Rock Lighthouse “Tear Drop of Ireland”

West Cork has a rugged coastline, riddled with islands, castles, harbours and inlets that provide a haven for seals and bird life. If the weather does not lend itself for an offshore adventure, then there is always the beautiful Roaringwater Bay, Carbery's 100 Isles, Kedges, Cape Clear, Sherkin as most islands provide a sheltered / lea side for calmer conditions.  A highlight for visitors is an evening boat tour:

fastnet icon
wave chieftain in front of fastnet rock in sunset
Fastnet lighthouse and Boat Charter
Fastnet lighthouse
Fastnet lighthouse
sunset tour return

Sunset Tours

Sunset tours to the Fastnet Rock with her elegant lighthouse to catch the amazing light and colours particularly on sunny evenings on board the Wave Chieftain.  Tours depart from the main steps on the ferry pier.  The departure time obviously depends on the time of sunset but typically is between 6 and 8pm. On this 3 to 3.5 hour tour the boat typically cruises on the south side of Sherkin Island, past the Gasnanane Sound and Cape Clear before venturing across the Fastnet Sound to this beautiful lighthouse.  After circumnavigating the lighthouse we return to Baltimore harbour via Roaringwater Bay to see some of Carbery 100 Isles or the south side of the islands if there are likely sightings of whales and dolphins.

Vibrant red skies - subject to weather conditions of course, and regulalor sightings of whales and dolphins (as well as seals) along this beautiful offshore cruise of Ireland's most southwesterly coastal waters. Rugged cliffs, rockes, islands, harbours, sea caves and sea arches populated by sea birds as well as basking sharks (in Spring and Summer), Mola-Mola or sunfish and occasionally orca or killer whales.

Fastnet Sunset Tour
50.00 (3 to 3.5 hrs) pp

(subject to weather & minimum numbers) Online ticket purchase options close 24 hrs prior to each tour so for last minute availability call +353 877961456

Book (online) to reserve your spaces commission-free with a credit card & if the calendar does not list the tour for your preferred date contact us as we can add more tours to the schedule (subject to minimum numbers and suitable sea conditions)

Fastnet Lighthouse - History

The Fastnet Lighthouse is one of the most exposed in the world and is the tallest and widest rock lighthouse tower in Ireland and Great Britain. Also known as the Teardrop of Ireland (thousands of emigrants wiped away a tear when they ventured to the New World, unsure if they would ever set foot on Ireland again), the current lighthouse dates from the early 20th century and measures 54 metres (or 49 above mean high water springs) as some courses of the stonework are below the surface. It replaced a cast iron structure built on An Charraig Aonair (or lonely rock) in the 1850s.

The first lighthouse here was commissioned on January 1st, 1854.  However, due to the building material (cast iron) suffering from the pounding winter storms and salt air it was decided to replace it with a granite tower which took 5 years to build and was completed in 1904.  The granite blocks from Cornwall totalled 2,074 inter-locking stones, weighing from 1¾ to 3 tons and the lighthouse measures 54 mtr with a white flashing light every 5 seconds. and a range of 27 nautical miles (50 km). The Fastnet Lighthouse was manned by four crew but eventually became automated and converted to unwatched at the end of March 1989. A inner circular staircase leads to 7 floor levels.

Fastnet lighthouse
Fastnet lighthouse and Boat Charter
Fastnet lighthouse

Related Tours

Snorkelling Go It Alone Trip

Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour