Romantic Castle at Roaring Water Bay in West Cork - Weekend special available Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

Q: Is Romantic Castle at Roaring Water Bay in West Cork - Weekend special available pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Q: Where is Romantic Castle at Roaring Water Bay in West Cork - Weekend special available located?

Located by the ocean, this family-friendly castle is within 9 mi (15 km) of Skibbereen Heritage Centre, Liss Ard Gardens and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Island Cottage is 2.4 mi (3.9 km) away.

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn

18 Sept 2025

Such a fun experience. Be prepared. It’s rustic on the bottom and new on top. The grounds and the host are both lovely. Make sure to stop at Minihans local pub. So fun.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amanda W.

13 Jun 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing views and great rustic experience

We had such a great time staying at this amazing historical site. Stephanie was very communicative and helpful with instructions and recommendations. This castle really immerses you in the history of the location. I picked this location for the amazing views and the unique experience. If you want history and beauty this is your place. If you want 5 star hotel with fancy accommodations this is not your place. But it definitely got 5 stars from me.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Audrey N.

4 Oct 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family trip

Beautiful views in a beautiful setting. Full of character and history!

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Bobbiann G.

31 Dec 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cool experience in a castle.

We enjoyed our stay a lot. Beautiful area to explore. Would recommend this rental in the summer for sure. There is barely any heating so we spent a ton of money on firewood and we were still cold. Otherwise a good experience and loved the sauna.

Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeremiah H.

27 Jun 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Castle

Great place great views

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leslie R., Wentzville MO

25 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

View is breathtaking

Beautiful location! The bedroom suite is definitely worth it. Had a great time walking the property as well.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

6 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Castle Experience

We loved everything about our stay in the Rincolisky Castle. It was the perfect base location for our travels around Ireland. Made our 30th wedding anniversary very special.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christopher B.

27 Jun 2018

Truly unique! Exactly as described!

We absolutely loved it!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Harrison P.

23 Jun 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great experience

Definitely a unique experience! The view is fantastic and the ambiance made for exactly the adventure we were looking for. It felt like a good mix of experiencing what castle living would have been like along with access to modern luxuries.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shawn K.

5 Jun 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing castle of your own

This was an amazing property! It was amazing to travel to Ireland and be able to stay in a castle and enjoy the history while enjoying the modern touches. It was everything we wished for and more. The added touches of a link with directions as well as the firewood to burn a fire at night was magical! We will definitely stay here again!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

gina s.

28 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Breathtaking views

Everything I thought it would be Such a memorable experience Relaxing, romantic, historical Our perfect last stop before leaving Ireland I will never forget it

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tara M.

16 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location

We absolutely loved our stay here! The stairs are definitely not for the faint of heart, but this was a once in a lifetime experience and we loved every second of it! The bay is absolutely stunning and you just can’t beat the views. The castle is just outside of town, far enough away to feel remote but close enough that we could go grab lunch and explore the cute shops! Highly suggest a stay here, just remember it’s a 500 year old building, not a fancy hotel.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Patrick P.

1 Oct 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous views from a historic tower-house

We had five wonderful nights in Rincolisky Castle. We were fortunate with unseasonably warm, blue-sky weather. The geography of Roaring Water Bay is just beautiful. We spent a wonderful day harvesting blackberries on Heir Island with our granddaughter. Swimming at High Tide when the water laps the lower steps was exhilarating. We did not use the sauna. We applaud Stephanie’s decision to allow paying guests access to such a sympathetically restored part of Irish history.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chris G.

18 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Remarkable Wsy To Experience Medieval Ireland

Hard to imagine a more unique and exciting way to experience Ireland than in this amazing VRBO. The castle has an unsurpassed 360 degree views of the water and farmland. Inside, it has the modern conveniences you need while maintaining a rustic atmosphere. The stairs can be a challenge yet the views from the modern upstairs bedroom is worth the risk. Everything was clean, warm and comfortable. Good directions and easy to find on the map. Excellent Wifi throughout. Highly recommend for a once-in-a-lifetime lodging experience.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Thomas P.

17 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Staying at the Castle

The views, surroundings and area at the Castle are amazing! The Castle is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. As noted in the listing - this is not for everyone. Elderly may have issues with all the steps as well as young children. Stephanie is a very nice host and easy to chat with. If you are looking for something different and can manage the steps - this is a wonderful choice.

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Buzz L.

8 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing views

The views were amazing. Our neighbors were literal cows and they were super friendly. 10/10 would cow again. Being on the bay and walking along the sea was breathtaking. Lots of cool towns within short drives. The recommendations the host leaves are an excellent way to plan your days. Cool experience to stay in a tower house/castle that has history. The castle stairs to the top room are not for the faint of heart, but would happily recommend anyone wanting a unique stay in a beautiful area.

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steve S.

17 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Truly Unique Experience

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! If you are looking for a truly unique property and experience, Rincolisky Castle is an excellent choice. It truly is a once in a lifetime experience. The beauty, history and charm of the Castle is unbeatable. Stephanie has kept the original castle intact, but carefully updated it enough, but not enough to lose its character and charm. It is obviously the result of a labor of love. If you are looking for Disneyland Castle, this is not the place for you. This is the real deal.

Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Tiffany B.

14 Mar 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

An experience in a beautiful area

It is an experience worth having. Our 3 teenagers thought it was very cool and it was a nice way to work some history into our holiday. There are few things that need attention: The light in the upstairs room doesn't appear to be fully secured into the ceiling, one of the lights in the upstairs bathroom needs to be touched a certain way to work and the drain system in the shower should be looked at. But that aside this is really more of an experience than a 4 star hotel (so if you are looking for luxury this may not be for you but if you are looking a unique experience we recommend it).

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laurie H.

27 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Even better than we expected!

It has been a dream of my husband's to live in a castle, and we got to do that for three nights with our two young adult sons. The view when you approach the castle on the road is amazing, but those from the top floor as you look out over the bay are truly spectacular. We shopped for food and firewood in Skibbereen, then really didn't need to leave again. With temperatures outside in the low 50s during the day, we absolutely needed a fire to stay warm in the main room. But the beds had plenty of comforters at night to keep us toasty. The hot water for the shower needed a good 30 minutes to heat up, but that was our biggest inconvenience. Cocktail hour up on the top floor each afternoon as the sun set was a highlight.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leila G.

3 Jun 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rustic Charm on Roaring Water Bay

We stayed here with our 16-year-old daughters and five-year-old son. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it here. The kids especially enjoyed playing down at the rocky beach area, sometimes the sea babies (seals) would even come in close enough to see. Remember, this is a tower so your legs will get a workout (not a bad thing in my opinion) and the stairs to the top are steep but keep in mind that they are original. Our five-year-old had the stairs down on his own within a day, but you'll want to supervise if you have little ones. The views are amazing, and this is a great home base for exploring. Skibbereen and Baltimore are reasonable drives with a lot to offer. Everyone was super responsive and helpful; the host leaves some great recommendations as well to help with planning. This was a really peaceful place, and we cherished our time here.

Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

24 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical retreat

We were so happy to spend 4 incredible nights at the Castle, celebrating a 70th and a 59th birthday (2 couples). Even though the weather was mostly rainy and cold, the castle was warm, charming and dramatic. True, the stairs are not for the faint of heart, and the limestone breaths so everything has a slightly damp feel to it, but this only added to the charm. We explored the region, including the excellent Skibereen Farms Market and the Ring of Beara, as well as an epic day driving the Healy Pass. Cooking at the castle was easy, as the kitchen was well appointed with everything we needed. Yoga in the little shed was restorative. The views from the upstairs unit were so magnificent that it made leaving the room a difficult task! Stephanie is an excellent communicator, everything was as listed. Bucket-list item accomplished!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

k m.

30 Aug 2018

What a wonderfully unique holiday in Ireland!! We loved the Tower, property, & spectacular views.

It was stormy & blustery (& chillier than I expected) for several days while we were there, but that’s always a possibility in Ireland, on the coast, by the sea:) But the Tower was great for the four of us (2 kids, 11/14). There are lots of stairs to manage, so not for the too young or old. But the ambiance is so unique, we happily obliged. We cooked at home often and used the fireplace in the kitchen/dining area daily. Jumped in the Sea down the steps a couple of times (although not very easily managed). The wood burning jacuzzi was a huge plus, over looking the sea, with the cows lowing in the background. A stones throw from several wonderful towns- West Cork is incredible. Would love to return there over a winter holiday, to use all the fireplaces:)

Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

Jen K.

25 Mar 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Mostly amazing

We are an adventurous family who enjoys a unique stay, even with a bit of inconvenience, and this property is memory-making. Please note that we would still have stayed, even with the items following. There is a huge gap between the main door and the walls and it is not just chilly, it is pretty cold. Make sure to bring layers and buy plenty of wood. The fire and Aga stove helped a lot and there is a space heater on the third level that worked well. Our daughters were on the mezzanine level and that space heater didn't work, and their bathroom was so damp the toilet paper was wet lol. We also thought 50 euro extra to use the sauna was pretty steep so we didn't use it. The chunkiest part was that the instructions and contact people were conflicting - we had two different codes and two different contact names and phone numbers. The Stephanie who I was supposedly getting emails from beforehand told us (when we sent a Whatsapp question) that she was no longer managing the property, but hers was the name I had on the reservation and her contact information was on the laminated sheet. Linens and rugs, chairs, the couch were overall pretty dingy and even seemed a bit soiled. Again, we would have stayed anyway as it was quite unique and the surroundings beautiful, but if you want a cushy stay free of inconvenience, this is probably not the place for you.

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rachel V.

18 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing private waterfront castle tower

This checked a bucket-list item for our stay in Ireland in a big way by letting us stay in a castle with authentic feeling charm (rather than a lot of the castle hotels which look like typical hotels inside). The waterfront views, especially from the 3rd story terrace, were incredible and it has a part right down to the rocky shoreline. It had its quirks (lots of stairs including very narrow up to the 3rd floor bedroom, limited hot water for showers [understandable with the rustic nature], and strong winds at times [trade off for the location]) but I am my 3 traveling companions agreed we’d strongly recommend a stay here for anyone touring southwest Ireland. Sitting around the stone fireplace of a castle with drinks at the end of the night was a great part of a memorable trip. The owner was extremely responsive and worked to provide the needed information ahead of and during our stay. I really appreciated the list of local business/tour/restaurant recommendations she’d provided as well. We had dinner in Baltimore each night at 3 different restaurants (two of which came highly recommended by her and were absolutely on the mark). Do yourself a favor and make a stay at Rincolisky Castle part of your holiday in Ireland.

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

6/10 Okay

Heather N.

31 May 2023

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Disliked: Cleanliness

Great Castle but.....

Pros---This is a great opportunity to stay in an authentic castle, One-of-a-kind experience. Awesome location and unbelievable view. Love the room at the top. Surprisingly warm in all levels. Good hot water. Strong Wifi. Host provides good directions and recommendations. Can tell put alot of care into restoration. Cons--Yes, I understand it is a 500 yr old castle. There will be cobwebs and dust, understandable. No problem with that. However, the modern aspects of the accomadations that can be controlled are not. Linens were dirty upon arrival. We used our own t-shirts as pillowcases and the blankets from the airline saved us. All extra blankets very dusty. Towels disgusting. We went to a shop to buy our own. Cobwebs and dust in upstairs modern bathroom. When using shower, it does not drain correctly and floods the whole toilet/sink area. The two beds in the loft area cannot be used. A dust of lime from the ceiling covers you each night. Do not want to breathe in.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

Romantic Castle at Roaring Water Bay in West Cork - Weekend special available

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