Skellig Michael Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
UNESCO heritage island off coast of Kerry, Ireland
About Skellig Michael
Sceiligin Irish means "splinter" and that's a good description of this line of sharp pyramidal islets off the Kerry coast. They were formed of Devonian sandstone and shale some 360-375 million years ago, as were Macgillycuddy's Reeks near Killarney. A period of folding 300 million years ago sundered Ireland's southwest coastline into a series of mountain peninsulas and deep inlets. Rising sea levels and erosion then detached a chain of islets that starts with Puffin Island close to shore and ends with Skellig Michael 12 km out. At some point, erosion shattered Skellig Michael's centre and left it with two peaks, joined by the plateau of "Christ's Saddle". Skellig Michael was probably visited but uninhabited until a monastic settlement was founded here. This could have been as early as the
Skellig Michael Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: