The stone huts
A monastery perched above the sea.
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Skellig Michael is a twin-peaked rock island in the Atlantic, 11.6 km west of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. It is famous for a Gaelic monastery perched above the sea, with stone huts shaped like beehives, and UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site in 1996. The island formed about 374 to 360 million years ago, covers about 22 hectares and rises to 218 metres. The monastery was founded between the sixth and eighth centuries, and archaeologists prize the settlement for its unusually good condition. The island is named after the archangel Michael, and Skellig means a splinter of stone. Reaching it remains hard today. The monastery stands at 170 to 180 metres on the northern peak, reached by a narrow, steep stone stair from the landing point. Between the peaks lies a dip called Christ's Saddle. Puffins, gannets and razorbills nest on the rocks, with grey seals and dolphins around the island. The upper route to the southern hermitage is dangerous and largely closed. The island is 17.5 km in a straight line south-west of Portmagee, and you can land only with a licensed boat. The 2026 season ran from 12 May to September and has ended, so plan for 2027 and book very early. Trips are often cancelled in rough seas. A visit will not suit anyone afraid of heights or who finds climbing hard.
A monastery perched above the sea.
A narrow, steep climb to the top.
Nesting on the rocks in season.
Off the coast of the Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry
By licensed boat from Portmagee and nearby, and with few boats you should book very early.
No, rough seas often cancel trips, so keep your plans flexible.