For any Star Wars fan – the final scene of A Force Awakens was pretty amazing. We were all waiting for the return of Luke Skywalker and what better location then on the ancient island of Skellig Michael. After watching the film, I had to look up this spot because I fell in love with the location just from that final scene in the film. To my surprise, I learned that the filming location was just off the coast of Ireland – and this made it even more perfect!
Skellig Michael is located 7 miles off the coast of the southwestern region of Ireland and can be reached by boat departing from Portmagee, Ireland. The town is very small and lodging is limited to Airbnb and private rentals. Trips to Skellig Michael are by small boat and have to be booked well in advance to your trip (more on that later). The cost was approximately $150 per person – but worth every penny. It was truly an amazing experience.
Portmagee
History of Skellig Michael
Historical references of Skellig Michael date back to the eighth century! The island was settled by Monks and they inhabited the island until the 13th century. Despite the monks departing the island, the site continued to be a place of pilgrimage into the eighteenth century. During the time that the monks lived on the island, they built a monastery on the northeastern summit. Retaining walls were built to created level terraces which were used for building and gardening. The construction of the retaining walls and buildings created a microclimate that was conducive to growing crops despite the higher elevation. The “beehive” huts were used for dwellings.
The Climb
The monks constructed several sets of steps that were used a various times of the year, depending on the weather. Only the south steps are accessible to the public. There are 600 steps ascending over 600 feet to reach the top. Some of the pathway scales the side of the island and there are no guardrails for protection. The steps are carved from rock and stone so they are not leveled and at times, can be loose. The climb up can take about 45 minutes to an hour. Breaks are highly recommended! Prior to the climb, the park guides will go over safety precautions and warnings. People have died making this climb, so it is to be taken seriously.
The View from the Top
There are two tiers of “the top”. There is the first landing which is green and fairly leveled. You are permitted to eat at this location. Some hikers pack a lunch and have a picnic. The slope to the west is where Star Wars main scene was filmed; however, due to high traffic initially following the filming of Star Wars, as well as, wear and tear on the steps, this section is closed off. The climb from the first landing to the very top is not far, but it’s fairly steep. Resting here for a bit before making the final climb is a great idea!
Once you reach the very top, you can explore the ruins of the monastery and sweeping views of the sea! You are truly up in the clouds and the reward is worth that hike up the stairs!
The Climb Down
Give yourself at least 30 minutes to make your way back down. Although it isn’t as strenuous as the climb, it more dangerous and you are able to slip easily. Once you are off the stairs, enjoy the nice paved pathway down to the dock. Even though you aren’t in the clouds, this view is spectacular as well!
The Puffins
If you are lucky enough to go on this adventure in the spring and summer, you will have the fortunate experience of seeing puffins all over the island. Everywhere you look, puffins are in their nests and flying about freely. They use Skellig Michael as a safe haven to lay their eggs before heading across the Atlantic Ocean to Canada for the winter.
The Boat Ride and Little Skellig
The seas can be rough and weather unpredictable. Sadly, trips can be canceled or rescheduled due to the sea and weather conditions. Unfortunately, this is not something you can plan for. We were very fortunate because the day we went, the seas were calm and the weather was very clear. The boat ride is about 45 minutes and on the way to Skellig Michael, you will go around Little Skellig, which is a bird sanctuary.
Important Things to Know
- The entire trip is approximately 5 hours. You will have 2.5 hours on the island and about 2 of those hours is spent climbing up and back. It took us about an hour to climb up and 40 minutes to climb back (mostly because I stopped to take photos constantly!). We spent about 30 minutes at the top of Skellig Michael. The climb is beautiful though and worth the time!
- There are no bathrooms on the island. Any trash brought in must be carried out. Pack light snacks and plenty of water.
- Make sure you have good shoes with gripping soles. Hiking boots or hiking shoes are recommended. Several hikers had walking sticks. We managed without them, but I can see how they would be helpful. Take breaks as needed – there are pull off “rest areas” along the climb.
- Reservations for the landing trip to Skellig Michael open in February/March and they only take a small number of boat trips out each day, so book well in advance of your trip!
We used Paul Devane Boat Trips and had an excellent experience!
Note: the Eco Cruise does NOT land on Skellig Michael. This is a bird watching cruise around the islands. If you want to climb Skellig Michael, be sure to book the Landing Tour.
Skellig Michael was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Ireland. Aside from it being a Star Wars filming location, it was truly beautiful and a wonderful way to connect with nature and the ancient past. I highly recommend this adventure if you are planning a trip to Ireland!
Enjoy a video summary of our Skellig Michael experience and see more photos on my Flickr, here.
