Discover Garnish Island!
From the Bay View Bed and Breakfast you can see one of Glengarriff’s most magical treasures – Garnish Island (Ilnacullin Garinish or Garnish). Garnish Island is located in the sheltered harbour of Glengarriff which is part of Bantry Bay. Garnish is world renowned for its gardens which are laid out in beautiful walks and it has some stunning specimen plants which are rare in this climate.
The Bay View Bed and Breakfast team can make arrangements for ferry tickets, or you purchase them directly from Glengarriff Pier or the Blue Pool. The very sheltered ferry trip includes a wonderful visit to seal island where you will visit the very tame seal colony.
The Gardens are the result of the creative partnership of Annan Bryce and Harold Peto, architect and garden designer. The island was bequeathed to the Irish people in 1953, and was subsequently entrusted to the care of the Commissioners of Public Works.
For history buffs the Island also boasts a Martello tower on its southern shores which has been restored by the OPW. There is an amazing view of the bay from the battlements of the tower.
The alternative names Ilnacullin, or Illaunacullin (island of holly) and Garinish, also have a long history in the locality, and appear in early maps.