01 Sep Ballydehob , County Cork
Ballydehob is a small town of brightly coloured streets at the neck of the Mizen Head peninsula ,
It was once known as the hippie capital of the west because it was said to have more “blow-ins” than locals.
Heavily colourized in the 1960s , it still has traces of their influence , like health-food shops and resident artists , and remains a liberal place compared to others of its size.
For all this, it’s a sleepy town with just a handful of crafts and antiques shops worth exploring and a large number of pubs.
Ballydehob’s nearest beach is three miles away at Audleys Cove : a secluded pebbly cove , with lovely views of the islands.
A nice little hidden gem on any Ireland tours.