Dursey Sound Loops

• Cork
• Denis Hanafin

Two loops around Dursey Sound.
Visit Dursey cable car station, Panoramic views over three peninsulas and the Skellig Islands, fishing and lighthouse history, beach, headlands and rock coves.

We start at Dursey cable car station and go uphill to Garnish Point with panoramic views of Dursey Island and the Skellig Islands, following the trail down into Garnish harbour, with its Seine mackerel fishing history, particularly important during the world wars, catching and salting mackerel there for export. On the sheltered strand we take our lunch break, with some time to explore the beach.

Afterwards we walk up a narrow boreen, and then cross the main road down for Reen and Cow Head, a whale and dolphin watching area, passing by Penny Durell’s house, who wrote about the history and legends of Dursey, Bull, Cow, Calf and Heifer Rock Islands.

We meander on the edge of this headland, looking into little coves to explore what the sea brought in.
Looking out at Calf Rock, where an early cast iron lighthouse was torn down by a storm in 1881, and the lighthouse keepers had to take shelter in the dwellings for six days. Only locals were able to take them off the rock in a curragh and use a breeches buoy, with bigger ships standing by unable to save them.

On the southside in May and June Basking sharks can be seen, with lots of seabirds, looking out on the signal towers on Dursey and Black Ball Head.
Visit a World War II watchtower, and Firkeel, another fishing and salting spot, before we carry back on to the main road.

The Dursey Diner is on the side of the road for tea in the bog afterwards, and Garnish strand can be visited for a swim in good weather.

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