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Cape Clear Island

Cape Clear Island: Our most recommended tours and activities

Cork: Fastnet Rock Lighthouse and Cape Clear Island Tour

1. Cork: Fastnet Rock Lighthouse and Cape Clear Island Tour

Take the ferry from Baltimore or Schull and cross the beautiful waters of Roaring Water Bay. Arriving at the north harbour on Cape Clear Island, spend some free time exploring this Gaeltacht Island, learning about the island’s culture, the islander life, including old traditions and traditional farming. Discover the island’s ancient standing stones, Napoleonic Tower, Dún an Óir Castle , 12th century church and visit the memorial on the Island to the 1979 Fastnet Yacht Race Disaster. Spend some time exploring the island and its walking trails, stop at the spectacular lookout points and spot the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse in the distance. Be sure to enjoy some fresh island produce during lunch at one of the island’s bars and restaurants. After lunch, re-board the ferry and sit back as the experienced captain takes you further into the real Wild Atlantic Way. You might even catch a glimpse of whales and dolphins in the water. As you circumnavigate the tallest and widest rock lighthouse in Ireland and the UK, learn its history and importance from the onboard audio system. Hear about the “Teardrop” of Ireland, the last glimpse of the country that the immigrant ships saw before they headed over the horizon to the New World - America. Once Fastnet Rock has been circled twice (so that all passengers can get the perfect photo), head for home and enjoy the spectacular scenery until reaching the final port.

Cork: Cape Clear Island Tour

2. Cork: Cape Clear Island Tour

Take the ferry from Baltimore or Schull Harbour and cross the beautiful waters of Roaring Water Bay. Feel the fresh sea air against your face on a spectacular journey through some of Carbery’s Hundred Isles, some of which are inhabited. Scan the spectacular scenery and look out for whales and dolphins. Cape Clear or Cléire is the largest of these Islands and lies 6 miles from the mainland along the Wild Atlantic Way. With a population of 130 people, Cape Clear is Ireland’s most southerly inhabited island and is one of the few Gaeltacht speaking (Irish speaking) islands in the country. This wild and romantic Island offers visitors an insight into a way of life that has long since disappeared from most of Ireland. Arrive in the wonderful north harbor on Cape Clear Island and spend some free time exploring the island. Wander the walking trails, enjoy the spectacular lookout points and spot the 159-feet tall Fastnet Rock Lighthouse in the distance. Enjoy some fresh island produce during lunch at one of the island’s bars and restaurants before heading back.

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What people are saying about Cape Clear Island

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 15 reviews

Really enjoyed the trip to the Fastnet Rock. Well organised. We had plenty of time to view the Fastnet as we went around it twice, nice and slowly. While the highlight of the trip was the Fastnet it was also good to view Cape Clear and Sherkin islands from the sea. We also had great sea views of the famous Baltimore Beacon. An very enjoyable trip which we plan to repeat at some stage.

We had the most beautiful day for travelling out to cape clear and onwards to the the Fastnet. It was well organised and we met very friendly staff on board the boat. On cape clear island we met a very friendly islander who went over and above and gave us a tour of some beauty spots in his jeep. Thank you Pat.

The Cape clear ferries are the best they went way beyond what they had to do to make the trip great we spotted dolphins o the way back and the skipper turned the boat around so everyone could see and take photos he followed the dolphins it was amazing

Fantastic trip with excellent commentary. The dolphins we saw en-route were an added bonus. Would highly recommend.

It was a wonderful day! I have been wanting to see the Fastnet for years and it was a thrill. Cape Clear Island was