Skellig MichaelAbout Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael is a remote island off Ireland’s south-west coast, famous for its well-preserved early medieval monastery and beehive stone huts. The island’s monastic settlement dates from the early medieval period and occupies the rocky summit above a rugged landing cove.
Visitors who land make a steep climb of many stone steps up terraces carved into the rock to reach the monastery, where small corbelled stone huts, or clocháns, and enclosures remain. The arrangement of the buildings and the island’s remoteness illustrate the ascetic nature of early Irish monastic life.
Archaeological evidence places monastic activity on Skellig Michael from roughly the 6th to the 12th centuries, after which occupation ceased and the island remained largely uninhabited. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional preservation and cultural value.
The island lies off the County Kerry coast and is accessed by licensed boat operators from nearby ports; landings are seasonal and frequently cancelled in adverse weather.
- Heritage status: The island’s monastery dates to the early medieval period and the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for its remote monastic architecture.
- Access and safety: Landings are weather dependent, numbers are limited by conservation rules, and the climb from shore to monastery is steep and exposed, requiring surefootedness.
What to See#
- Monastic complex: The early medieval monastic settlement on the island summit with beehive huts (clocháns), altars and enclosures dating to roughly the 6th to 8th centuries AD.
- Access steps and terraces: The steep stone steps and terraces that lead from the landing point up to the monastery site; the climb is exposed and uneven and typically involves several hundred steps.
Best Time to Visit Skellig Michael
Visit Skellig Michael in late spring to early autumn when boat landings are most likely to operate - access is highly weather-dependent.
Weather & Climate near Skellig Michael
Temperate climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in March). Temperatures range from 6°C to 18°C. Abundant rainfall (1543 mm/year), wettest in January.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 7° - 11° | 5° | 172 mm | overcast | 82% | 7.0 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
| February | Poor | 7° - 10° | 5° | 135 mm | overcast | 82% | 6.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.8h |
| March | Poor | 6° - 10° | 5° | 132 mm | overcast | 82% | 6.5 m/s | 0.4 low | 11.7h |
| April | Acceptable | 7° - 11° | 6° | 90 mm | overcast | 83% | 5.5 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 13.7h |
| May | Acceptable | 9° - 14° | 11° | 86 mm | overcast | 84% | 5.3 m/s | 1.2 high | 15.4h |
| June | Good | 11° - 15° | 13° | 84 mm | overcast | 85% | 5.0 m/s | 1.5 high | 16.3h |
| July | Good | 13° - 17° | 15° | 88 mm | overcast | 86% | 4.8 m/s | 1.4 high | 15.9h |
| August | Good | 13° - 18° | 15° | 117 mm | overcast | 85% | 4.8 m/s | 1.1 high | 14.4h |
| September | Acceptable | 12° - 17° | 14° | 135 mm | overcast | 85% | 5.5 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 12.5h |
| October | Poor | 10° - 14° | 12° | 171 mm | overcast | 84% | 6.2 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.5h |
| November | Poor | 8° - 12° | 10° | 166 mm | overcast | 83% | 6.5 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.7h |
| December | Poor | 7° - 11° | 6° | 167 mm | overcast | 83% | 6.9 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.7h |
How to Get to Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael is accessible only by licensed boat tours from the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, with most departures from Portmagee and some from Valentia Harbour and Ballinskelligs. Landings are strictly weather‑dependent and boat operators run seasonal departures.
Travel by road to Portmagee (many visitors drive there from Killarney or Kenmare) and join a licensed Skellig tour; check operator schedules and sea conditions in advance as trips can be cancelled.
Tips for Visiting Skellig Michael
- Visits are only possible via licensed boat operators (typically from Portmagee or Valentia/nearby harbours) and are highly weather-dependent - book a licensed operator well in advance and expect possible cancellations.
- Take the earliest boat of the day to maximize the chance of making a landing (afternoon swell and wind more often force cancellations) and to avoid the busiest landing times on the island.
- Be prepared for a steep climb of roughly 600 stone steps to the monastery; landing slots are limited and visits are paced, so plan on a relatively brisk walk around the upper monastic site.
- Ask your skipper about a boat circumnavigation of Little Skellig/puffin colonies when sea conditions allow - many visitors land on Skellig Michael and miss the excellent seabird and coastal views from the boat.