October, 2015
One of the main reasons we decided on this self-guided south-west tour of Ireland, was to make it to Portmagee which is this sleepy little fishing village. It will have you feeling like you are at home on the East coast of Canada, and is the perfect place to base yourself to see the Skellig Ring and the Moorings. Landing tours to the Skellig run between May 15 and October 2, and if you want to see the puffins, you must travel before August 1. The original plan for this trip was in September, 2015, however, due to an unexpected trip to Japan for me, this trip was moved to October, 2015 and we missed the opportunity for the landing tour which was so disappointing. D was more disappointed than me, as this was on his list for this trip and he doesn’t often ask for much when we travel, as I typically plan most of it. If you can make it work during your trip, I would highly suggest it, and we will be back to experience it one day!
So, we made the best with the change in plans when we moved our trip. We opted to hike around the Kerry Cliffs which stand 1000 feet above the Atlantic, offering a great view of the Skellig rocks. This felt like such a tease, as the weather seemed great that day and a landing trip feasible, but not possible. So, we had sheep along the hike instead of Puffins, but the hike and the views were completely worthwhile. These cliffs are not as touristy as the Cliffs of Moher, but still offer amazing views and a walkway that juts out allowing you to look back at the main cliffs. If you can brave the wind – it’s worth the view.
Since Skellig was not in the cards for us, we shortened our stay in Portmagee and used more time to explore the west side of the Ring of Kerry as we departed for Tralee.
With the ocean’s bounty at its doorstep, if you are looking for seafood for dinner, visit The Moorings. With the signature seafood platter, you will have the freshest local seafood and shellfish – a feast of food to keep you happy whilst having a pint or two.
