Belgooly – Estuary Walks and a Historic Mill

Belgooly can be understood through its walks, riverside scenery and a historic building. The Belgooly Estuary Walks run from the village along the estuary; another recreational path was created by the River Belgooly in the direction of Kinsale. There are also the river connections of the River Stick and the ruinous Belgooly Flour Mill. Together, these bring specific routes, habitats and architectural history into focus.

Walks by the Estuary and River

The Belgooly Estuary Walks are an approximately two-kilometre-long estuary walk. They lead from the village along the estuary. Their length and route provide complementary points of reference: the approximate distance indicates the extent of the walk, while the route describes its connection to the village and the estuary.

A second walking route is the scenic recreational path by the River Belgooly. It was created from the south of the village in the direction of Kinsale. Unlike the Estuary Walks, this route description refers to the River Belgooly and the direction of Kinsale.

Route 228 runs between Kinsale and Cork City via Belgooly. If you are planning to use this connection, check the timetable before travelling.

River Scenery and Habitats

The River Stick runs along the western edge of the village and flows into the tidal River Belgooly to the south. Its tidal zone extends to the boundary of Belgooly.

The corridors of the two River Stick branches also meet in the village. They are among the ecologically valuable habitats and include, among other things, strips of woodland. Together with the course of the river and the tidal zone, these corridors form another aspect of the local landscape.

The Belgooly Flour Mill

The Belgooly Flour Mill is a ruinous building with six bays and six storeys. It is listed in the Record of Protected Structures under code 00725. The details about its bays and storeys describe the building’s layout and vertical structure.

The mill was built in 1832. In the late 1870s, it was incorporated into a distillery and converted into a grain store. Its history can therefore be divided into two periods: its construction, followed later by its incorporation into a distillery and conversion into a store.

Cork as a Wider Travel Destination

The wider travel destination of Cork offers additional cultural and landscape highlights. Barryscourt Castle was built between 1392 and 1420 as an Irish tower house. Charles Fort was built between 1677 and 1682 to protect the town and harbour of Kinsale. From the fort’s walls and ramparts, you can look out over the harbour. The two buildings thus represent different historical themes: a tower house and a fortification associated with the harbour.

Fota Arboretum is another highlight in the wider travel destination of Cork. It covers 11 hectares and is home to rare, delicate trees and shrubs that grow outdoors. The gardens at Fota include an ornamental pond, formal pleasure gardens, an orangery and a sun temple. The gardens’ design may change over time.

Discover more destinations: Dunmanway, Kilbrittain, Skahanagh More, Ahakista, Ballyvourney, Slievemore, Glenville, Ardfield.

For the wider travel overview: Cork.