A short boat ride off the coast at Kilmore Quay lie the Saltee Islands — two uninhabited islands that together form one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Ireland. On a fine day between spring and midsummer, a trip to Great Saltee is one of the great wildlife experiences in the country: cliffs thick with seabirds, the air full of wings, and puffins close enough to photograph without a long lens.
A Seabird City
Great Saltee is home to enormous breeding colonies of gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars and — the stars of the show — puffins, which nest in burrows along the cliff tops. The puffins are present from around April to July; come outside those months and you will miss them. Grey seals haul out on the rocks year-round, and the islands are a famous landfall for migrating birds in spring and autumn.
Getting There
The islands are privately owned but day visitors are welcome on Great Saltee during daylight hours. Licensed boats run the short crossing from Kilmore Quay, weather permitting — the trip takes around twenty minutes. There are no facilities on the island, so bring everything you need, and be prepared for a wet-landing scramble from the boat. Sturdy footwear and a packed lunch are essential.
Practical Information
Boats depart from Kilmore Quay, a fishing village on the south Wexford coast about twenty-five minutes from Wexford town. Crossings are entirely weather-dependent and run mainly from spring through summer — book directly with one of the licensed Kilmore Quay boat operators and confirm the day before. The landing and the island terrain are not suitable for those with limited mobility. For puffins, aim for May or June.
This is one of our Top 15 Things to Do in Wexford.