A glamping business in Bantry, County Cork, is taking a different approach to the winter off-season by offering its units as temporary accommodation for healthcare workers.
Goat’s Path Farm and Pod Park, commonly referred to as the “Hobbit House” glamping site, is making its six pods available for nurses struggling to secure housing during the ongoing accommodation shortage.
Owner Chris O’Sullivan said the idea emerged after local businesses reached out about housing challenges for their staff. He also noted that nurses in Bantry have been finding it particularly difficult to secure places to stay.
“After summer, these units are more or less free for us over the winter, we just said we’d give it a bash and see what would happen. I’ve heard of nurses in Bantry having trouble finding some accommodation as well. We have six in total and two are already rented out to workers – we’re hoping to leave one empty over winter,” O’Sullivan told CorkBeo.
The glamping pods, typically priced at €160 per night during peak season, are being rented at €600 per month for single occupants and €800 for couples from October through April.
Each pod is insulated, heated, and equipped with bathrooms and kitchenettes, with additional shared facilities including a communal kitchen and laundry.
This approach highlights a potential strategy for outdoor hospitality operators seeking to make use of underutilized infrastructure during slower months.
By repurposing seasonal units as affordable housing, businesses can generate revenue while responding to local community needs.
For glamping operators, such initiatives may also strengthen relationships with residents and public services, creating goodwill and visibility beyond the tourist season.
Looking ahead, Goat’s Path Farm and Pod Park is also planning to diversify its offerings.
The site, which opened in 2021 after five years of planning, has announced it will open as a petting farm in 2026, giving day visitors opportunities to interact with animals such as cows, donkeys, goats, sheep, and pigs.
The business is also planning to more than double the length of its scenic walkway, which overlooks Bantry Bay and serves as a vantage point for sunsets and stargazing.
O’Sullivan said the open farm is intended to complement the existing guest experience.
“The open farm is a big thing for us and the whole area. There’s not many doing this in Cork at all. We’re starting off with bookings only, as to not interfere with some of the guests who’ll be staying with us already. We have the foundations for this already, so really this is a natural move.”
Since its establishment, Goat’s Path Farm and Pod Park has emphasized sustainable design, with hillside-blending pods clad in green and stonework by local craftspeople.
The new initiatives suggest a continued effort to balance tourism with community engagement and environmental values.
