Dursey Island Loop

Dursey, which is only 6.5km long and 1.5km wide and provides breathtaking views of the West Cork coastline. The cable car costs €10, return, there is only one cafe on the island so bring your own food and drinks. The route is well worn and identifiable through the luminous yellow markers that provide a really clear indication of the route to travel. The yellow markers are placed every couple of hundred yards or so. As such, it’s easy to see the route laid out in front of you. I highly recommend this hike.

We spent the first stage of our long-distance hike on Dursey Island. This is connected to the mainland by Ireland's only cable car. The ground is currently wet, the paths are partly slippery, partly under water. We made slow progress. But that didn't matter. The panorama is magnificent and the barren, lonely landscape is breathtaking. We climbed up to Cloc Bóilas, the highest point on the island. When we reached the summit with the old fortress, we were hit by fog. From there we still had a good hour to go to the westernmost point of the island. We reached this around midday. The E8 long-distance hiking trail officially begins here. So our hike only began here. We took our lunch break inside the ruins. Here we were better protected from the wind. Meanwhile, the fog enclosed us and there was not much left to see. A great start! If you like more detail: https://www.hikinge4.com/post/start-auf-dursey-island

Today I wanted to circumnavigate the Beara Peninsula. At the head of the peninsula is the so-called Dursey Island. This can be reached by Ireland's only cable car. It is primarily used as a supply cable car for the few inhabitants of the island. In my case, for example, petrol and sheep fodder were transported. The Dursey Loop runs lengthways across the island, with beautiful views of the island's hills. The island is so narrow that it is impressive when the sea murmurs on the "ridge" to the right and left under you.

Dursey Island ... and a trip on the cable car. An interesting cable car across the Atlantic. It's best to get there early, because only 6 people are allowed in the cabin and it takes almost 20 minutes before it can accommodate the next person. Over several hills, you go on natural paths with fantastic views past a picturesque ruin to the tip of the island. For the way back, you can use the wider path on the south side, which also offers a very beautiful view of the sea and cliffs. The hike is only recommended when the weather is good, because there are hardly any places protected from wind and rain.

A tour of the entire Dursey Island. The small island, which is located off the Beara Peninsula, is the westernmost inhabited island in Ireland, although reportedly fewer than ten people live there all year round. Many houses are abandoned after the government ordered people to relocate 30 years ago due to a serious fishing crisis. The entire island is 6.5 km long and 1.5 km wide. It can only be reached by Ireland's only cable car. The tour starts at the cable car station and leads along the entire island to its furthest point. The way back is on a narrow path over the high spine of the island, past the highest point, the Signal Tower, and back to the cable car. On the way there you could admire the views of the Atlantic, the wild, rugged rocky coast, the green pastures and the entire landscape of the island. On the way back, due to the fog, the view was very limited this time. An eventful, beautiful hike.

The most remote island on the Beata peninsula is astonishing, with the option of renting a school and the truly unexpected laying of broadband cable (across the Atlantic?) and, last but not least, a cemetery where sheep obviously feel at home and, finally, a door lock that all TÜV experts should be delighted with - and this time we even came back dry after the crossing 🙂.