Ferry Tours
Fastnet Rock Lighthouse Tours
Take a ferry to Ireland’s Teardrop
Fastnet Rock Tours - Turais go dtí An Charraig Aonair
The Fastnet Rock Lighthouse is the tallest and widest Rock lighthouse ever constructed in Ireland and the UK.
The 54-metre iconic lighthouse is known as Ireland’s Teardrop as it was the last structure seen by Irish emigrants aboard ships travelling to the United States – including the famous ill-fated RMS Titanic.
One of the best things to do in West Cork- Tours start from late April- October from Baltimore and June-August from Schull.
Day tour to Fastnet Rock – includes 2-3 hr stop on Cape Clear Island. Twilight tours and Direct Fastnet tours.
Fastnet Rock is the most southerly point of Ireland, lying 6.5km southwest of Cape Clear Island and one of the most famous landmarks in Ireland.
Construction of the first lighthouse on Fastnet Rock – originally made of cast iron — started in 1853 and first produced light on the first day of 1854.
It replaced an earlier lighthouse that had been built on Cape Clear in 1818. Following a shipwreck of the Stephen Whitney – a packet ship in Robert Kermit’s Red Star Line that lost the lives of 92 people, it was decided to move the lighthouse. Those making the decision looked out from the original lighthouse and saw Fastnet Rock and the decision was made to build the new lighthouse there.
In 1891, a second replacement lighthouse was erected on Fastnet – as the light from the old one was not sufficiently powerful — and was made from brick. The lower portion of the first lighthouse is still visible to this day.
Fastnet Rock – or simply Fastnet – is known as An Carraig Aonair (lonely rock) in Irish –and is a small clay-slate islet which rises to around 30 metres above the low water mark. It is separated from the much smaller Little Fastnet by a 10-metre wide channel.
Cape Clear Ferries runs daily tours out and around the Fastnet Rock from Baltimore or Schull via Cape Clear. Fastnet Tours were featured in National Geographic’s “The Best of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way”.
What's included in the Day tour
The Fastnet Rock Tour Day Tour
The Fastnet Rock Tour Day tour first stops on the beautiful Cape Clear Island for around two to three hours before heading out to Fastnet Rock Lighthouse itself.
From Baltimore or Schull, you cross the impressive Roaringwater Bay and meander through Carbery’s Hundred Isles, some of which are habited, towards Cape Clear Island, known as the Queen of Carbery’s Hundred Isles as it is the largest.
On Ireland’s most southerly island – which is one of the few Irish-speaking islands in Ireland — you will get to experience the Fastnet Exhibition and multimedia display in the Cape Clear & Fastnet Rock Heritage Centre as well as the Fastnet Rock Memorials on Cape Clear island.
You will also get a stunning view of the Fastnet Rock from the island itself before the boat ventures further out into the wild Atlantic to round the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse, where travellers can often expect to see pods of whales, dolphins and other marine life.
]You will also get the stunning view of the Fastnet Rock from the island itself before the boat ventures further out into the wild Atlantic to round the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse, where travellers can often expect to see pods of whales, dolphins and other marine life.
The boat circumnavigates the rock at close quarters, giving superb views and excellent photo opportunities before returning to the mainland.
The Fastnet Day Tour
Tickets cost €45 or €105 for a family of two adults and two children.
Please arrive at least 20 minutes prior to departure
Departs Baltimore at 10.45am – Returns at 5.00pm
Departs Schull at 11.30am – Returns at 5.00pm
What's included in the tour
The Fastnet Rock Twilight Tour
The Fastnet Rock Sunset/Twilight Tour offers passengers an amazing opportunity to see the lighthouse as the sun goes down behind its towering bulk. Enjoy this sunset tour to the Fastnet Rock setting sail from Baltimore Harbour at 6pm during June and at 7pm during July and August and circle the rock at sunset in what is a rare and memorable experience.
The Fastnet Rock Twilight Cruise/ Tour
Tickets cost €45 or €105 for a family of two adults and two children.
Why not Depart Baltimore during July & August on an earlier sailing at 5 pm and explore Cape Clear Island first and then re-join the Twilight Tour at around 7.45 pm from Cape Clear Island.
What's included in the tour
The Fastnet Rock Direct Tour
The Fastnet Rock Direct Tour takes up to three and a half hours, departing from Baltimore or Schull going direct to the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse. The boat circles the lighthouse at close quarters to give you the best view of the iconic lighthouse as well as the perfect photo opportunity.
The Fastnet Rock Direct Tour
Tickets cost €44 per person.
We boarded the ferry in Schull(also leaves from Baltimore) and did the Fastnet Lighthouse trip(excellent)and then had a stop of over 2 hours in beautiful Cape Clear. A friendly, clean, informative and safe service . Great way to spend a day....highly recommend.
We took the ride from Baltimore with a 2 hour layover in Cape Clear, the light house trip with the sunset view was awesome.The ride got cancelled the day before our trip but we booked it for the next day and it was worth the Wait. If you are planning for the sunset trip make sure you have warm clothes :).
We booked a private evening tour of the Fastnet with Cape Clear Ferries for a group of 12 and had a great experience.
We had spectacular up-close views of the “lonely island”, brought our own picnic and drinks and chased some dolphins on the way back in. The friendly and knowledgeable crew made sure we had a unique and enjoyable evening on the water.
Wonderful experience, Cape clear is beautiful! Fastnet is a feat of engineering, well worth seeing. The ferry is very well run, all safety precautions taken and great staff. All set off by a beautiful sunny day. Highly recommend this day trip!
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