Southern Irish Extreme Lighthouse Tour 2012
8 day tour June 24th to July 2nd
with John Eagle the author of the Collins Press book 'Ireland's Lighthouses ~ A Photo Essay'
4 places left
Limited to 9 people (11 inc driver and John Eagle)
Starts near Ennis in Co. Clare and finishes in Cork City. This really is a fantastic tour which includes visiting Skellig Michael to see the puffins, going round the Fastnet, Bull Rock, and going on a guided tour of Hook Head, Mizen Head, (walk the bridge) and Loop Head lighthouses. We will see Ballinacourty, Duncannon North, Tarbert, Kilcredaune, Little Samphire Island, Cromwell Point and if that wasn't enough we also get to spend 2 nights at Galley Head lighthouse
Meet the puffins at Skellig Michael
Puffin photo courtesy Sue Gilkey
The 2011 tour sold out very quickly |
| We start the tour on the evening of June 24th meeting up at the Clare Inn, which is close to Shannon Airport. If you like we can pick you up from this airport or arrange to meet you in Bunratty village which is also nearby. We will have dinner together, followed by a slide show of my shots of Irish lighthouses. |
| Thanks so much. You did a brilliant job organising it all looking forward to the next one... Judy Weeks (ALK) |
| Day 1 June 25th: We drive over to Doolin and take the ferry across to Inisheer, one of the Aran Islands. High stone walls and a great lighthouse |
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On our return to the mainland we procede to the Cliffs of Moher, where you have time to relax and have a cuppa. A walk along the top is a must to catch a glimpse of these magnificent cliffs |
| We now head south west following the coast to Loop Head lighthouse which also stands on some pretty amazing cliffs. Here we get a guided tour of the tower and get to walk on the balcony, looking back up the coast we just came down |
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Members of the 2011 Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour visiting Loop Head l-r: Laura Chewning, Kim Fahlen, Judy Weeks, Nancy Ohlson, Tommy Hartnett (our bus driver) Gerry Douglas-Sherwood President of the ALK) Bette Keeping and Keith Morton (Hon. Secretary ALK) |
| Kim Fahlen taking a picture of the lantern at Kilcredaune, with Judy Weeks looking on. The lantern no longer functions, having been switched off by Irish Lights in March 2011. It may not be possible to visit this lighthouse on our 2012 tour as it is no longer working. Fingers crossed we will get to visit it |
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The tower of Kilcredaune. The door to the balcony is very small, but if I can squeeze through it most people can! |
| We make our way back to the Clare Inn near Ennis for our second night |
| Day 2 June 26th: We cross the River Shannon passing close to Tarbert lighthouse and then make our way through the Kerry countryside to Fenit near Tralee to view Little Samphire Island see below |
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It is a nice walk out to the vantage point in Fenit, with the mountains of Dingle in the background. At low tide it is almost tempting to walk out to the lighthouse... |
| After photographing Little Samphire Island we head to Cahirciveen for our bed for the night. On the way some of you might be interested to view parts of the old railway line that ran from Farranfore to Cahirciveen. Picture shows the Glenbeigh viaduct. There are also tunnels to view |
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That evening, after we have eaten and booked into our place for the night we can make a visit to Cromwell Point on Valentia Island |
Day 3 June 27th we head out to the Skelligs from Port Magee. This is a day trip and we will see the lighthouse from below the cliffs and then go onto the rock to view the monastic settlement. We will also see the famous puffins
Picture of puffins courtesy of
Sue Gilkey |
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Upon returning from Skellig Michael we drive to the Beara Peninsula for the next two nights. We stay in Eyeries looking straight onto the Atlantic Ocean.
Picture left shows Glanmore Lake where there is a gorgeous restaurant called Josie's Lake House |
| Day 4 June 28th We go out in a fast moving rib (see below) to visit the Bull Rock famous for its cave that lies beneath the lighthouse. If the sea is calm enough we will pass through and look up at the old dwellings |
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| The fast moving boat we use to go out to the Bull Rock and Ardnakinna |
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| left to right: Bull Rock, Calf Rock, Cow and Heifer |
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The Bull Rock lies off Dursey Island and takes about an hour from Castletownbere. On the way we will pass close the Calf Rock where there used to be a lighthouse. It was destroyed in a storm in the 1880s. A temporary lighthouse was built on Dursey before the Bull Rock was established |
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| Roancarrig |
Calf Rock |
| Leaving the Calf we pass close to Ardnakinna on Bere Island then come up close on Roancarrig lighthouse in Bantry Bay. Coming ashore in Adrigole we cross over the famous Healy Pass (the picture of Glanmore above was taken from it) and head down to a favourite pub of mine Teddy O'Sullivan's known as the Mussel Bar for its wonderful mussels. There follows a tour down the coast to Allihies and supper there. |
| Day 5 June 29th We go to Galley Head lighthouse for 2 nights. (29th and 30th) Whilst staying there we go to Schull for a boat trip to the Fastnet. (Please note, the past two years this boat trip has taken place the following morning, due to weather conditions) |
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| Galley Head Keeper's Cottage, period furniture and books |
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We have to wait and see what Mother Nature has in store for us this time around. In order to find the best weather conditions for the Fastnet we may well shuffle round the visit to the Mizen with the Fastnet |
| Fastnet lighthouse at dawn, we circle 3 or 4 times to view this most famous lighthouse, the last sight of Ireland passengers on the way to America saw and hence that is why it is called 'The Teardrop' |
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| Day 6 June 30th We go to visit the new Mizen Bridge, opened August 2011 at a cost of 2.1 million euros. It replaced the hundred year old bridge which had become unsafe. While it looks much the same the new bridge is actually much wider. Afterwards we will get a good view of Crookhaven lighthouse. Night is at Galley Head |
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Day 7 July 1st: We go to Roche's Point at the entrance to Cork Harbour, where you often see ships passing by |
| We will spend the night at a lovely B&B in Youghal, a short walk from the lighthouse which we can see both at night and during the day. You could be forgiven for thinking, from the picture right, that the lighthouse is in the tropics with those palm trees. They grow almost everywhere here |
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| Youghal |
| Day 8 July 2nd we go to Ballinacourty lighthouse near Dungarvan and then on up the south east coast to Hook Head for a guided tour. On the way we will also stop to photograph Duncannon North. |
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| Hook Head |
Duncannon North |
| Then we take you back to Cork, leaving you at the bus station or airport or where you would prefer |
| Total tour price is € 995 includes visits to all lighthouses places to stay with breakfast, boat trips, bus and driver. Tour is limited to 9 people. Tour deposit is 200 euros to reserve your place. |
Reserve your place on the tour please click on the button below |
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| Or if you have a question to ask please contact me |
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| All photographs © John Eagle Photography except for puffins, my thanks to Sue Gilkey |
