The Village of Schull is relatively easy to reach from Cork city and Cork Airport. It is approximately 90 km (56 miles) or an hour and forty minutes drive from Cork city.
There are direct flights to Cork from Bristol and Heathrow with Aer Lingus.
Car hire is available at Cork Airport. Dooley’s, AutoEurope, Avis, Budget and Hertz are among the many rental car companies.
When you arrive at Cork city, follow signs to N71 (West Cork) which will take you all the way to Ballydehob via Innishannon, Bandon, Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, Leap and Skibbereen. If you don’t wish to stop in Bandon, Clonakilty or Skibbereen for breakfast, to sightsee or to shop, it is best to take the bypass routes marked at each town. At Skibbereen follow signs for the R592. This will take you the remaining distance to the village of Schull.
As you enter Schull you pass the church, some brightly coloured shops and pubs and a former bank on your right followed by the Bunratty Inn. Keep straight on, ignoring the left turn signposted Colla. Take the next fork left after 100 yards just after Copper Point Cottages and carry on for 1.9 miles until you reach a crossroads called Six Ways. Go through the crossroads for another 0.6 of a mile uphill and The Lookout will be on your left, just after a house called Ceim Cun.
An alternative route is to continue straight on the Goleen Road on leaving Schull village (without forking left) until after about a mile and a half you see Lowertown church on your right. At this point you turn left heading for the sea and continue for approximately 1 mile, passing through a crossroads, until you come to a T junction with spectacular views. Turn left at the T junction and The Lookout is immediately on your right.
If you wish to stop for a hearty all-day full Irish breakfast – or just for scones and a pot of tea- we can particularly recommend stopping in Bandon at Jake’s Cafe in Bandon Shopping Centre (Tel 00-353-23-8844920). Patrons of the cafe have free parking in the public car park next to it. The cooked breakfast with rashers, sausages, eggs, mushrooms, hash browns, chips, black and white pudding and toast is enough for two and the fruit scones are delicious.
Taxis: In Schull there is a local Taxi driver, Luke Nolan. Please pre-book Taxis at 00 353 86 8337504 or 00 353 28 28215
Buses: We recommend that you rent a car, or bring your own, to The Lookout. There is parking for several cars. There is a bus from Cork Airport to Cork City bus station and there is a bus about three times a day from Cork City Bus Station to Goleen, which passes through Skibbereen and Schull (www.buseireann.ie/timetables)