Skellig Michael, Ireland

Skellig Michael.

This complex is perched on the steep sides of the larger of the two Skellig Islands, some 12 km (7 mi) off the coast of south-west Ireland. It illustrates the very spartan existence of the first Irish Christians. Since the extreme remoteness of Skellig Michael has until recently discouraged visitors, the site is exceptionally well preserved.

The monastery on Skellig Michael survived Viking raids in the 9th century, notably in 823, was later significantly expanded, with a new chapel built around the start of the second millennium. The community at Skellig Michael was apparently never large - probably about 12 monks and an abbot. Some time in the 12th century the monks abandoned the Skellig and moved to the Augustinian Monastery at Ballinskelligs on the mainland.

Skellig Michael has in the 2010s gained notoriety among fans of the Star Wars movie series as it provided the location shots for the refuge of Luke Skywalker in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

Climate

Due to the winter weather boats sail out in the summer season roughly (April-September)

Get in

By boat

You will have to get a boat out to the island, but visitor numbers are restricted and only a few operators are permitted to run tours. Here is a list of some of the boat operators:

• Skellig Michael Cruises, Portmagee, +353 87 617-8114, e-mail: skelligmichaelcruises@gmail.com. Runs 2½-hour cruises around Skellig Michael from Portmagee.

• Skellig Tours, Caherdaniel, +353 87 689-8431, e-mail: skelligtours@gmail.com. Second generation Skelligs’ boat skipper, John O Shea departs daily for the Skelligs from Derrynane Harbour.

• Feehan's Boats, +353 86 417-6612. Trips to the Skelligs depart daily from Ballinskelligs pier. Departure times between 10:00 and 12:00 depending on tides. The journey time is approximately 45 minutes each way and you'll have a further 2 hours on the island. You can telephone for reservations, departure times and sea conditions.

• Casey's Skelligs Boat Tours, Portmagee, +353 66 947-2437, e-mail: info@skelligislands.com. The tour is on board a fast boat taking about 45 minutes to do the 8-mile journey to the islands.

• Lavelles Passenger Boat Services, Valentia Island, +353 66 947-6124, e-mail: lavelles@indigo.ie. Mr. Lavelle is a local historian of the islands and provides very informative trips to the island.

• Skellig Boat Trips with Eoin Walsh, Valentia Island, +353 66 947-6327, +353 87 283 3522, e-mail: owenandcarolwalsh@eircom.net.

• Ocean Quests Ltd., Valentia Island, +353 66 947-6214, e-mail: oceans@iol.ie.

• Boat Operator, Valentia Island, +353 66 947-6142.

• Skellig Boat Trips, Valentia Island, +353 66 947-6120, e-mail: gerardreidy01@eircom.net.

• Valentia Island Ferries, Valentia Island, +353 66 947-6141, e-mail: rforan@indigo.ie.

• Murphy Sea Cruise-Boat trips to Skellig Rock, Portmagee, +353 66 947-7156.

• Ballinskelligs Watersports, Ballinskelligs, +353 66 947-9182, e-mail: seandive@yahoo.com.

• Joe Roddy & Sons Ltd., Waterville, +353 66 947-4268, e-mail: ken@skelligtrips.com.

• Waterville Boats, Waterville, +353 66 947-4255, e-mail: lobsterb@iol.ie.

Boats normally leave around 10:00. The boat trip out lasts about 45 min and most tours give you 2-3 hr on the island. The return journey is again 45 min, returning to the harbour at about 15:00. The closest town that is fully accessible by public transport is Caherciveen,

Fees and permits

Prices have significantly jumped up after Start Wars film, in which this island figured.

• For boat trips around the island without setting foot on it (2.5 hours) costs around €30-40.
• Boat trips including 2 hours spent on the island have a standard rate of €40 in the off-peak season and €70 in the summer months.

There are no banking facilities in Ballinskelligs or Portmagee, so you will need the money before you arrive.

Get around

There are no vehicles on the island.

From the landing bay there is a small road that runs to the start of the steps that lead up to the monastery. The steps are in a reasonable condition, however they are old and there are no safety ropes; whilst not being actively dangerous they do require some care, a dose of courage and some decent shoes.

The South Steps are the main route to the summit. They run up from the Heliport to ‘Christ’s Saddle’ a relatively flat piece of land between the two peaks of the Island.

The monastery is on the Eastern peak and is an easy walk from ‘Christ’s Saddle’. The Hermitage is on the South Peak, It is highly inadvisable to attempt to cross to the South Peak, the paths are not stable and the Hermitage itself is only accessible with climbing equipment.

What to See in Skellig Michael

• The Monastery Ruins at the peak of the island are one of the highlights of any trip to Ireland.

• The spectacular view of the South Peak from Christ's Saddle.

• The huge amount of sea birds, especially on Small Skellig

• Seals and, if you are lucky, dolphins in the waters on the way to the islands

• Relax with a pint in the harbour-side pubs to help take in the great experience

What to Do in Skellig Michael

• The Skellig Experience, Valentia Island (directly opposite Portmagee). Get a good overview of the history of the monastery.

Buy

Shops at the ports sell many traditional Irish souvenirs.

• Skellig Chocolates. A local company that make high quality and thoroughly recommended chocolates.

Eat and Drink

There are no catering facilities on the island.

Bringing a picnic is a good idea however it is requested that this be eaten away from the remains of the monastery, to help stop seabirds scavenging among the ruins. The base of the steps near the Heliport is perhaps the best place to have a picnic, as it is well sheltered.

There are pubs in Ballinskelligs and Portmagee, which are the ideal place to have a drink once you return. The Bridge Bar and Fisherman’s Bar look out over the harbour and serve food.

Sleep

It is not possible to stay on Skellig Michael, accommodation is available at both harbours:

Portmagee

• The Moorings, Portmagee, +353 66 947-7108. Run by the same people that own the Bridge Bar and comes with a good recommendation €40-65 p.p.p.n..

• Portmagee Hostel, Portmagee, +353 66 948-0018, e-mail: info@portmageehostel.com. Good value accommodation in Portmagee near the main harbour for trips to the islands Dorm €11-14.50, private room from €13.50-24 pp.

Ballinskelligs

• Skellig Hostel, Ballinskelligs, e-mail: info@skellighostel.com. Excellent value accommodation in brand new building, The drive over the headland to Portmagee offers astounding views of the coastline Valentia Island and out to the Skelligs themselves, worth driving out for the view alone. Dorm €11-14.50, private room from €13.50-€24 pp.

• The Old Cable House Bed and Breakfast, Old Telegraph Cable Station, Waterville Village, Ring of Kerry (Skellig Ring Drive to Waterville), +353 69 474233. Check-in: 15:00-18:00, check-out: 11:00. B&B alternative to large hotels. Polished floors, robust Irish cooking, medicinal whiskeys, fly-fishing and storytelling characters, Islands, mountains, and goats who own the road, boat trips and magical wishing wells, just do absolutely nothing , "breathe in the impossible beauty”. This unique residence in traces its origins to the first transatlantic telegraph cable laid from Ireland and Europe to USA in 1866. Retains all its original features, bright spacious rooms of character. €35 pp.

• Brookhaven House B&B (Accommodation in Waterville Ireland), Waterville (Brookhaven is less than 1 km north of the town of Waterville on the Ring of Kerry. Waterville is situated between the Caherciveen, to the north and Caherdaniel to the south, on the N70 road), +353 66 9474431. Brookhaven is a purpose-built, family-run, guesthouse approved by the Irish Tourist Board overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Waterville Championship Golf Course. Within easy reach of other championship Golf courses in Killarney, Tralee and Ballybunion. €40-60.

Stay safe

Don’t forget that this is a ‘wilderness outing’ to an uninhabited Atlantic Ocean island where there are no modern facilities. Bring food, water, and sensible clothes.

The boat crossing can be choppy and there are no safety rails on the climb at Skellig Michael so tread carefully and responsibly.

Go next

• Ring of Kerry
• Caherciveen (Wikivoyage)