This is a real adventure—a barren promontory extending into the sea at the tip of the Beara Peninsula. The island offers no amenities for tourists, but the adventurous will be rewarded with beautiful seaside walks, a 200-year-old signal tower, and a memorable passage from the mainland via cable car. To get there, take R572 past Cahermore to its terminus. As you sway wildly in the wooden cable car, you’ll wonder whether or not to be reassured that someone saw fit to place the text of Psalm 91 inside. (“If you say ‘the Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the most high your dwelling, no harm will overtake you.”) You may even be sharing your car with sheep or cows—it’s also used to transport livestock to and from the island. At this point you might be wondering whether a ferry would have been a wiser option. It wouldn't: Apparently the channel between the island and mainland is just too treacherous to permit regular crossing by boat. Cable cars run all year, 7 days a week, from about 9:30am to 8pm, with long breaks at lunch and supper times (June–Sept they may run continuously). Crossings can’t be prebooked—it’s always first come, first served—but be sure to check return times with the operator before you go: The island has no shops, pubs, restaurants, or lodging of any kind (save for a few cottages for rent, by pre-booking only; see website for details). Bring food, water, and warm clothing. The island is very popular in summer, and numbers are sometimes restricted on the island on particularly busy days. For up-to-date schedule information, call the Skibbereen Tourist Office at 028/21766.