Fastnet Rock Lighthouse & Cape Clear Island tour departing Baltimore. West Cork.
Description
After your ferry crossing passing Carbery’s 100 Isles, arrive at Cape Clear Island, spend some free time exploring this Gaeltacht Island, learning about the island’s culture, the islander life, including old traditions and traditional farming. Discover the island’s ancient standing stones, Napoleonic Tower, Dún an Óir Castle , 12th century church and visit the memorial on the Island to the 1979 Fastnet Yacht Race Disaster. See the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse in the distance on one of the walking trials or enjoy lunch at one of the island’s bars and restaurants. After lunch re-board the ferry travelling to see the lighthouse. Catch a glimpse of the magnificent whales and dolphins en route! We circumnavigate ‘An Carraig Aonair` or the ‘Lonely Rock’ taking in its history and culture. Once we have circled the Rock twice, to get the perfect photo, we head for home enjoying the spectacular scenery until we reach our final port.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Join this tour from Baltimore harbour, with a crossing on the ferry through the beautiful waters of Roaring Water Bay
The Baltimore Beacon is a white-painted stone beacon at the entrance to the harbour at Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland. The beacon was built at the order of the British government following the 1798 Rebellion. It was part of a series of lighthouses and beacons dotted around the Irish coast, forming a warning system. The locals call him Lot’s Wife with a wink after a biblical figure that solidified into a pillar of salt!
Cape Clear Island is situated off the coast of West Cork on the Wild Atlantic Way. The Island is 8 miles by ferry from the mainland and is the nearest inhabited area to the famous Fastnet Rock Lighthouse. It is three and a half miles long by one and a half miles wide and has a permanent Irish speaking population of 130 which increases significantly during the summer months.
After lunch on Cape Clear island re board the ferry and travel out to Fastnet Lighthouse. After we have circled the Rock twice, in different directions, so all passengers can get the perfect photo, we head for home enjoying the spectacular scenery until we reach our final port
On the ferry the captain will show you the real Wild Atlantic Way! You might even catch a glimpse of the magnificent whales and dolphins en-route to the island and the lighthouse.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(32)
Excellent experience and amazing trip. Highly recommend taking this trip from Baltimore in west Cork.
An outstanding trip including a stop on the lovely Island and then a tour around the Fastnet.The marvellous crew even managed to arrange lovely weather despite the dire forecast. The close up contact with the Fastnet (albeit only from the boat!) for our group from the Association of Lighthouse Keepers was probably the highlight of our West Cork Expedition. The Crew couldn't have been more helpful and fun too. A magnificent day for us all.
I got notice that the tour was cancelled! Then I got the tickets! Viator tours are all around the map - lots of cancellations last minute and some quality guides (had a fab one in London in 2024 and a fab one in Panama that year for birdwatching) but some terrible (also Panama City) and lots of cancellations in Ireland
Hi Maureen yes, unfortunately we had to cancel the cruise because of the storm that came in, which made it unpleasant and unsafe to go out to go to sea. We always want to deliver an amazing experience for our customers. Unfortunately we cant control the weather! Hope to host you again in Ireland soon.
One of the best tours we have done. We got great pictures of an engineering wonder. It was awesome inspiring to look at the raised beauty. The crew was great and took our picture with fastnet in the background
Went out to the fastnet lighthouse on Cape Clear ferry from Schull to view up a close up of the Fastnet Lighthouse. The captain Brendan was talking about the islands and sea life on the way to the lighthouse. On arrival at the Fastnet Brendan gave a detailed lesson and how this magnificent lighthouse was built, and other facts There was plenty of time to take photos before heading back. On our way back we saw a pod of dolphins jumping around very near the ferry. This trip is a must see for anyone interested in lighthouses,and the sea. My thanks to Brendan and crew of Baltimore Ferries. Many thanks. Paul Hegarty.
A group of us spanning 3 generations of family went on the Direct Fastnet tour from Baltimore. It was the most amazing, perfect experience. The crew are a joy, down to earth and very helpful. Large, new boat with a bar serving snacks and drinks. Loved the history lesson about the lighthouse while getting to see it up close. On the way back we saw Fin whales and dolphins. The boat crew diverted our return so we could watch the most stunning display of these creatures. Just the most perfect day from start to finish. Highly recommend
Excellent experience but incorrect tickets were issued which compromised the event. Crew and island opportunities were magnificent, but tickets given for a shorter trip-lighthouse viewing paid for but tickets did not include.
Fantastic tour! We had enough time on Cape Clear to gave a driver show us the island. Seeing Fastnet Lighthouse was an awesome experience. Our boat circled it several times so we could really see and get fantastic pictures. The staff was friendly and very helpful.
Thanks you for this 5* review! It is an amazing bucket list experience to see the lighthouse and explore this Irish speaking island en-route. Thank you for joining us.
I travelled with my wife the tour having been suggested by Trish from Cork harbour cruises who gave us the contact numbers. The trip was fantastic the views amazing and boat great fun to be in on the open sea. We stopped over on Cape Clear for a few hours on the journey back and enjoyed the walks and had lunch. It was a perfect day and we would recommend it for any group adults and children.
Just a glorious and exciting day out. We were very fortunate with the weather (Ireland Wild Escapes' Cathy had kindly messaged to postpone for two days as our first date's forecast was somewhat "iffy") and, on the way out, enjoyed a relaxed half-way, 2 hour stop to explore some of Cape Clear Island's features. The icing on the cake, though, was a long enough stop, circling really close to Fastnet Rock Lighthouse whilst listening to a very detailed and interesting commentary. The operator, Cape Clear Ferries, was totally professional and helpful, with polite, friendly staff and well-kept boats, especially the larger, faster one out to Fastnet.
Thank you Rod for taking the time to write this great review! Delighted you got to experience this unique tour to Cape Clear Island and then onto Fastnet!
