Union Hall: Whale Watching in West Cork
Cork, Ireland
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Reen Pier Whale Watcher
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300
XP
2 days
Union Hall: Whale Watching in West Cork
300 XP
Deep water comes close inshore along this part of the West Cork coast, which is why the whales come in near the headlands — minke and fin whales through the autumn, humpbacks with them from around August into the new year, and common and bottlenose dolphins most of the year. The long-running whale-watching operation at Reen Pier has stopped trading after more than twenty-five years, so trips now run out of other West Cork harbours; from the land, the headlands west and east of Glandore Harbour look out over the same water for nothing.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Watch from a headland on a calm autumn day — take binoculars, take time, and scan the horizon rather than the water in front of you
2
of 4
Book a whale-watching trip with a West Cork operator that is currently sailing, and check before you travel
3
of 4
Log what you see with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's sightings scheme
4
of 4
Walk Union Hall's pier and find the working fishing boats on Glandore Harbour, which the village shares with Glandore across the water
Watch from a headland on a calm autumn day — take binoculars, take time, and scan the horizon rather than the water in front of you
Book a whale-watching trip with a West Cork operator that is currently sailing, and check before you travel
Log what you see with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's sightings scheme
Walk Union Hall's pier and find the working fishing boats on Glandore Harbour, which the village shares with Glandore across the water
Before you go
Humpback whales join the fin and minke whales off West Cork from around August to January.
Boat operators on this coast come and go — the Reen Pier trips have ended. Check your operator is currently sailing before you build a day around it.
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XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
300 XP
Potential total
300 XP
Stop 2 of 2 · Baltimore, Lough Hyne and Union Hall
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