{"id":1961,"date":"2026-07-04T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/?p=1961"},"modified":"2026-07-03T10:44:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:44:06","slug":"ninety-islands-scattered-across-one-kerry-bay-and-you-can-reach-a-dozen-of-them-by-boat-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/ninety-islands-scattered-across-one-kerry-bay-and-you-can-reach-a-dozen-of-them-by-boat-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Ninety islands scattered across one Kerry bay \u2014 and you can reach a dozen of them by boat this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first glimpse is a scatter of emerald<\/strong> freckles across a broad, tidal mirror<\/strong>. The second is a hush: no traffic, just kelp<\/strong> swishing and gulls circling<\/strong>. Somewhere between Sneem and Kenmare, the shoreline loosens, and the sea unspools<\/strong> into a labyrinth of low islands<\/strong>, sandbars, and skerries that seem close enough to count<\/strong>, yet far enough to dream<\/strong> about.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Locals call this long inlet a river<\/strong>, though the Atlantic breathes richly through<\/strong> it. On warm afternoons, the water turns bottle-green<\/strong>, seals loll on weed-dark rocks<\/strong>, and every boat wake writes a brief, bright<\/strong> signature that fades as quickly as it arrived<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A long bay with a hidden architecture<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

This is Kenmare Bay<\/strong>, a deep, glacial fold<\/strong> between the Beara and Iveragh peninsulas<\/strong>, and it holds more islets than most maps admit<\/strong>. Some are tufted with dwarf oak<\/strong>, some ringed with pale sand<\/strong>, and some little more than a granite<\/strong> knuckle where cormorants stand, drying<\/strong> their wings.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Seen from a headland, the pattern looks random<\/strong>, but from the water it becomes orderly<\/strong>\u2014channels, narrows, and slick, silvery<\/strong> lanes that skippers read like script<\/strong>. \u201cThe light changes every minute<\/strong>, so the bay keeps surprising<\/strong> you,\u201d says one veteran boatman<\/strong>, his hand skimming the wheel as the tide turns<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Boats that keep summer simple<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

In summer, small operators<\/strong> run nimble RIBs and classic launches<\/strong> from Kenmare pier, Sneem\u2019s quays<\/strong>, Derrynane harbour, and quiet nooks near Tuosist<\/strong> and Parknasilla\u2019s wooded walks<\/strong>. You book a slot<\/strong>, watch the forecast, and let the skipper pick the window<\/strong>\u2014\u201cWe choose the day<\/strong>, not the clock,\u201d as one cheerful crew<\/strong> member puts it, eyes on the horizon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Some trips idle between seal-hauled<\/strong> rocks, others stitch a line of islands<\/strong> into a leisurely circuit<\/strong>, with a landing here and a picnic there<\/strong>. The vibe is unrushed, the talk easy<\/strong>, and the spray a quick, clean<\/strong> wake-up if the sun gets sleepy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What the water gives you<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Wildlife steals the show<\/strong>: curious grey seals<\/strong> lifting whiskered faces<\/strong>, shags torpedoing after sandeels<\/strong>, and, if you get lucky<\/strong>, a white-tailed eagle<\/strong> high over a sawtooth ridge<\/strong>. On rocky landings, you\u2019ll notice thrift-pink<\/strong> cushions, tiny orchids<\/strong> nicking into crevices, and driftwood carved smooth<\/strong> as an old oar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

History sits here in layers<\/strong>. An old fish-cure<\/strong> wall, a mossed pier<\/strong>, a scatter of famine-era<\/strong> stones with foxgloves glowing<\/strong> through. \u201cYou step ashore and time gets wide<\/strong>,\u201d someone whispers, half to the wind<\/strong>, half to their memory<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Twelve ways to hop across the blue<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Think of the dozen reachable stops<\/strong> less as a checklist and more as a palette<\/strong>. Skippers match tide, wind, and mood<\/strong>, and the day paints the rest<\/strong>. Options typically include:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n
  • Low, sandy<\/strong> islets for a short, kid-friendly landing<\/strong> and a barefoot wander<\/strong>.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Kelp-fringed<\/strong> rocks where seals sun in clusters<\/strong> and eye you with mild curiosity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Wooded islands<\/strong> with quiet coves for a thermos-tea<\/strong> break and bird-listening<\/strong>.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • A tidal-linked<\/strong> island with the ghost of an old quarry<\/strong> or boat-slip<\/strong>.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • A wave-polished<\/strong> skerry just big enough for lunch and a long look<\/strong> around.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • A sheltered sound<\/strong> where the water lies ink-dark<\/strong> and mirror-still<\/strong> at slack tide<\/strong>.<\/li>\n

    \n<\/ul>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Ask what\u2019s best that morning<\/strong>, and you\u2019ll get a tailored route<\/strong>, a safe landing<\/strong>, and stories that ride the return<\/strong> leg like a warm current<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    How to plan without overplanning<\/h2>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Bring layers for sun, spray<\/strong>, and breeze; the weather is a talented shape-shifter<\/strong> out here. Soft-soled<\/strong> shoes help on weed-slick stone<\/strong>, and a small dry-bag<\/strong> keeps phones and snacks cheerful<\/strong>. If you\u2019re camera-keen<\/strong>, a polarising filter makes the water\u2019s green grammar<\/strong> pop.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Most operators post daily updates<\/strong>, because wind can turn polite plans<\/strong> into another day\u2019s adventure<\/strong>. Morning runs are often glassy<\/strong>, late afternoons more golden<\/strong>, and evenings, when offered, quietly spellbinding<\/strong>. \u201cBring curiosity<\/strong>, bring time<\/strong>\u2014we\u2019ll handle the rest,\u201d says a smiling skipper<\/strong>, tugging a line tidy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Respect goes farther than any wake<\/h2>\n

    <\/p>\n

    These islands are robust and fragile<\/strong> at once, which is to say they\u2019re alive<\/strong>. Land lightly, pack every scrap out<\/strong>, and leave wild things to their rhythms<\/strong>. Give seabirds space in spring<\/strong>, seals space in summer<\/strong>, and shore-nesting<\/strong> surprises space all year<\/strong>. Your boat team will set the tone<\/strong>, but the care is partly yours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Why it lingers<\/h2>\n

    <\/p>\n

    You return to shore feeling slightly rearranged<\/strong>\u2014salt in your hair<\/strong>, color in your head<\/strong>, and that slow, tidal breathing<\/strong> staying with you long after the engine goes quiet<\/strong>. The mainland looks both near<\/strong> and somehow new<\/strong>, as if the islands had moved your perspective<\/strong> by a measured, compassionate degree<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    There are trips that tick off sights<\/strong>, and trips that expand your senses<\/strong>. A day threading these waters<\/strong> is the latter: simple in plan<\/strong>, rich in texture<\/strong>, and perfectly sized for the long, bright stretch<\/strong> of an Irish summer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1981,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1961"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1972,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1961\/revisions\/1972"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}