Date: 16-17th June 2019
Travelled: 138 kilometres from Travara Marina in County Cork to Portmagee in County Kerry
Visited: Ring of Kerry and Skellig Michael Tour โฌ100 pp
Stayed: Church car-park, free no services N51.88378, W10.36460
Budget: 15 days @ โฌ98 per day
After a quiet evening parked on the marina in Travara, we wake to a sunny morning. The breeze is cool but the sun warm. We have our coffee and breakfast before servicing the Hymer and getting the day started. We still have 35 kms of the Ring of Beara to complete. From Travara itโs the Kenmare River on our left and the Slieve Miskish Mountains on our right. A sign indicates we have crossed into County Kerry.
We stop for coffee and a re-fuel at Kenmare before turning onto the N70, the Ring Of Kerry. Whilst still part of the Wild Atlantic Way the Ring has been a tourist road in its own right for many years. As its designation suggest the road is wider, lucky as we pass countless tourist coaches today.
Looking down on Derrynane. Just after we stopped to take this picture we spoke to a group of Australians from a walking club in Chatswood, Sydney. 
We stay just under the cloud.
At Waterville we turn off the Ring of Kerry, following the WAW around to Portmagee. The LP advices Portmagee is where most boats to Skellig Michael depart from. Whilst it is generally booked out months in advance we hope to jag a cancellation for tomorrow.
We do end up in the cloud this time. 
The drive over the mountain at Ballyahow is steep as winding.
Main Street in Portmagee. Itโs a picturesque little place. 
We find a park and check at the booking office. He makes a couple of phone calls and we have our tickets for the Skellig Walker tomorrow. He tells us to be here at 9am.
Our new best friend at the booking office gives us the good oil on the best place to park up. 
The best part of the day !
Our parking spot was behind the Church next to the burial ground, as you would expect it was dead quiet. We do hear the wind a couple of times overnight, but wake to our usual Irish morning, cool with a broken overcast sky.
Making our way out of Portmagee for the 8 nautical mile passage to the Skellig Islands. 
Arriving at Skellig Michael, thatโs Little Skellig behind us.
We arrive in one piece the first challenge is getting off the boat as it rises by a meter as each wave rolls past. โStep off on the crestโ we are told and within a couple of minutes we are all off on Skellig Michael. Iโm not here to give history lesson but monks established a monastery here in circa 600 and it was occupied by monks until about 1200 when Irish religious faith turned toward Rome. You can read about Skellig Michael here.
For a relatively small place it has a lot of steps. It starts along a path that winds it way up around the island. This was built when a lighthouse was established here nearly 200 years ago. Then we start the serious climb of around 600 rough slate steps to the monastery. Itโs something of a hump but you are so busy taking in the vista and trying not to step on a puffin you donโt really notice.
The monastery is a series of stone cells. Set partially into the ground, their dome like roofs are the most exposed. 
The small cemetery behind the chapel dome. The dome roofs of stone similar to those we saw in Trulli, Italy.
Last Puffin Photo. 
Our tour finishes at 12.30 and the Skellig Walker arrives on time.
Last look at Skellig Michael. 
We do a close up of little Skellig on our way back.
35,000 pairs of Gannets nest on Little Skellig. The noise and commotion is everywhere. 
At sea level, its a colony of leopard seals. Not sure how they cope with the Gannet shit to be honest.
Back in the Hymer we clean up, have a little R+R before wandering down to The Moorings Bar for a Guinness and Fish n Chips. Pam actually had the Sav Blonc and the seafood chowder, but it doesnโt matter as another day in Ireland slides through to the keeper.
Michael and Pam
