One of the highlights of our trip along the Wild Atlantic Way, the beautiful, raw Skellig Michael Island. A World Heritage Site made even more famous thanks to the filming of a Star Wars scene set on the island. Originally four monks rowed out to the island to set up a monastery.
Rising majestically from the sea, Skellig Michael towers 714ft (218 metres) above sea level. We stayed two nights in The Ferry Boat Guesthouse in Portmagee. (Portmagee, Co. Kerry, Ireland Phone: +353 86 398 6984)
The boats trips out to the island sail from Portmagee. We paid 75 Euro each for the trip which allows three hours on the island and takes just over an hour to get there. We booked in advance via our guesthouse.
Skellig Michael is also home to hundreds of puffins and gulls. The puffins are quite tourist friendly and allow you to take photo`s close to them. Such a honour to watch these little birds busy about their day.
The steps to the top of Skellig Michael are simply slabs of rock, there is nothing to hold onto on the way up. The same steps have to accommodate everyone coming down too. It is a frightening experience and not for the faint hearted. Its worth noting there are no toilets on the island so go easy on the coffee before you leave your hotel. We got completely soaked on the boat trip back even though we were given some waterproofs by the skipper.
Take a change of clothes if you are not staying very close to the harbour.
Portmagee itself is a lovely place with just a few places to eat and the fabulous Kerry cliffs just a few miles walk away.
