Ballycotton Island Lighthouse Tours
Ballycotton Island Lighthouse Tours
Ballycotton Island Lighthouse Tours
5
Boat ToursWalking ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate ToursPhotography Tours
09:00 - 17:00
Monday
09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
09:00 - 17:00
Thursday
09:00 - 17:00
Friday
09:00 - 17:00
Saturday
09:00 - 17:00
Sunday
09:00 - 17:00
Full view
About
45 minutes from Cork city and you will be transported on an exclusive historical natural visitor experience. A charming 10-seater passenger ferry 'Yassy' and a local guide will transport you to the previously inaccessible island; up the steep grassy incline to the summit and inside the black tower and onto the lantern balcony. Only goats live on the island.. sometimes they come and say hello!
Ballycotton, County Cork, Ireland
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Ballycotton Island Lighthouse Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
213 reviews
Excellent
202
Very good
8
Average
0
Poor
2
Terrible
1
charlotterispind
Dublin, Ireland29 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
Such a beautiful trip with an amazing tour from John who was so amazingly passionate it brought the whole lighthouse and village of Ballycotton to life. Myself and my boyfriend were equally impressed with the knowledge and passion that came through from all of John’s stories. I would urge anyone around Cork not to miss this experience - I will recommend to anyone coming down that direction.
2 things to note: please get here early enough to park as there are not many spots about and also make sure to use the bathroom before getting on the boat!
2 things to note: please get here early enough to park as there are not many spots about and also make sure to use the bathroom before getting on the boat!
Written 14 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy A
11 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Great tour... from Alan the boat driver to the amazing and wonderfully knowledgable guide John, we knew it was much more than a trip, it was an experience..
stunning views from the lighthouse and John was so informative and helpful, took loads of photos for us.
Plenty of hand sanitizer stations throughout the trip so felt very safe
Highly recommend
The Carlow Crew
stunning views from the lighthouse and John was so informative and helpful, took loads of photos for us.
Plenty of hand sanitizer stations throughout the trip so felt very safe
Highly recommend
The Carlow Crew
Written 21 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason W
Limerick, Ireland2 contributions
Jul 2020
We were looking around the harbour and by chance met Alan who said he could take us over for the lighthouse tour later that afternoon.
We had a fantastic afternoon right from being taken over on the boat by Alan who is lovely and then when on the island Claire was a brilliant guide - full of information about the island, the lighthouse, the surrounding area and the history the area and its people.
A really interesting tour of a wonderful place with stunning views as well - totally recommend that anyone in the area should make time for this tour!
Brilliant recommendation from Claire for dinner as well which was most appreciated!
We had a fantastic afternoon right from being taken over on the boat by Alan who is lovely and then when on the island Claire was a brilliant guide - full of information about the island, the lighthouse, the surrounding area and the history the area and its people.
A really interesting tour of a wonderful place with stunning views as well - totally recommend that anyone in the area should make time for this tour!
Brilliant recommendation from Claire for dinner as well which was most appreciated!
Written 17 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aine H
St. Albans, UK14 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
My friend and I booked the tour for something different to do during the holidays. Derry was our tour guide and to say he was fantastic is an understatement. He really made the experience enjoyable. His passion for the history of the lighthouse was obvious and we were both impressed that he learnt everybody’s name and addressed us during the tour which is a great touch too. Redmond on the boat was lovely too and they are both true Irish gentlemen. Thanks guys!!
Written 13 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EolasHL
Cork, Ireland5 contributions
Aug 2020
We had a very enjoyable and informative tour. Our guide was Derry, whose passion and knowledge was obvious and his relaxed delivery certainly added to the experience. The views were great as the sun came out while we (slowly) climbed the path from the pier to the lighthouse itself. Basically we had a great chat and stroll in a lovely location while being given some fabulous historical insight into lighthouse life by Derry.
Written 14 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elpa_Cork
Cork, Ireland5 contributions
Oct 2021
An outstanding day out in exceptional weather for this time of year (October). The tour is well run with an excellent guide and boat captain. Safety is of primary concern so we were all issued with proper lifejackets before departure. The history and social living conditions of the lighthouse keepers on the island are very well explained. Ballycotton holds a treasured place in Ireland's marine history and our guide was able to point out the Smiths Reef where the SS. Sirius ran aground and was lost in 1847. This caused the lighthouse to be built on Ballycotton Island rather than Capel Island off Youghal which is further East. Overall an outstanding tour. Well done to our guide, Heather and our captain Paddy. Go Raibh Mile Maith Agaibh. Liam and family
Written 10 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maura M
Ireland12 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
An amazing two hours - from the harbour at Ballycotton to the beautiful sea crossing to the lighthouse - we had a magical time. I loved being on the boat and the sea and sky were beautiful. A real adventure guided by the incredibly knowledgeable John who had so many facts, stories and such high regard and respect for the way of life of the lighthouse. Walking up the steep path with the solid walls on each side, with amazing panoramic views, views from a height that even if you don’t like heights you could handle I would reckon. The fresh air was gorgeous. The buildings and stories about what life was like when these lighthouses were manned. Watching the gulls and goats on the slantiest of slopes. There were six in the group - a nice number and a lovely group. The amazing stone work and craft and the highlight was getting inside the lighthouse to see it’s mechanics and the sheer beauty of walking around it’s periphery at the top. The skippers brought us there and back and we got off that boat feeling like we had touched a bit of history in the Irish spirit and got to know more the beautiful Ballycotton. We look forward to doing the trip again in future. I’m
an artist and abstract filmmaker so this was a slice of inspiration heaven. I hope to make some art inspired by this trip soon.
an artist and abstract filmmaker so this was a slice of inspiration heaven. I hope to make some art inspired by this trip soon.
Written 15 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula B
Kilkenny, Ireland9 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
We booked this trip not realising what a treat was in store! After reaching the island by boat which took about 10 minutes we were given a guided tour of the island and lighthouse by a fantastic, most informative guide called Hazel. We were brought right up inside to the top of the lighthouse. Hazel gave us so much information about the island and its history in a very interesting manner. She took photographs for us also. We felt very safe with life jackets and lots of hand sanitizer available. A brilliant 2 hours , amazing views and friendly guide . Totally recommend this outing, well worth the money!
Written 14 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cacabee
17 contributions
Aug 2020 • Solo
Absolutely brilliant trip, the guides are so so knowledgeable and passionate about keeping this part of Irish history and development alive, it really resonates with the group. Our guide Derry was fantastic, and I heard equal comments about Eddie from another person who did the trip. A must do trip to do when in East Cork.
Written 18 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary Kate B
Cork, Ireland3 contributions
Jul 2021
We had an absolutely fabulous day on the tour. The brilliant skipper Niall took us out to the island while our outstanding guide, Derry, told us all about the history of the island with amazing anecdotes from the living legends of the lighthouse in the area. The island itself was breathtaking, but our entire party agree that the tour was made by Derry; he was so knowledgable and had such passion for the history. He was also great with the kids who were on the trip. As a guide myself, I really appreciated his expertise and also the delivery of his tour, it was truly exceptional. COVID wise, we felt very safe, their safety plan was very much thought out and appreciated. I will definitely be back with friends and family and will be recommending it to everyone. Thanks so much to the team for a wonderful day, we'll see you again soon.
Written 26 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi everyone, unfortunately this tour closed two weeks ago. Can anyone suggest another company that organizes excursion to this lighthouse? Thanks!
Written 8 November 2021
Hi. I would like to pre-book a tour on Saturday 11July as we will be on holiday from Dubai. Kindly advise how we can make a booking as the on-line booking link on your website gives an Error message. We will only be in Cork for two days and would not want to miss this tour! Thank you.
Written 4 July 2015
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