Cape Clear Island - Cape Clear Ferries
Cape Clear Island - Cape Clear Ferries
Cape Clear Island - Cape Clear Ferries
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Cape Clear Ferries operates the ferry to Cape Clear Island, West Cork, Ireland from the picturesque seaside villages of Baltimore and Schull in West Cork on the Wild Atlantic Way. We also do tours around the famous Fastnet Rock Lighthouse. We provide full commentary, detours to spot whales and dolphins, bikes are Kayaks are carried and cyclists/hikers can choose to travel onwards to Schull instead at no extra charge.
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Cape Clear Island - Cape Clear Ferries
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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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
238 reviews
Excellent
172
Very good
44
Average
14
Poor
5
Terrible
3
Teresa
Sligo, Ireland11 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
A fantastic experience from start to finish. I would highly recommend the Cape Clear Ferries company as they just made the whole process so enjoyable. Our trip involved a very nice boat trip out to the Fasnet Lighthouse and on the way we got to see Dolphins and a Minke whale feeding. A great sight. Then we arrive at Fastnet and it was so majestic and one was left in total admiration for the builders and the Lighthouse Keepers, amazing. We then went onto the Cape Clear Island for a few hours. We really enjoyed our time there , fabulous scenery and very nice sea food chowder from the Ciaran Danny Mike's restaurant. Then we headed back home that evening after our wonderful day.
Written August 20, 2023
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.
Bryan C
20 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
We went to Cape Clear for a two night break in July 2022.
We stayed in the Ard na Gaoithe B&B which was great. Before the trip I tried to find out about cycling on the island but I couldn’t find much information.
We decided to bring our bikes anyway. I should point out that these are ebikes. When you arrive off the ferry there is nowhere to cycle to the right of the pier except for the old graveyard and the inner harbour.
You need to turn left and head up the hill past Cotters bar and restaurant until you reach a junction in the road, if you turn right you will reach another fork in the road after about 100 m. If you take the left fork you will head out past the camping site, this road is a dead end. If you take the right fork you will head out to the lake, this road is also a dead end.
So far these roads could be cycled on a regular bike if you have a good level of fitness.
If, after Cotters you stay on the main road you will pass CDM’s bar and reach the south harbour.
When you reach the south harbour you can turn left before the hostel and head up the Glen east road or you can cycle past the hostel and head up the old light house road. This is where you will need an ebike as both these hills are very very steep.
The old light house road is a dead end and brings you to the old light house with great views. The Glen east road brings you up to the cross where you can turn right and head up to the cove of the black stream.
If you turn left at the cross you will head back down the strangers hill and pass the church, the heritage center and the goat farm.
This road has a very very steep decline so make sure your brakes are in good working condition. The bottom of the strangers hill brings you back to the north harbour just above the tourist office.
All in all I cycled about 24 km around the island and covered most of it.
The two roads to the west of the island are not too steep and as I mentioned they could be cycled on a regular bike if you have a good level of fitness.
The three roads to the east are very steep and you really need an ebike if you are to cycle on these.
The trip was fantastic, the island and the people were fantastic and any negative comments other people made about lack of facilities, wifi etc. were written by visitors who don’t understand the challenges of island life
We stayed in the Ard na Gaoithe B&B which was great. Before the trip I tried to find out about cycling on the island but I couldn’t find much information.
We decided to bring our bikes anyway. I should point out that these are ebikes. When you arrive off the ferry there is nowhere to cycle to the right of the pier except for the old graveyard and the inner harbour.
You need to turn left and head up the hill past Cotters bar and restaurant until you reach a junction in the road, if you turn right you will reach another fork in the road after about 100 m. If you take the left fork you will head out past the camping site, this road is a dead end. If you take the right fork you will head out to the lake, this road is also a dead end.
So far these roads could be cycled on a regular bike if you have a good level of fitness.
If, after Cotters you stay on the main road you will pass CDM’s bar and reach the south harbour.
When you reach the south harbour you can turn left before the hostel and head up the Glen east road or you can cycle past the hostel and head up the old light house road. This is where you will need an ebike as both these hills are very very steep.
The old light house road is a dead end and brings you to the old light house with great views. The Glen east road brings you up to the cross where you can turn right and head up to the cove of the black stream.
If you turn left at the cross you will head back down the strangers hill and pass the church, the heritage center and the goat farm.
This road has a very very steep decline so make sure your brakes are in good working condition. The bottom of the strangers hill brings you back to the north harbour just above the tourist office.
All in all I cycled about 24 km around the island and covered most of it.
The two roads to the west of the island are not too steep and as I mentioned they could be cycled on a regular bike if you have a good level of fitness.
The three roads to the east are very steep and you really need an ebike if you are to cycle on these.
The trip was fantastic, the island and the people were fantastic and any negative comments other people made about lack of facilities, wifi etc. were written by visitors who don’t understand the challenges of island life
Written August 2, 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.
Walking Wombles
Central Coast, Australia159 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
Wonderful day out, so glad I did it. Ferry ride about 40 mins from Baltimore to Cape Clear Island and then a 3.5 hour stay on the island before the ferry ride to Fastnet. Blessed with beautiful weather, I had an early lunch near the little port before going off on a walk (the red one, took about 1 hr 20 mins, slightly cross country and uphill in the middle but quite easy and well signposted). The views from the walk were absolutely stunning. Fastnet was about an hour round-trip before returning to the mainland.
Written September 7, 2023
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.
May W
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Family
The boats are nice and it’s picturesque. How ever, I was implicitly discriminated against by an one of the crews for being the only Asian in my family. We bought round trip tickets for eight people. It was waiting for the boat to sail, and I was sitting with my family, and I was sitting in the middle of them, and they were all white.
A male crew came over and checked our tickets and did a head count, when he saw me he suddenly approached me and asked me alone "Are you together with them?" Everyone was confused because obviously we were together and we were the only ones on the boat.
But this creep he saw my Asian face and defaulted to the idea that I might not be able to travel with a bunch of white people, which made me feel uncomfortable and was classic implicit racism.
When it finally ended, I approached a female manager and very politely stated this fact. The manager did apologize but she said "he was probably just checking it out." Which was also disappointed.
I never write reviews, but I think it's wrong and I don't think the world should be like this, although it's obviously everywhere.
A male crew came over and checked our tickets and did a head count, when he saw me he suddenly approached me and asked me alone "Are you together with them?" Everyone was confused because obviously we were together and we were the only ones on the boat.
But this creep he saw my Asian face and defaulted to the idea that I might not be able to travel with a bunch of white people, which made me feel uncomfortable and was classic implicit racism.
When it finally ended, I approached a female manager and very politely stated this fact. The manager did apologize but she said "he was probably just checking it out." Which was also disappointed.
I never write reviews, but I think it's wrong and I don't think the world should be like this, although it's obviously everywhere.
Written June 23, 2024
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.
We refer to your complaint and are sorry that you may not have enjoyed the trip yesterday as much as we would have hoped.
There seems to be a misunderstanding here. We take the welfare of all our passengers very seriously and it's part of our daily protocol to double-check every passenger remaining on the vessel before allowing the embarkation of passengers waiting on the pier. By doing this over the years we have avoided numerous mishaps of passengers getting the wrong ferries through the diligence of our crew.
This is so important in our case as we transfer passengers to 2 different mainland ports from Cape Clear Island. We take this very seriously and passengers on this and other sailings will notice that these checks are normally carried out by one of our senior crew as was the case on this occasion.
Yesterday whilst doing his checks he did ask if you and the gentleman alongside you were part of the group of 8 with the ticket this would be normal practice as there were other passengers on board on the upper deck.
We are sorry that you inferred that this was discriminatory but we can assure you that everything was done in the interest of you and your fellow passengers.
We will continue to value all our customers of all nationalities and to provide the best experience we can to all. We certainly look forward to welcoming you on board again soon :)
Written June 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Irish_Lights_Up
Dublin, Ireland149 contributions
Sep 2020
This is a great day out. Well organised and friendly service. Cape Clear is a really special place and is heavenly in sunshine. Fastnet Lighthouse is a spectacular testament to human determination and ingenuity and is awe inspiring up close. We also saw some dolphins which was pure bonus territory! Highly recommend and great value.
Written September 2, 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.
Brian L
Dublin, Ireland9 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Very nice trip have done it loads of times in a private boat but couldn't give the new amazing ferry from schull a miss. Thanks to Shane and crew very friendly and have the new ship in top shape. Would recommend anyone whos out in West Cork to do it shouldn't be missed.
Written July 20, 2023
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.
dympna k
Coventry, UK82 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
We took the Cape Clear ferry from Schull to Cape Clear and after a few hours on the island we went round the Fastnet lighthouse. A great day was had by all including a sighting of some dolphins. Highly recommend the tour. A really lovely crew and brilliant information on the area.
Written June 14, 2023
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.
George K
20 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Great trip over to Cape Clear and then out to the Fastnet Lighthouse. We got off the ferry on Cape Clear spent some hours there having a walk then got the ferry later that day and out to Fastnet before going back to Baltimore Harbour. Nice trip.
Written June 25, 2023
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.
Natasha C
1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Couples
The food is beautiful and there's plenty if it! The breakfast is absolutely gorgeous and massive staff are lovely. We ate here for a couple of different meals over a number of days and the food has always been tasty,quickly delivered and well presented. I wouldn't eat anywhere else on the island apart from Mary's chipper.
Written June 24, 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.
Lorraine & Shay
5 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Ard na Gaoithe bed and breakfast is fabulous. Triona is an amazing host. The breakfasts are legendary. There's a great choice but the pancakes were The nicest I've ever tasted. Tea, coffee and homemade iced buns available during the day. Toiletries were top notch and the towels are snow white. Definitely be back again.
Written July 20, 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.
No on our journey to and from Cape but I do believe there are separate tours that have much success
Written June 13, 2018
What is colaiste pobal chleire like? Is it a good college and accommodation for teenagers?
Written June 27, 2017
Three of mine have been there on more than one occasion over the last ten years and I would highly recommend it...
Good family and community integration... Small enough to offer a special experience to the student... Their Irish improved and they all got honours in their leaving certificates...
Written May 16, 2018
Not 'in the yurts' . There are common toilets on their site, the yurt and tents share those. But there aren't that many yurts,tents on the site for the toilets/bathroom to be crowded.
Written June 30, 2017
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