Kinsale Cruise, Kinsale ( 50 minutes)
Description
Experience Kinsale like never before with our one-of-a-kind boat tour! This adventure combines rich culture, fascinating insights, relaxation, and breath-taking views that you won't want to miss. With its remarkable historic sites, Kinsale offers a unique vantage point from the water, allowing you to truly appreciate the beauty and significance of the area. The engaging commentary shares captivating stories and legends, enriching your understanding of how this charming town has evolved through the centuries.
Tour Options
Itinerary
As we set off from the quay, keep an eye out for the lively yacht marina and admire the picturesque former fishing village of Scilly. The boat glides close to the shore, offering fantastic opportunities to spot seals, otters, herons, cormorants, terns, and a host of vibrant flora and fauna.
Get ready for awe-inspiring views of Charles Fort, which dates back to the late 1600s and was built to enhance the harbour's defences. Picture the incredible effort involved in constructing this fort, stone by stone, long before modern machinery came into play. Once home to a garrison until 1920, Charles Fort is now an OPW heritage site, complete with daily guided tours. Experiencing its grandeur from the water adds a whole new layer to its rich history!
As we journey on, you'll catch panoramic views of The Old Head of Kinsale before we navigate towards the mouth of the harbour
Across from us stands James Fort, built in 1603 following the Battle of Kinsale to safeguard against invasions. The sight of these two forts facing each other serves as a vivid reminder of the town's storied past.
We'll also glide by Dock beach before making our way towards the historic Ringrone Castle, which has roots dating back to the 13th century. Once a stronghold of the Anglo-Norman De Courcey family, this castle has a lineage that stretches back centuries. Did you know the present Lord Kingsale is the 36th Baron, residing all the way in New Zealand?
Before we wrap up our tour, we’ll enjoy a peaceful cruise up the Bandon River, passing three marinas: a private marina, a fisherman’s marina, and the yacht marina. Picture the charming scene of diverse boats and yachts gently bobbing in the water, with the stunning town of Kinsale as a backdrop. This journey is truly one of the best values you'll find in Kinsale!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Boarding begins 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Passengers should arrive at least 15 minutes before the departure time to ensure smooth check-in and boarding.
- Please be advised due to the limited nature of Viator's pricing schedules and the inability to allow individual pricing and group pricing in one product, we are unable to offer discounted group pricing and student ticket options on this platform.
Reviews(68)
Daniel and the entire crew were incredibly friendly, attentive and welcoming throughout the trip, making sure everyone in our group felt comfortable and had a great time. The boat trip is not only great fun but also a fantastic way to discover Ireland from a unique perspective – out on the water, taking in the stunning scenery and learning more about the local area. I would recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kinsale, especially groups.
A beautiful 50 minute ride around the harbor of Kinsale. The captain and crew were great and explained to everything we were seeing would definitely recommend.
Informative, beautiful, entertaining!
Fabulous (just under) an hour cruise. The weather changed quickly but the crew were flexible and friendly and most welcoming. Our guide was Kieran - great charming storyteller and sans us a few songs towards the end…what more could you ask for!
The day was sunny and bright and so a great day on the harbour! Be sure to wear sunscreen or a hat if it’s sunny. There weren’t any seals or wildlife spotted but that might be because of the time of year. (Mid-June)
Fun trip with clear explanations and live entertainment on board.
Great time on the water in Kinsale.
Ciaran was welcoming and efficient, chatty and good company singing for the people on trip .. very sociable great singer and down to earth !
I bought my ticket on the spot, it was a lovely day and the little cruise is a fun way to enjoy the town, get a little rest, and have a drink if you wish. The staff was very nice and I'm glad I took the time to sit back and enjoy a bit.
I found it brilliant the guy that was taking about Kinsale was so good he knew his history and very good singer
