece of heaven.

The rocky coastline and sheer promontories give way to a number of spectacular sandy beaches, most notably at Barley Cove. The combination of high rocky cliffs and sandy beach backed by high sand dunes make it an unforgettable sight. The little fishing village of Crookhaven at the end of a little promontory has its own end of the world atmosphere and with the sun shining and the boats bobbing at anchor in this sliver of a bay the noise and hubbub of the outside world seems a very long way away.

Skibbereen/Castletownshend

Fastnet Line — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:40:34 +0000

Skibbereen on the Ilen river is a pleasant town bustling town with a thriving local community bolstered in the summer months by a regular influx of visitors. It hosts an annual arts festival including an outdoor music concert and hosts regular art exhibitions, plays and sporting events including the Fastnet International Car Rally (24^th October 2010) throughout the year. The town gained international notoriety in the 1840s when the potato famine which afflicted large parts of Ireland had a particularly devastating effect on the local population. The reporting internationally of the famine in Skibbereen focused attention on the town and its surrounding areas and the Heritage Centre in the town movingly tells the story of those troubled times. Castletownshend is a small village about six miles from Skibbereen made up of well built sylish homes dating from the 18^th Century along a steeply sloping main street ending at the harbour overlooked by the lovely St. Barrahane’s church and the Castle owned by the Townshend family which gives the village its name. Sailing, fishing and a music festival annually in the aforementioned church are just some of the delights awaiting those who make the effort to seek out this haven of tranquillity.

Glandore/Union Hall

Fastnet Line — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:40:02 +0000

Glandore and Union Hall are another of the out of the way delights of West Cork. These two small villages at either side of the harbour reflect back at each other the beauty and peace to be found in small communities. Union Hall is still a working fishing port and the brightly painted shop fronts in the town make it seem a film set which in fact it was, being one of the locations for the 1994 film “The War of the Buttons”. Food and drink are needs never to be ignored while in this part of the world and you won’t go far wrong if fish is your food of choice. A selection of places to stay nearby means you never have to leave. Glandore has a big reputation for such a small place and the list of its cosmopolitan inhabitants year round is testimony to its beguiling qualities. Its small harbour is frequented by the sailing and cruising fraternity and there are no lack of activities should you wish to pursue them locally but in truth most people seem to like to “hang out” and enjoy the food, wine and conversation which is the social currency here. Nearby Drombeg Stone Circle is a place which though describable, is best felt – the small circle of stones and remains of the living quarters of our ancient ancestors set on a plateau overlooking the sea is an atmospheric reminder of life three millennia ago.

Carrigaline/Crosshaven

Fastnet Line — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:34:38 +0000

Carrigaline is the town closest to the ferry port in Ringaskiddy and is a commuter town of nearby Cork city. There are many lively bars and places to eat as well as shopping of all sorts and beaches and beautiful coastline is only minutes away. Nearby Crosshaven is a picturesque village which hosts the world’s oldest yacht club, the Royal Cork. Every two years the club runs an international race series for all sizes of racing yachts in a festival known as “Cork Week”. This year the festival runs from the 10th to the 16th July and is not to be missed.

13 days to the first sailing of Fastnet Line

Fastnet Line — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:29:16 +0000

Only 13 days left to the first commercial sailing of Fastnet Line the new Cork-Swansea route – hope you have booked your ticket!!

Fastnet Line are open for bookings

Fastnet Line — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:26:16 +0000

Welcome to our new website.

Hope you like it and make sure and book your ferry to Ireland here with Fastnet Line.