I've finally taken the plunge ( figuratively I hope) and booked Skellig Michael trip next Sat week. Even the boat trip ( open boat is 7.5m x 3.5m ) will be an adventure. When we get to the island ( 8 miles out in the Atlantic), you have to jump from the boat and grab hold of the ladder to climb up!!   THEN, its a 600 foot climb on 1000 year old steps to get to the top. Some of the steps are right at the edge!!    I should be fine though, there has only been 2 fatalities in the last 8 years there! ( No handrails or modern conveniences of any sort allowed i.e. no toilet as it is a world heritage site and they dont want to deface it. I'm bringing a roll of toilet paper cos I'm pretty sure I'll be bricking it!     

The video below shows what it is like. The Skellig bit starts at 39.55 minutes. ( Actually, the first 5 minutes is about where I live)

You forgot to post the video  

      

Oh for crissakes!!!!!!!!


39.55 in and the first few minutes is about Galway

Thats going to be a nice little adventure, love stuff like that.

I'm not great with heights. I reckon I'll be ok going up, but coming down OMG!!!!!

Dont look  

Doesn't seem to be much of a family holiday destination to me

I take it it's not all inclusive?

It's probably in Daryn's holiday price bracket anyway




Look forward to the pics Dermo

Well, I survived Skellig Michael. My brother in law and myself did it last Saturday morning. We got a boat out from Portmagee, Co. Kerry. It took about an hour to get there. The crossing wasn't too bad considering we were 8 miles out in the Atlantic. Because I'm a feckin muppet and forgot my camera, some of these photos aren't great, they were taken with my phone.
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This is the little road they built from the pier on the island. There was no gangplank off the boat, you have to jump from the boat to the steps

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(Sorry, I cant get it to load right way up!)

We were met by a guide at the bottom of the steps who gave us a safety lecture.He told us to keep to the inside of the steps. Like I needed to be told that!!
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Don't look down!

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Long way down!!

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Even longer way down!!

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Nearly there. Thats Little Skellig in the background. I have a few close ups of that later.

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We did it. This is me not at all looking scared at the top of the steps.

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The monastery. It took several generations to build, maybe over 200 years. They first built a massive retaining wall ( dry stone, no mortar) and slowly raised the ground level on the inside. Once it was @ 70 foot high, they built a little garden with soil from the mainland and the beehive huts. ( All stone and soil was lifted by hand up all those steps)

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The walls of the huts are @ 6/7 foot thick. Inside, the remain more or less around the same temperature all year round.

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My favourite photo

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One of the guides giving a talk on the place
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These were another set of steps to the bottom but the last 50 feet or so, were blasted away when they made the road/path

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The graves of two children of lighthouse keepers in the 1800's who died on the island.

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Some bollix that I don't know and I'm definitely not related to.

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There used to be a rock sticking out at the top of this promontory. Apparently, people used to crawl to the edge and kiss it. The rock has since fallen into the sea.

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Time for the descent

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Looking back to the entrance to the monastery

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There were puffins everywhere, very tame

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Leaving the island

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On the return trip, we went close to Little Skellig. This is the 2nd biggest gannetry in the world. My brother in law got shat upon, right on top of his head! :Belly Laugh:

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Our last look at the two islands

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WOW what a great adventure well done and thanks for the photos, your phone camera really worked well. Thats an awesome place to visit thanks for sharing and repped   

I meant to say, there was an American who told the guide at the top and I quote "You guys should sell T-shirts with photos of Skellig Michael on them". There was a stunned silence from all who heard him.   

The camera worked fine Dermo! Well done mate, rep from me

Smashing mate, rep from me too.
HH.

yes very enjoyable Dermot, looks a real good adventure, rep from me

Thanks guys. I've never been to Machu Pichu but I've been to Chichen Itza in Mexico. This is on another scale completely. Everyone should do it at least once in their lives. ( particularly before they start selling t-shirts and sticks of rock there!)

The boat trip would be the biggest scare for me  

Actually, it was fine. I even took the waterproofs off when I got there and wore shorts for the journey home

Did you do Chichen Itza when they still allowed you to climb it Dermo?
Because you couldn't climb it, I didn't bother going there, went to the one at Coba instead. (which you could still climb).

It was 1997 when I was there Mark. I didn't know they stopped people from climbing. I wonder cos there were 3 fatalities a year on the castle ( at least thats what we were told). Anyway, we climbed it no problem. The way down was a different kettle of fish. I took the 1st 2 steps and then came down on my arse the rest of the way   

OK Sue and I now have to go and visit, rep for that compilation

Muchas Gracias Dads. I'm not a spiritual person but there is a serenity and mysticism about that place. I'm definitely going to go back, this time with a proper camera.

4thforum wrote:

I took the 1st 2 steps and then came down on my arse the rest of the way   

   Well you won't be surprised to hear that my Jan only got about 30 steps up that Mexican pyramid and then had to turn around and come down on her ar$e as well