A trip to Ireland. Day two is Carciwin. Day three. Skellig Michael, Valentia Island

Even if you don’t have a car, you can explore the area for a little money. From Fair Street, local buses depart to Portmaghy, Kells Bay, Glenbey, and Valentia Island. And in the immediate vicinity of Kersiwin there are many interesting places that are easy to reach on foot or hitchhiking. Bus schedules can be taken at the hotel where you are staying or ask the drivers. The driver will be able to pick you up at a convenient time.

 

I don't know if it's common practice or if we're just lucky with good people. We left for Portmagy at 8:40 a.m., the last bus left at two-thirty (only two flights a day) and we didn't have time to return by that time with Skellig Michael. The driver offered to pick us up at four o'clock. The roundtrip fare is 6.5 euros, the same as the fare to Glenbey.

 

 

 

 

Be sure to pay attention to bank days when planning trips, these days buses run on Sunday schedule. There is no information on the official website of the carrier about this. We were faced with a schedule change on the trip from Cork to Carciwin via Killarney, the bus we were planning to leave on was cancelled. You could only get from Killarney to Killarry, and from there either by taxi or hitchhiking.

 

In the same situation was a couple from Belgium and a family from China. We didn’t venture to hitchhike with suitcases on a holiday, so we had to work with a couple from Belgium and take a taxi. The taxi counter cost us 75 euros. Thanks for bank day.

 

 

 

 

Carcivin is a small town, but very cozy, with many pubs and restaurants, beautiful nature and friendly residents. Here you can explore the old barracks for soldiers, walk along the bay, breathe air soaked in iodine, explore the surroundings of the old dilapidated castle of Bellicherbury, built in the 16th century. It is a pity that the castle itself is not approached, the meadows around it are private property and are used for grazing cows and bulls.

 

In Carciwine, you can cheaply try traditional Irish dishes cooked at home. We loved Fetna. Here we ordered shepherd cake, fish soup (the famous Irish Seafood Chowder), Irish lamb stew with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The cuisine of Ireland is not distinguished by delights, the food is very simple and hearty, if you are a lover of complex dishes, then you are unlikely to taste it.

 

Irish dishes are very well combined with beer and whiskey, locals often order a shot of whiskey and wash it down with some stout. In the evening, even on a simple day, you can listen to a free live music concert in the pub. After the performance, musicians in small pubs approach visitors, talk about the last concert and ask for a tip if you say that the music liked.

 

 

 

It is a pity that we did not have enough time to explore the entire island of Valentia, to visit the Skellig information center. We just finished the Bray Head Loop Walk. This trail offers stunning views of the ocean and coast. So, there will be an occasion to return and walk through the streets of the cozy town of Knightstown, visit the Glanlem House and its famous tropical gardens.

 

If you want to visit Skellig Michael, see where Star Wars was filmed, then you need to book tickets worth one hundred euros in three months. There is only one tour on the island at 8 a.m., and only fifteen boats with a capacity of twelve are licensed to visit the island. Wanting much more, booking the same eco-tour around the islands is not a problem. It won’t work on one site, go to another.

 

There are four companies that organize such tours, the cost of tickets is the same everywhere and is forty euros. After payment, you will receive a confirmation by post, you do not need to print anything. It is enough to give your name at the box office and you will be given a boat ticket. Be prepared for the fact that the departure time of the boat may be delayed due to weather conditions or even canceled (then the money will be returned). Our boat was delayed for half an hour.

 

When you stand and wait your turn getting off the boat, people wish you luck, some of them pale and look tired. This, of course, should alert, and may even stop. If you asked me right after I came back if I would like to go on this tour again, I would definitely say no. If you asked me now, I would say yes. If you, like me, have a weak vestibular apparatus, if you do not feel well on steep rides in amusement parks, take a motion sickness pill. Or you run the risk of making your way back into a bag in the cabin of a captain who will patiently serve you water and napkins.

 

 

On the boat there are only twelve seats of six on each side, you will sit facing the ocean. Before leaving, you will be wearing a life jacket and a fishing cape with a hood (some boats were riding without cloaks), which is actually necessary. I don't know, maybe there are days when the ocean is calmer and days when the waves are stronger, but when you go out into the open ocean, it's really scary. The ship rolls like a chip on the waves, you go down, and then you are covered by a wave from head to toe (if you sit on the right). Then you get used to and begin to enjoy, having time in the interval between the waves to spit out sea water and wipe your eyes. Swim to the islands for fifty minutes, pitching lasts all the time. The captain then makes stops. The first is near the island of Little Skellig, on it there is a huge colony of northern gannets, in autumn the birds fly to winter in West Africa.

 

 

The second parking lot near Big Skellig Island.

At the end of the VI century AD, a monastery was founded on the island. Monks lived in stone cells in the form of bee hives. Even from the boat you can see their buildings and paved roads. You can also see dolphins jumping out of the water. If you want to get a portion of adrenaline and unforgettable impressions, be sure to go.

 

Text and photo: Elena Konysheva