On the surface, many areas of West Cork appear relatively flat and undulating. Not so. Beneath your feet, the Devonian-aged sandstones have been bent, crumpled and contorted into a myriad of folds.
You do not get a full appreciation of how solid rock can be squeezed by the compressive strength of a mountain-building episode, that happened slowly over a period of 50-100 million years, until you view the results from the sea.
These cliff views are along the peninsula that is the Old Head of Kinsale. Even the Old Head of Kinsale lighthouse sits on top of its own rocky outcrop, thanks to a beautiful fold.
If you can’t get to view the rocks from the sea, you can at least enjoy a lovely walk along the peninsula which is close to the location of the sinking of the liner “Lusitania”.