We're interested in visiting Skellig Michael during our trip in May. But is there literally no place for a woman to relieve herself during what sounds like a 6-hr excursion away from any facilities?? Yikes!
Posted by
1172 posts
If you are seriously interested, book now. I tried booking in March last year for our July trip and it was already sold out. We still went to the museum while we were there and all the trips that day has been cancelled due to rough seas. Sounds amazing though!
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2822 posts
The boat trip from the Skellig Center at Portmagee doesn't land on the island for the climb to the top. For that you'll need to contact one of the private boatmen in the area who have landing rights on the island. Use the search function to pull up names and contact info - I recall this coming up last year and several people responded with some good info.
FYI, the trip from the Center lasts about 2 hours. It circles both islands (weather dependent). You needn't book ahead for those.
The private trips, which include the landing and the hike to the beehive huts, take about 5 hours and usually must be booked well in advance. There are no facilities on the island, so you'd need to rely on whatever primitive capability the boat could provide.
Posted by
Rocky Mount, VA
266 posts
The 6 hours includes the time on the boat. Most of the boats have some toilet facilities. You would be on the island itself for 2 to 2.5 hours.
Posted by
Missouri, USA and Essex, UK.
991 posts
I went to Skellig Michael in July of 2015. It had been closed several days prior to us going due to weather conditions. The day we went out it was a light rain but conditions were ok. The fisherman boats are tiny and there was no bathrooms on the boats. I usually get a little sea sick but I did take some Dramamine and was OK. But be warned, the sea spray will get you wet and most of the boats are just open. make sure you have waterproof shoes and take those waterproof pants you can slip on over your other pants. We were 4 ladies in our 50's and we were concerned about the lack of bathroom opportunities. Don't drink much at breakfast. It takes about 45 minutes to get out to the Island on the boat. You have about 2 hours on the Island and another 1 hour - 45 minutes back. Not one of us needed to use the bathroom. I know this sound unusual for women are age, but we didn't really think about it. There really isn't much opportunity to go anywhere on the island. You will honestly be concentrating so hard on making it up the steps that I think you will not be concerned about the bathroom. The steps were slippery when we went and it was a little dangerous. Just concentrate on the steps and you will make it up just fine. It really is something special to see.