Kinsale: Charles Fort, the Old Head and the Lusitania
Cork, Ireland
Badge Unlock
Charles Fort
Complete this challenge to add this badge to your collection.
250
XP
1 day
Kinsale: Charles Fort, the Old Head and the Lusitania
250 XP
In 1601 a Spanish army landed at Kinsale to join Hugh O'Neill and Red Hugh O'Donnell, and the battle outside the town ended the Nine Years' War. The harbour is guarded by two forts: James Fort, a 17th-century pentagonal bastion fort on the Castlepark peninsula, and Charles Fort, a star fort of 1677 at Summercove, partly restored. In town stands Desmond Castle of about 1500, known as the French Prison. Out at the Old Head of Kinsale, 11 nautical miles offshore, the U-20 torpedoed the Lusitania on 7 May 1915 and she sank in about eighteen minutes.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Walk the ramparts of Charles Fort, the bastion fort built between 1677 and 1682
2
of 5
Find out why the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 ended the Nine Years' War
3
of 5
Find Desmond Castle, the French Prison, in the town, and read its story from the street
4
of 5
Drive or cycle out to the Old Head and look out to where the Lusitania went down
5
of 5
Eat in one of the harbour restaurants of Kinsale
Walk the ramparts of Charles Fort, the bastion fort built between 1677 and 1682
Find out why the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 ended the Nine Years' War
Find Desmond Castle, the French Prison, in the town, and read its story from the street
Drive or cycle out to the Old Head and look out to where the Lusitania went down
Eat in one of the harbour restaurants of Kinsale
Before you go
Desmond Castle is closed for conservation works — you can see it from the street but not go in. Charles Fort is open all year, 10:00–18:00 in summer and 10:00–17:00 from November to mid-March.
Finding nearby campsites...
About Cork
Loading region info…
Explore more about Cork:
Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
250 XP
Potential total
250 XP
Stop 1 of 2 · Kinsale and Clonakilty
West Cork: A Long Weekend from Cork
4 nights · 7 things to do · Ireland, Munster
A long weekend in a loop from Cork: Kinsale's forts and Clonakilty black pudding, then three nights around Baltimore for Sherkin Island, Lough Hyne, Drombeg stone circle and whales off Union Hall.
Stop 1 of 6 · Kinsale and Clonakilty
West Cork and Kerry from Cork
10 nights · 15 things to do · Ireland, Munster
Ten nights in a loop from Cork: Kinsale and Baltimore on the West Cork coast, Garnish Island at Glengarriff, Killarney's lakes, three nights in Dingle with the Blaskets, then Blarney and the English Market.
Stop 3 of 8 · Kinsale and Clonakilty
South to Cork and Kerry from Rosslare
12 nights · 20 things to do · Ireland, Munster
Twelve nights in a loop from Rosslare to Kerry and back: Cork Harbour and Kinsale, three nights in West Cork around Baltimore, Garnish Island and the Healy Pass, Killarney, then Cashel and Kilkenny.
More challenges nearby
within 100km
The English Market: Cork's Covered Market Since 1788
Ireland · Cork
food
easy
1d
22 km away
Rory Gallagher: The Stompin' Ground
Ireland · Cork
cultural
easy
1d
22 km away
Cobh, Spike Island and Great Island by Bike
Ireland · Cork
sports
easy
1d
23 km away
Blarney Castle: Hanging Upside Down for the Gift of the Gab
Ireland · Cork
history
easy
1d
25 km away
Clonakilty: Black Pudding and Michael Collins
Ireland · Cork
food
easy
1d
27 km away
Road Bowling: Throwing an Iron Ball Down a Country Road
Ireland · Cork
sports
easy
1d
30 km away