Cable Car Magic: Everything You Should Know about Visiting Dursey Island

For a fabulous day out in West Cork, why not visit the island of Dursey, one of the few inhabited islands off the southwest coast of Ireland. At 6.5 km long and 1.5 km wide, it is situated at the western tip of the Beara Peninsula, and is separated from the mainland by a narrow stretch of water called the Dursey Sound.

Dursey currently has 15 houses that are liveable and six permanent residents, and seven farmers have livestock on the island and spend frequent nights there.

The island is made up of three villages/townlands called Ballynacallagh, Kilmichael and Tilickafinna.

Getting there

Head for the very tip of the Beara Peninsula, near the village of Ballinskelligs/Allihies. Getting to the island is particularly memorable as you have to take the cable car. You’ll see signs for Dursey Island Cable Car near Ballaghboy, and there’s a small car park right at the terminal. It is first come, first served — there is no booking system in place so you just have to rock up.

Originally opened in 1969, the Dursey Island cable car remains Ireland’s only cable car and the only one that traverses open seawater in all of Europe. It is one of the great attractions of the island and people travel from far and wide to give it a go.

The cable car fits six people and crosses the Dursey Sound in about eight minutes, and it costs €10 return for adults and €5 for children over three. While it runs frequently, strong winds can stop it. Dogs are allowed on the cable car and on the island on the public road only, not the Beara Way, and must be kept on a leash at all times due to the presence of livestock.

The timetable and further information can be accessed here. https://www.durseyisland.ie/times.html

Getting around

Dursey is best explored on foot and walkers are encouraged to stay on the path to protect the local fauna and birdlife. You will come across fantastic sights like ruins of the temporary lighthouse that was built on Dursey at the end of the 19th century. and the beautiful monastery and graveyard close to the port just below the cable car.

Depending on your walking speed, it will take 4-5 hours to walk to the end of the island and back. The gradient is easy to moderate on the roads and moderate off the roads.

You could also bring a bike and cycle the island, but due to space limitations, the transportation of bicycles is strictly at the discretion of the cable car operator.

Guided tours and boat trips around Dursey are available – for details, see https://www.durseyisland.ie/dursey-boat-trips-guided-tours-and-local-services.html

Staying there

There are a few holiday homes/cottages on the island you can rent — like the Old Dursey Schoolhouse, Dursey Cottage or Little Island View. For further information, see https://www.durseyisland.ie/local-accommodation.html

Camping on Dursey is possible but you need permission from a local farmer. You must bring all gear, food and water with you since there are no facilities on the island. 

Most visitors to Dursey choose to stay on the Beara Peninsula on the mainland nearby. There are plenty to choose from, and one that we enjoyed staying at when we visited Dursey is Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff. See https://www.eccleshotel.com/

Food, drink and facilities

At least one café now operates on the island during the summer months, but outside of that, it is advisable to bring your own water and food as there are no hotels, pubs or shops on the island itself. The nearest supermarket is Murphy’s SuperValu in Castletownbere, about 23 km from the cable car.

There are public toilets available at the cable car station on the mainland, but unfortunately, there are no public toilets currently on the island.

Nature and wildlife

Dolphins and whales are regular visitors to the waters that surround Dursey, in addition to a wide range of different types of seabirds and butterflies.

The main attraction for birdwatchers is that with the Bull Rock offshore and its large gannet colony), there are thousands of seabirds to be seen; including Manx Shearwaters, guillemots, razorbills and puffins. In addition, the island itself hosts breeding Choughs. During the migration season, the island has attracted some rare migrants from the west (including birds from North America such as Wilson’s Warbler and Ovenbird), the east (including birds from Siberia and the Far East such as Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Red-flanked Bluetail) and the south (including birds from Southern Europe such as Hoopoe and Bee-eater).

Making a weekend of It

The Beara Peninsula is one of the most beautiful locations in Ireland, with a host of historical and other attractions, and many pretty villages. Villages in the local area include Allihies, famous for its stunning views and its copper mines, and Eyeries, one of the most picturesque villages in Ireland. Additional information about the Beara Peninsula can be found at http://ringofbeara.com/ and http://www.bearatourism.com/

In addition, if you want to explore other islands, there are eight islands off West Cork in addition to Dursey. Heir Island is famous for its food school and restaurant. Its neighbour, the scenic Sherkin Island, with its mild climate, is the ancestral hub of the O’Driscoll clan, while Cape Clear is one of the leading dolphin and whale sighting locations in Europe.

Whiddy Island and Bere Island are treasures for the history buffs; the former featuring a holy well, church and graveyard dating from the sixth century, and the latter rich with its archaeological and historic sites. Long Island is known for spectacular walks, shingle beaches, abundant wildlife and a population of about 10.

For further information on Dursey Island, see https://www.durseyisland.ie/