Journal Journeys: Skellig Michael Island
Jan 31st, 2011 by wwftravel
© Jibi44
Ian Stone describes visiting Ireland’s Skellig Michael Island during a 2010 Wild and Ancient Britain expedition.
As befits the longest day of the year, the sea was calm this morning and the weather was perfect; bright and sunny. Our trusty Zodiacs brought us to mystical Skellig Michael, a World Heritage Site, famous for the ancient Celtic monastery of St. Finian that clings to the very peak of the island. Some of us ascended to the top and inspected the igloo shaped monastery buildings while others simply sat down and made friends with the multitude of puffins that were nesting close to the path. Never did their scientific name Fraticula arctica, “the little brother of the north,” seem more appropriate. We were delighted to learn from our guides that 2010 has been a successful year for puffin breeding.
Good sightings were also secured of the majestic peregrine falcon that nests on the island. During lunch the ship circumnavigated Skellig Michael and neighboring Little Skellig, an island noted for a large colony of nesting gannets. These magnificent birds wheeled through the sky around the ship affording us an unforgettable sight.
Visit Skellig Michael Island during WWF’s Wild and Ancient Britain expedition, July 1-15, 2011.
© Zegrahm Expeditions. Reprinted with permission.
I thought they had stopped allowing people on Skellig Michael because of the wear & tear.
Dear Mr. Myers,
A total of three passenger ship landings are allowed per year on Skellig Michael Island. Our ship is scheduled for one of those landings, but there is an annual safety review in April to confirm that the landing will be possible. The visit is also weather dependent.
Best regards,
WWF Travel