Wild Atlantic Aways · Things to Do in Kerry · Portmagee
Skellig Islands
Boat trip & heritage · 1.5 hr from our homes · Best in summer · book boats well ahead
Boat trip to the UNESCO monastic rock off the coast.
Photo: Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
The Skellig Islands rise like jagged pyramids from the Atlantic off the Iveragh coast. Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds a remarkably preserved 6th-century monastery reached by 600 stone steps, and found new fame as a Star Wars filming location. Boat trips run in summer from Portmagee, weather permitting, and landing places are strictly limited.
Highlights
- UNESCO-listed 6th-century monastery
- 600 ancient steps to the summit
- A Star Wars filming location & seabird haven