Backed by the 407-metre-high summit of Mount Gabriel, Schull is a picturesque harbour town on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. It’s renowned for its clean air that can be enjoyed while hiking County Cork’s coastal routes or cruising to the nearby island of Cape Clear.
Things to do in Schull
Jump aboard a guided boat trip to Cape Clear Island, a Gaelic-speaking destination and the southernmost inhabited part of Ireland. It’s particularly popular with birdwatchers as a resting spot for migratory species, with regular sightings of guillemots, cormorants and storm petrels. In addition to its historic lighthouse, Cape Clear Island is home to a Napoleonic signal tower and a 5,000-year-old passage grave.
Want to stretch your legs? Follow the trail that leads up Sailors Hill, which offers wonderful views across the island-dotted North Atlantic Ocean. Further west lies Mizen Head, a cliff-fringed peninsula that marks the most southerly point of mainland Ireland. Its dramatic pedestrian bridge leads to an old signal station and museum detailing the site’s history of transatlantic shipping.
After dark, pay a visit to the Schull Planetarium, which conducts star shows during the summer months. Forming part of the local Community College, it’s the only planetarium in the Republic of Ireland. Settle in beneath the hemispherical dome to see images of the celestial bodies projected above and learn about the mysteries of our universe.
Getting around Schull
Schull is just over 1.5 hours’ drive from Cork and Cork Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular buses connect from Cork to Schull while ferries travel from Schull to Cape Clear Island. Schull is small enough to explore on foot while renting a car gives you greater freedom to explore the surrounding region.