Private Tours & Group Experiences
Discover wild fish, slow food and West Cork’s edible landscape
There’s something magical about gathering at The Keep. The scent of beechwood smoke in the air. The hum of conversation around a shared table. The stories that weave together land, sea, and season.
For over 45 years, Sally has worked exclusively with wild fish here in West Cork, preserving them the traditional way, by hand, with nothing more than salt, smoke, and time.
Whether you’re a tour group, corporate team, family gathering, media or a crew of culinary travellers, we’ll tailor your visit to your time, interests, and appetite.
Private parking available | Small bus access possible
English-speaking (interpreters welcome)
A setting like no other – on a windswept West Cork hillside, minutes from the sea.
To enquire about private visits, please email events@woodcocksmokery.com with your preferred date, group size, and choice of experience. We work with private groups, tour operators, and media.
“Our guests still talk about the flavour and the passion Sally brings to her craft.”
Experiences we offer
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Learn the full traditional process of smoking wild Atlantic salmon with Sally Barnes. Hands-on, in-depth, and unforgettable. This immersive experience includes smoking your salmon to take home, foraging, lunches and evening supper.
Monday to Thursday start - 2.5 days
Suitable for 2 to 6 people
From €4,000 per group
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The ultimate West Cork immersion - part foraging, part fish smoking, part storytelling, all flavour. A full day of hands-on learning, tasting, and seasonal exploration with a long-table lunch at The Keep.
Morning time start - a 6 to 7-hour class
Suitable for 2 to 16 people
From €1,800 per group
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A deep dive into the craft of smoking wild fish. You’ll spend the day mastering traditional techniques, learning about fish sourcing, filleting, curing and smoking.
Morning time start - a 6 to 7-hour class
Suitable for 2 to 10 people
From €1,800 per group
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Learn the art of traditional wild fish smoking, from filleting a fish to salting and making your own smoker at home. We’ll work together through the process, taste as we go, and finish with a shared lunch/supper featuring the best of the season.
Morning or afternoon start - 4-hour class
Suitable for 2 to 10 people
From €1,200 per group
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Forage your way from shore to woodland in this immersive half-day experience. We’ll gather wild herbs, shellfish, and seasonal bounty from the coast and countryside, then return to The Keep for a lunch inspired by our finds - with stories and preservation tips along the way.
Morning time is best - a 4-hour workshop
Suitable for 2 to 10 people
From €1,000 per group
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A relaxed introduction to Sally’s work and the principles of smoking wild fish. Includes a guided tasting of our wild smoked fish and other seasonal bites, with plenty of time for questions.
Depending on the time, Sally can do a quick demonstration on hot-smoking fish.
Morning or afternoon start - 1.5 to 2.5 hours
Suitable for 2 to 24 people
From €1,000 per group
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A warm, seasonal, long table lunch of smoked wild fish, salads, West Cork cheeses, bread, pickles and something sweet at the end.
Served from 12 pm - 1.5 to 2 hours
Suitable for 2 to 20 people
From €1,000 per group
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A warm, seasonal, no-choice supper served at our long table, with stories between courses. Wild fish always takes centre stage, joined by the best Irish ingredients from trusted farmers, foragers, and makers. BYOB welcome.
Evening time start - 2.5 hours
Suitable for 2 to 20 people
From €1,200 per group
From €900 per group
Sally has appeared in many publications, books and television programmes
