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Skellig

I will be coming at the end of September and need help My cousins really want to see and hike on Skellig and I know that it is weather dependent and would be an entire day. I have also been told that if had to chose, Dingle wins over the ring of Kerry. With that said here is what I have. We will be staying in Tralee on the 25th about an hour and 20 minutes to the harbor at Portmagee where we could catch a boat to the island. On the 26th and the 27th we will be only slightly closer, an hour and 10 minutes as we are staying at a B&B in Castlemaine, the Kerry area. We will have a car. We have not booked our flights on the 28th yet. We will be flying to London. It looks like Cork airport is 2 1/2 hours from the area and Shannon is 3 hours. Both offer flights departing around 8 p.m. or slightly later into London on the 28th so that would give us a bit more time but we have to return the car and obviously check in. Not sure what the recommended time to arrive is for flights from Ireland to London. So below is a loose idea. The host where we are staying on the 26 and 27th said we should definitely do the island if we can and that we can do Ring of Kerry, Kells and Tocr in a day but obviously can't do Skellig and Dingle in a day. Thoughts and suggestions appreciated. Thanks. It does not matter what day we do what. Was actually thinking that Skellig might be better to do on Friday.

**Thurs. 9/26 – Need to decide what day want to go to Skellig Islands and if we want to just take the boat trip around them which would not be a full day or get off and hike there which would be a full day and is weather dependent. I have been told that the Dingle Peninsula is spectacular.

Dingle Peninsula and Skellig

Fri. 9/27 – Ring of Kerry ,Kells Bay House and Gardens, Torc Waterfall

Sat. 9/28 – Fly to London, depending on flight time may have additional tour time in the Kerry area

Posted by
775 posts

When we were there in September of 2019, the weather was so bad that no boats left Portmagee that day. I don't know how often that happens, but it was the second time it had happened to one of our tour companions.

Posted by
2290 posts

It makes sense to book the Skellig trip for the 26th and hope it runs. If it does get cancelled, you may be lucky and be able to reschedule for the next day (assuming they have spaces on the boat). I assume you are aware of their cancellation policy if they have to cancel a tour because of bad weather?

Only you can decide on whether you do the short round the island tour or the landing tour. Have a look at the safety video here which will give you an idea of what a visit involves - particularly the steps to the top... (going up is easier than coming back down!)

You are aware you have to climb 600+ steps up to the top of the island. I many places there is no hand rail. There are no facilities either so you need to take food and drink with you. More importantly there are no toilet facilities on either the boat or island...

Have a back up plan for the 26th if the boat trip is cancelled - Dingle and Slea Head drive would be a possible or else do Ring of Kerry ,Kells Bay House and Gardens, Torc Waterfall.

Posted by
4 posts

We did Skellig in September of 2022. The weather was really touch and go. Only six boats went out that day and we were fortunate that ours was one of them.it was incredibly foggy out, which benefited me. I am scared of heights, but couldn't see beyond the steps. They give you plenty of time to go up and come down. We used hiking sticks. We are both in our sixties. The boat we used had a toilet. It is an experience.

Posted by
745 posts

We visited in May of 2019, and the weather was great, the seas were so-so (we all had scopolamine patches) and the puffins were absolutely crazy. I was 69 at the time, and the steps were easy enough despite two back fusions, and the beehives were interesting. The puffins are the memorable part for us, and they'll probably ne gone by September. We'd re-visit but not if the puffins weren't around.