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
- Patrick Pearses Cottage
- Somme Heritage Centre
- Desmond Hall
- Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
- Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
- Garylough Mill
- Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
- Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
- Castletown House
- Farmleigh House & Estate
- Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
- The Science Gallery
- Dwyer McAllister Cottage
- Emo Court
- Belfast Zoo
- Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
- Ennis Friary
- Russborough House
- Dun Aonghasa
- Natural History Museum
- Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
- Navan Centre & Fort
- Charles Fort
- Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
- Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
- Avondale House & Forest Park
- Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
- Donegal County Museum
- Skerries Mills
- Galway City Museum
- Sligo Abbey
- Cobh Heritage Centre
- Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
- Funtasia Bettystown
- Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
- Jerpoint Abbey
- Reginalds Tower
- Larne Museum & Arts Centre
- Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
- Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
- St Stephens Green
- Ulster American Folk Park
- Titanic Belfast
- Connemara National Park
- Saint Patricks Cathedral
- National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
- Listowel Castle
- Ballycroy National Park
- National Photographic Archive
- Carrickfergus Museum
- Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
- Dingle Oceanworld
- National Transport Museum
- Kilkenny Castle
- Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
- Ceide Fields
- Aras an Uachtarain
- National Sea Life Centre
- Foynes Flying Boat Museum
- VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
- Rathfarnham Castle
- Guinness Storehouse
- Skellig Michael
- Government Buildings
- Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
- Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
- Armagh Planetarium
- Clonmacnoise
- National Gallery of Ireland
- King House
- Enniskillen Castle Museum
- Tower Museum
- Clare Museum
- Thomond Park Stadium
- Old Mellifont Abbey
- Dunmore Cave
- Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
- Kerry County Museum
- Ulster Museum
- Ardfert Cathedral
- Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
- The Ark
- Christ Church Cathedral
- Dublin Zoo
- Aillwee Cave
- Glenveagh National Park
- Dunbrody Famine Ship
- Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
- Dublinia
- Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
- Casino Marino
- Coole Park
- House of Waterford Crystal
- Rothe House & Garden
- Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
- National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
- Blarney Castle
- The Main Guard
- Parkes Castle
- National Leprechaun Museum
- Portumna Castle & Gardens
- Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
- Queens University
- King Johns Castle
- Chester Beatty Library
- Desmond Castle
- Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
- Athenry Castle
- Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
- Rock of Cashel
- Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
- Trim Castle
- Killarney National Park
- Adare Castle
- Dromore Wood
- Doneraile Wildlife Park
- National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
- Castlecomer Discovery Park
- Dublin Castle
- Dungarvan Castle
- Galway Atlantaquaria
- Tayto Park
- Aviva Stadium
- National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
- Leopardstown Racecourse
- Hill of Tara
- Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
- St Marys Abbey
- Craggaunowen - The Living Past
- Ballyhack Castle
- Kilmainham Gaol
- Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
- Funtasia Waterpark
- Iveagh Gardens
- Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
- Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
- Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
- Giants Causeway
- Burren National Park
- Derrynane House
- Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
- Tintern Abbey
- Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
- Skibbereen Heritage Centre
- John F Kennedy Arboretum
- Arigna Mining Experience
- Glendalough
- Croke Park & GAA Museum
- Donegal Castle
- Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
- Jameson Experience Midleton
- Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
- Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
- National Wax Museum Plus
- Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
- Ross Castle
- Ormond Castle
- Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
- The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
- Phoenix Park
- Eagles Flying
- Boyle Abbey
- Swiss Cottage
- Hugh Lane Gallery
- Mizen Head Signal Station
- Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
- Famine Warhouse
- National Library of Ireland
- Lusk Heritage Centre
- The Butlers Chocolate Experience
- Florence Court
- Caherconnell Fort
- Barryscourt Castle
- Crag Cave
- Castle Ward House & Demesne
- Adare Heritage Centre
- Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
- National Concert Hall
- Ferns Castle
- Malahide Castle
- Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
- Battle of the Boyne
- The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
- Armagh County Museum
- Maynooth Castle
- Museum at the Mill
- St Marys Church
- Viking Splash Tours
- Cahir Castle
- Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
- Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
- The Hunt Museum
- The Old Jameson Distillery
- Wicklow Mountains National Park
- Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
- Scattery Island Centre
- Aughnanure Castle
- Fort Lucan
- Bushmills Distillery
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 @ Louis Mulcahy Pottery
(42.2km)NE - Rí Fern Café at 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: