One of the dangers of living in beautiful West Cork is that it can sometimes be difficult to leave but, as Mary O’Brien finds out when she heads east, Ireland’s largest county has much to offer beyond its western shores.
We first stumbled across Inch Hideaway, an award-winning eco-glamping retreat, after travelling to the Ballymaloe Festival of Food. Looking for somewhere a little different to stay, we booked a tiny shepherd’s hut through Airbnb, unaware that it was located in an eco village. The campsite is tucked away near Whitegate, just a 20-minute stroll from the beautiful Inch Beach. We arrived late that evening, so it wasn’t until the following morning that the beauty of the place revealed itself.
On exploring, we discovered a stream winding through the property, chickens scratching around the gardens, Doris the pig happily going about her day, two horses, Bluebell and Lulu, grazing nearby, Teddy, the very friendly resident dog, and a selection of beautiful and out-of-the-ordinary accommodations.
That first brief visit was enough to convince us to return, and a few weeks later we were back during the recent heatwave, this time with three children and a dog in tow.
Inch Hideaway began almost 15 years ago when Australian-Italian couple Colleen and Fabrizio, bought what was then a flat, boggy field. While restoring the old cottage on the property, they lived for three years in a yurt themselves. That experience has shaped the campsite, which today offers an eclectic collection of comfortable accommodation, each with its own personality.
This includes the beautifully-handcrafted Fairy Fort Yurt, tucked into its own private garden, the authentic Mongolian Yurt with its colourful décor, and the spacious Sunset Yurt, positioned to catch the evening light. Our children enjoyed the quirkiness of the Wanderly Wagon, fashioned from an upcycled double-decker bus, while we appreciated the comfort of one of the newer cabins, complete with central heating and en-suite facilities.
It turned out to be the perfect arrangement with everyone having their own space to relax in, while meeting in the communal areas.
One of the greatest achievements of this campsite is the fact that each accommodation enjoys its own privacy. Although there are yurts, cabins, wagons and shared spaces throughout the property, clever landscaping and thoughtful positioning means that every accommodation feels wonderfully secluded.
Much of the site has been built using reclaimed materials rescued from old buildings and construction sites. More than 400 native Irish trees have been planted, alongside herbs, vegetables and flowering plants laid out using permaculture principles to encourage wildlife. Sustainable onsite practices such as solar power, filtered well water, eco-friendly cleaning products, recycling and composting have earned Inch Hideaway recognition from the Cork Environmental Forum as Cork’s Most Sustainable Small Business.
There is no wi-fi so phones were left aside for much of the trip while children bounced between the outdoor trampoline and table tennis in the beautifully-restored barn or explored the grounds.
The communal kitchen in the pretty hobbit-like building is very well laid-out with everything necessary for cooking. We made food in the outdoor covered barbecue area and, while we were one steak short after Teddy, the dog, helped himself, there was more than enough to go around. After dinner, we drifted towards the campfire, where a returning family from Belfast kindly shared their marshmallows with us.
Despite the relaxed atmosphere, everything at Inch Hideaway is well organised. The owners host weddings, retreats and family gatherings, and have even invested in silent disco headsets so celebrations can continue without disturbing other guests. Fabrizio also offers massage and craniosacral therapy on site and provides catering, including pizzas and barbecues, for larger groups.
Inch Hideaway also makes an excellent base for exploring East Cork. Inch Beach is an easy walk away, while Ballycotton and Midleton are all within easy reach.The cabins are fully insulated and centrally heated, so Inch Hideaway stays open throughout the winter.
Colleen and Fabrizio describe themselves as caretakers of the land and there is a genuine sense here of working with and not against nature.
For anyone looking for a break that offers a slower pace without sacrificing comfort, this very special place is well worth the trip east.
For more information or to make a booking go to www.yurtecocamping.ie.
