Skellig Michael
Category: Families, Outdoors, Nature/Wildlife, Sightseeing, Free
Type: Castles, Historic Homes & Sites, Visitor Centres, Tours, General Attractions
Ballinskellig Islands
Co Kerry
Co Kerry
Tel: +353 1 647 6912
Please mention ireland-guide.com when enquiring.
Skellig Michael also known as Great Skellig, is a steep rocky island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of County Kerry
Skellig Michael
Georgina Campbell
Skellig Michael also known as Great Skellig, is a steep rocky island and is the larger of the two Skellig islands in the Atlantic Ocean about 14.5 kilometres (9 miles) from the coast of Kerry.
Skellig Michael towers 218 metres (714ft) above the ocean, it is is one of Europe's better known but least accessible monasteries and is a designated World Heritage Site. On the summit you will find a remarkably well-preserved sixth century monastic settlement. The monks lived in stone 'beehive' huts, perched above nearly vertical cliff walls.
A visit to the monastery will entail a climb on 618 steps, it is a demanding climb and any person with health issues should consider carefully their own physical limitations before exploring this part of the site.
Along with its smaller neighbour, Little Skellig, Great Skellig is an important nature reserve.
Skellig Michael towers 218 metres (714ft) above the ocean, it is is one of Europe's better known but least accessible monasteries and is a designated World Heritage Site. On the summit you will find a remarkably well-preserved sixth century monastic settlement. The monks lived in stone 'beehive' huts, perched above nearly vertical cliff walls.
A visit to the monastery will entail a climb on 618 steps, it is a demanding climb and any person with health issues should consider carefully their own physical limitations before exploring this part of the site.
Along with its smaller neighbour, Little Skellig, Great Skellig is an important nature reserve.
Opening Time:
Guide Service Available: Mid May - October. At all other times this site is unmanned and visits are prohibited.
Admission Charge:
Free (separate charges for boat trip)
Map markers
You are here
Distance
- 10km
- 25km
- 50km
Directions
11.5km boat trip from Ballinskelligs, Portmagee or ValentiaView Similar Tourist Attractions
- Cahir Castle
- Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
- Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
- Natural History Museum
- National Leprechaun Museum
- Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
- Galway Atlantaquaria
- King Johns Castle
- Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
- Scattery Island Centre
- Tower Museum
- Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
- Crag Cave
- Patrick Pearses Cottage
- Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
- Barryscourt Castle
- Doneraile Wildlife Park
- National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
- Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
- Blarney Castle
- Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
- Ceide Fields
- Craggaunowen - The Living Past
- Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
- Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
- Somme Heritage Centre
- Kilmainham Gaol
- Lusk Heritage Centre
- Coole Park
- Aillwee Cave
- Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
- Dromore Wood
- Dunbrody Famine Ship
- Dublin Castle
- Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
- National Gallery of Ireland
- Fort Lucan
- Ormond Castle
- Foynes Flying Boat Museum
- Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
- Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
- Dublinia
- The Main Guard
- Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
- The Hunt Museum
- Casino Marino
- Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
- Desmond Hall
- Giants Causeway
- Wicklow Mountains National Park
- Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
- Rothe House & Garden
- Emo Court
- Bushmills Distillery
- Funtasia Waterpark
- Dunmore Cave
- Guinness Storehouse
- Ardfert Cathedral
- Thomond Park Stadium
- Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
- Skerries Mills
- Boyle Abbey
- Castle Ward House & Demesne
- Battle of the Boyne
- Clonmacnoise
- Ballycroy National Park
- Desmond Castle
- Government Buildings
- Florence Court
- Ulster American Folk Park
- Queens University
- The Old Jameson Distillery
- Adare Castle
- Russborough House
- Navan Centre & Fort
- John F Kennedy Arboretum
- Aviva Stadium
- Sligo Abbey
- Arigna Mining Experience
- Aughnanure Castle
- Hugh Lane Gallery
- Kilkenny Castle
- Avondale House & Forest Park
- Burren National Park
- Armagh Planetarium
- National Concert Hall
- Iveagh Gardens
- Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
- Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
- National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
- Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
- The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
- Rathfarnham Castle
- Rock of Cashel
- St Marys Abbey
- Tintern Abbey
- Donegal County Museum
- Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
- Reginalds Tower
- National Library of Ireland
- Galway City Museum
- Phoenix Park
- Clare Museum
- Derrynane House
- Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
- Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
- The Ark
- Ballyhack Castle
- Caherconnell Fort
- Connemara National Park
- Swiss Cottage
- The Butlers Chocolate Experience
- The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
- St Stephens Green
- St Marys Church
- Chester Beatty Library
- Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
- Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
- National Wax Museum Plus
- Croke Park & GAA Museum
- Carrickfergus Museum
- National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
- National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
- Trim Castle
- Viking Splash Tours
- Skibbereen Heritage Centre
- Jerpoint Abbey
- Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
- Maynooth Castle
- Listowel Castle
- Dingle Oceanworld
- Castletown House
- Dun Aonghasa
- Ulster Museum
- Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
- Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
- The Science Gallery
- King House
- Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
- Portumna Castle & Gardens
- Skellig Michael
- Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
- Hill of Tara
- Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
- Saint Patricks Cathedral
- VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
- Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
- Aras an Uachtarain
- Athenry Castle
- Armagh County Museum
- Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
- Parkes Castle
- Mizen Head Signal Station
- Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
- Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
- Glendalough
- Kerry County Museum
- Ferns Castle
- Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
- Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
- Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
- Cobh Heritage Centre
- Famine Warhouse
- Garylough Mill
- Killarney National Park
- National Sea Life Centre
- Donegal Castle
- Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
- Tayto Park
- Dwyer McAllister Cottage
- House of Waterford Crystal
- Museum at the Mill
- Eagles Flying
- Leopardstown Racecourse
- Old Mellifont Abbey
- Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
- Christ Church Cathedral
- Jameson Experience Midleton
- Funtasia Bettystown
- Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
- Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
- Larne Museum & Arts Centre
- Castlecomer Discovery Park
- National Photographic Archive
- National Transport Museum
- Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
- Dublin Zoo
- Charles Fort
- Titanic Belfast
- Farmleigh House & Estate
- Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
- Ross Castle
- Malahide Castle
- Ennis Friary
- Glenveagh National Park
- Belfast Zoo
- Enniskillen Castle Museum
- Dungarvan Castle
- Adare Heritage Centre
Local Recommendations
Hospitality
- Moorings, The
(17.5km)NE - Skelligs Chocolate Co
(18.4km)NE - Cill Rialaig Café
(19.8km)NE - Valentia Island Farmhouse Ice Cream
(22.9km)NE - Smugglers Inn, The
(24.5km)NE - Quinlans Kerry Fish
(25.3km)NE - O'Neills - The Point Bar
(25.3km)NE - Sea Lodge Waterville
(25.6km)NE - Dooley's Waterfront Bar & Restaurant
(25.7km)NE - SeaClusion Luxury Guest Accommodation
(25.7km)NE - Butler Arms Hotel
(25.7km)NE - Old Cable House, The
(26.1km)NE - Quinlan & Cooke Boutique Townhouse & QCs Seafood Restaurant
(29.0km)NE - Kerry Black Faced Mountain Lamb
(36.0km)NE - Irish Atlantic Sea Salt
(40.3km)SE - Milleens
(40.5km)SE - Kells Bay House and Gardens & Sala Thai Restaurant
(40.9km)NE - Rí Fern Café at Louis Mulcahy Pottery
(42.2km)NE - Rí Fern Café @ Louis Mulcahy Pottery
(42.2km)NE - Burns Butchers
(44.1km)NE
Self Catering
- Oceanfront Cottages at Derrynane Hotel
(30.5km)SE - Dingle Marina Cottages
(44.7km)NE
Farmers Markets
- Valentia Island - Co Kerry - Wednesday & Saturday
(24.5km)NE - Cahirciveen - County Kerry - Thursdays (seasonal)
(29.2km)NE - Caherdaniel - Fridays (seasonal) - Co Kerry
(29.9km)NE - Dingle Farm Produce & Craft - County Kerry - Fridays
(45.1km)NE
Tourist Attractions
-
Skellig Michael
(0.0km)NE -
Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
(17.7km)NE -
Derrynane House
(27.8km)NE -
The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
(40.7km)NE -
Dingle Oceanworld
(45.0km)NE -
Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
(46.8km)NE
Golf Courses
- Waterville Golf Club
(24.8km) NE - Skellig Bay Golf Club
(25.4km) NE - Dooks Golf Club
(54.6km) NE
Gardens
- Glanleam House & Subtropical Garden
(23.7km)NE
Nearby Towns/Areas
- Portmagee
(17.5km) NE - Ballinskelligs
(18.5km) NE - Valentia Island
(24.3km) NE - Waterville
(25.7km) NE - Cahirciveen
(28.9km) NE - Caherdaniel
(30.5km) SE - Castle Cove
(34.4km) NE - Eyeries
(40.5km) SE - Ventry
(42.4km) NE - Castletownbere
(44.8km) SE
Apps and Books
-
From Tide to Table by Georgina Campbell
Paperback edition of From Tide to Table - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Buying, Prep ...more...
Comments
There are currently no comments
Leave a comment
Not a member? Register for your free membership now!
Or leave a comment by logging in with: