The Skellig Ring & Valentia Island Tour
The Skellig Ring and Valentia Island Tour is one of Walk With Me’s classic one day alternative motor tours in County Kerry.
This tour starts in Killarney and includes the opening stage of The Ring of Kerry driving route with breathtaking views of The Atlantic Ocean and Dingle Bay. At the fishing village of Portmagee you join the Skellig Ring and venture on to Valentia Island.
In 1993 a Swiss geology student, Iwan Stossel, discovered “Tetrapod” trackway fossil footprints on rocks on Valentia Island which were formed 385 million years ago. Tetrapod footprints are the oldest evidence in the world of four-legged vertebrates walking on land that eventually evolved into man.
On the 13th of July 2007 about 500 yards from the Tetrapod site, the famous American free solo rock climber, Michael Reardon, lost his life after being swept into the sea by a rogue wave after free climbing Fogher Cliffs on Valentia. Such is the diversity of Valentia Island, the most westerly point of the continent of Europe, which is linked to the mainland at Portmagee.
This private tour will include Valentia Lighthouse, the Tetrapod Prints, Fogher Cliffs, the world renowned Slate Quarry, Geokaun Mountain viewing points, the Transatlantic Cable monument and The Skellig Experience where you will view life as it was in the 8th century for the Monks who lived in total isolation on the nearby Skellig Rocks. To this day you can still visit the Skellig Rocks and the UNESCO World Heritage Monastic site that was included in filming of the Star Wars movies The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
The tour will continue to St. Finian’s Bay and a visit to The Skelligs Chocolate Factory where you can see the delicious chocolate being made and taste the finished product. It is then on to Ballinskelligs and the return journey to Killarney through The Ballaghisheen Pass along the foothills of The MacGillycuddy Reeks mountain range.
Walk With Me recommend the following accommodation in the Killarney area.
Great Southern Hotel, Killarney
The Brehon Hotel, Killarney
Old Weir Lodge, Killarney
Sample Itinerary
9am: Collection from your accommodation
9am-10am: Scenic drive on The Ring of Kerry road to Valentia Island
10am-10.30am: Visit to Cahergal Stone Ring Fort
10.30–11am: Car Ferry crossing to Knightstown Valentia Island
11am–12.30pm: Tetrapod Trackway Site, Geokaun Mountain & Fogher Cliffs, Slate Quarry & Lighthouse
12.30-1.30pm: Lunch at The Bridge Bar in Portmagee
1.30–2.30pm: The Skellig Experience Centre & The Transatlantic Cable Monument
2.30pm–4pm: Scenic drive to St. Finian’s Bay & a visit to The Skelligs Chocolate Factory
4.30pm: Visit Famine Village at Cill Rialaig, Ballinskelligs
5–6pm: Return journey to Killarney through Ballaghisheen Pass and The MacGillycuddy Reeks
This tour starts in Killarney and includes the opening stage of The Ring of Kerry driving route with breathtaking views of The Atlantic Ocean and Dingle Bay. At the fishing village of Portmagee you join the Skellig Ring and venture on to Valentia Island.
In 1993 a Swiss geology student, Iwan Stossel, discovered “Tetrapod” trackway fossil footprints on rocks on Valentia Island which were formed 385 million years ago. Tetrapod footprints are the oldest evidence in the world of four-legged vertebrates walking on land that eventually evolved into man.
On the 13th of July 2007 about 500 yards from the Tetrapod site, the famous American free solo rock climber, Michael Reardon, lost his life after being swept into the sea by a rogue wave after free climbing Fogher Cliffs on Valentia. Such is the diversity of Valentia Island, the most westerly point of the continent of Europe, which is linked to the mainland at Portmagee.
This private tour will include Valentia Lighthouse, the Tetrapod Prints, Fogher Cliffs, the world renowned Slate Quarry, Geokaun Mountain viewing points, the Transatlantic Cable monument and The Skellig Experience where you will view life as it was in the 8th century for the Monks who lived in total isolation on the nearby Skellig Rocks. To this day you can still visit the Skellig Rocks and the UNESCO World Heritage Monastic site that was included in filming of the Star Wars movies The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
The tour will continue to St. Finian’s Bay and a visit to The Skelligs Chocolate Factory where you can see the delicious chocolate being made and taste the finished product. It is then on to Ballinskelligs and the return journey to Killarney through The Ballaghisheen Pass along the foothills of The MacGillycuddy Reeks mountain range.
Walk With Me recommend the following accommodation in the Killarney area.
Sample Itinerary
9am: Collection from your accommodation
9am-10am: Scenic drive on The Ring of Kerry road to Valentia Island
10am-10.30am: Visit to Cahergal Stone Ring Fort
10.30–11am: Car Ferry crossing to Knightstown Valentia Island
11am–12.30pm: Tetrapod Trackway Site, Geokaun Mountain & Fogher Cliffs, Slate Quarry & Lighthouse
12.30-1.30pm: Lunch at The Bridge Bar in Portmagee
1.30–2.30pm: The Skellig Experience Centre & The Transatlantic Cable Monument
2.30pm–4pm: Scenic drive to St. Finian’s Bay & a visit to The Skelligs Chocolate Factory
4.30pm: Visit Famine Village at Cill Rialaig, Ballinskelligs
5–6pm: Return journey to Killarney through Ballaghisheen Pass and The MacGillycuddy Reeks
