Of the four Clonakilty wins easily (Kinsale = Pricey; Baltimore = Nice but limited; Rosscarberry = Small, limited to very limited).
Clonakilty:- Beautiful town. Narrow streets, Friendly People, Good Shopping, Busy, Perfect Base for driving towards Galley Head Lighthouse, Castlefreke Woods, Long Strand, Red Strand and a million good smaller beaches. Take your time though. Avoid some beaches (you'll know by the state of them within minutes of approach and just don't stop). Union Hall,, Glandore, Lough Hyne all of which are beautiful are a short drive distant. Give Skibbereen a visit too (one way system that would destroy a mathematician's brain). But shopping there is good and a few good restaurants too. While you're in Lough Hyne area try the nearby walk to the hilltop which has magnificent views for miles and worth the effort (God be with the days when we dragged a buggy with child up there - I should have qualified for entry to the SAS on that alone). It's probably your first trip so I won't overload the information where to avoid warm pints and cold publicans. Try a trip to Castletownshend and visit the local churchyard - teeming with history and holds the resting place of the authors of The Irish RM (Edith Somerville) and others.
Kinsale:- Beautiful, Expensive and Very Expensive. Usually full of traffic and nobody knowing where they are going. Charlesfort and Jamesfort worth a visit. The abbey in Timoleague is a good place to spend some time. It might take you back to your school days with Tigh Molaga (poem). The Old Head of Kinsale is a beautiful short drive but has some good scenery.
Baltimore:- End of the road town. It is beautiful though, but not too much to do unless you take the ferry to Cape Clear. Plenty of opportunities for your camera in and around Baltimore with spectacular photo options of the harbour, yachts and sunsets. Schull is a beautiful village and has spectacular views and quite a bit of history too.
Roscarbery or Rosscarberry:- Quaint town, fairly quiet, limited in restaurants but Celtic Ross Hotel just down the road might have some entertainment on. Occasionally, a local artist can be seen painting landscapes near the hotel. Have a look at his work. The area has good picnic tables inside and outside of the town. Be careful with your children as the main road there would see Lewis Hamilton overtaken by some of the local hoodie wearers as they scream through at high speed in their suped up cars.
