Baltimore is a pretty liittle village in Ireland (Image: Getty)
A beautiful Victorian village in Ireland is perfect for wildlife fans, with the chance to see whales and dolphins in the local waters. Baltimore is a village on the south coast of west County Cork. It has a population of just 400 people. The town’s Irish name (Dún na Séad) translates to Fort of the Jewels. Baltimore is an anglicisation of the Irish Baile an Tí Mhóir, meaning “town of the big house.”
Numbers swell in summer when visitors flock to the small village, with it being the last stop on the 1,500-mile Wild Atlantic Way, which stretches along Ireland’s west coast. It was named by the Guardian as one of the best places to visit this winter. In ancient times, Baltimore was considered a sanctuary for druids and the place name is associated in Irish mythology with the feast of Bealtaine.
Visitors to Baltimore can see whales and dolphins in local waters (Image: Getty)
The village’s history is shaped by the sea, with the Sacking of Baltimore in 1631 where pirates carried off much of the population. It became a centre of fishing and boatbuilding and the lifeboat station is among the oldest in the country.
Now, it is a popular destination for watersports and angling fans. Around the village’s pier are charter boats and pleasure craft with fishing vessels and ferries serving the main islands.
There is also the opportunity to see whales and dolphins off the coast – minke whales, common dolphins and harbour porpoise in the winter and spring and humpback and fin whales in the summer and autumn.
Other animals include the second largest fish in the world, the basking shark, and the ocean sunfish. Leatherback turtles and bluefin tuna may also be spotted at times.
The oldest part of the village with its 13th-century castle and rows of fishermen’s cottages is spread along the eastern shore of the harbour. There are also prehistoric remains and shipwrecks.
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These can be seen through scuba diving in the bay, with a Second World War submarine (U-260), the bulk carrier Kowloon Bridge and the Alondra from 1916 to be found.
At its heart is the village square around which are clustered bars and restaurants looking west over sea and islands towards the ‘land’s end’ of Ireland, Mizen Head.
There are no shopping centres, but visitors can enjoy restaurants and cafes. There is also a variety of accommodation to stay in, including hotels, B&Bs and holiday lets.
Across a superb natural harbour lie Carbery’s Hundred Isles, including the enchanting islands of Cape Clear, Sherkin and Heir, just a short ferry ride away from Baltimore Harbour over which stands the Beacon, a white-painted signal tower.