Saltee Islands

Our trip on the Saltee Ferry was very special I was a little intimidated before our trip because I wasn’t sure what to expect, hopefully this helps!

We visited the islands on April 8th. We bought our tickets online a month before our trip (https://salteeferry.rezgo.com/details/305186/island-return-trip). I brought the printed confirmation to the ferry, but I didn’t need it since they had a list of names and quickly checked us in. The parking lot and bathrooms are both very close to the dock.

The ride out to the island was about 20 minutes long and was very choppy as we went against the waves (likely to make someone nauseous if they’re prone to sea sickness). The crew was friendly and seemed very experienced! A crew member advised us which side to sit on and we luckily stayed dry, but other people got soaked! There was also a place to stand inside the boat to stay dry.

Once we got close to the island, we put on life jackets to transfer to a 6-person raft that takes you to shore. The information online makes it very clear that it’s a wet landing! The depth of the water depends on the tide and how close they can bring the raft to shore. There are many slippery rocks and seaweed on the walk to shore. Tall rain boots would be ideal, but we couldn’t fit them in our suitcases. Also, hiking boots are much better for the terrain once you’re on the island. While we were on the raft, the crew advised us to take off our shoes and socks and walk barefoot to shore. My husband went barefoot and I wore flip flops, but if I did it again, I would go barefoot too. As it turned out, we could have stayed somewhat dry getting off the raft onto the island, but the water covered my hiking boots when we left. I would bring a towel or some tissues to wipe your feet off.

We were on the 10am ferry, and we got to the island around 10:30. The crew told us to meet back on the shore at 2pm. We dropped a pin on the meeting spot Apple Maps when we arrived.

The island itself is stunning! We saw seals by the landing site and puffins on the open ocean sides! The island’s terrain is somewhat difficult. The ground is very uneven and is covered in holes (we think they are from birds’ nests?) There are some decently sized hills, but nothing too challenging if you are fairly active. There were many children in our group and they were just fine - although there are some (avoidable) areas with cliffs that could definitely be dangerous!

For the most part, there were clear paths to follow around the island. Stick to the perimeter of the island - the middle is just brush and thorns, doesn’t really have paths, and has little to no wildlife. There were many grassy areas and rocks along the paths that are perfect for picnics.

It was very windy so I’d recommend wearing layers and warm clothing. I’d also recommend wearing hiking boots as it was very hilly and muddy in places! Zippered pockets are a must - my phone slipped out of my coat pocket as I was climbing a hill (luckily we found it again quickly!!!) Many people brought photography equipment. We really wish that we’d brought binoculars! We also wore sunglasses and should have worn sunscreen.

I’d give yourself an hour to get back to the meeting spot. You could potentially leave earlier than your arranged meeting time when the crew drops off groups after yours. However, I wouldn’t recommend cutting your time short unless you really want to! We found our 10am-2pm trip to be the perfect amount of time! Our feet got soaked as we got into the raft, but as we were heading home, we didn’t really care.

Kilmore Quay has a coffee shop, ice cream shop, restaurant, and playground right at the dock. We got hot drinks on the way out as it had been a little chilly!

Overall, I would highly recommend this trip if you are comfortable spending 4+ hours outside, walking on uneven ground/hills, and don’t mind taking off your shoes on the way in. It is definitely off the beaten path of Irish tourist attractions, but that’s what makes the...

We have been planning this trip to see the Puffins for a long time, and finally it happened. Very well managed ferry service to and from the Saltee Islands by Three Sisters company.

The ferry starts from Kilmore Quay and takes about 20mins, post which you are transferred to a small boat which takes 2 mins to reach the Island. After you get down from the boat, there is a small section which would require you to walk in the sea weed water to reach the Island. Wearing wellies would be useful in this case.

After you reach the island, the staff give a short history of the place, health and safety rules, and exact locations on the island to watch puffins and the other birds. At the entry there is a private residence, since this is a private island. Assuming the family was in residence at the time.

We were given 3.5hrs to explore the island, post which is the return ferry. This place is a haven for nature enthusiasts, with the different bird colonies, the blue bell flowers and pure greenery. We did see quite a good number of photographers with their big lens. The puffins are magnificent creatures. They have their burrows in the ground which are their breeding habitat, which you will find throughout the island. So be careful where you are walking. We saw the gannets' colonies, which is amazing. Unfortunately, didnot get to see any seals. The island is home to quite a few different species of birds.

The path is pretty straightforward but would require someone with mid level fitness, as one section of the path was a steep climb and took some effort climbing it. Also, some paths are pretty close to edge of the cliffs. So please be mindful when you get your kids. There is a lot of walking on this island. Also, there are no toilets on the island. The weather was not that great when we were there. So do bring a good jacket as it was quite windy.

Overall a fantastic experience. As we were closer to our return ferry time, we sat on the ground near the puffin colony, and watched the puffins get closer to us, which is quite a surreal experience.

Tip - Do get a good set of binoculars to watch the birds closely.

On the Kilmore quay harbour, there is a free car park and free public washroom closer to it. If you get a chance to have lunch, do go to the Saltee Chipper, they have the best...

Beautiful experience! Even on a rainy day. The trip is great value for money at €30. Plenty of wildlife to see including gannets, oystercatchers, a variety of gulls, cormorants, rabbits, seals etc. Unfortunately we were a bit late in the season for the puffins! The experience is very family friendly with a single looped path to follow at the island and plenty of breakout areas for picnic and rest. The entire walk can be completed in 1.5 hours. Usually the time allotted on the island is 4 hours but as the weather was particularly wet on the day we visited we asked to return to mainland early. The staff kindly obliged. Would thoroughly recommend this activity to anyone. The staff really are terrific and go above and beyond to be helpful and ensure you have the most enjoyable experience! Go do it! It’s...