Getting There

Bere Island is three and half hours from Shannon Airport (Limerick) or six hours from Dublin. But why hurry? On your way down from Limerick, you can take in Killarney and its lakes, the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry, and small towns like Killorglin and Kenmare. Coming from Dublin, there's Wicklow and Waterford, the woolen mills at Avoca, the Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, and Kinsale, one of the prettiest seaports in Ireland. The friendly B & B's along the way are reasonably priced and the "Full Irish Breakfast" that comes with your room will keep you going well past noon.

Ferry Boats

A car ferry to the west end of the island leaves from Castletownbere about every two hours until early evening. The charge is around 15 Irish Pounds round trip for a car and two passengers (about $25). A round trip for a pedestrian is about three pounds. (If you go in to Castletown for the day, you can leave your car at the island dock.) A second car ferry leaves from a location just east of Castletownbere several times a day, disembarking in the village of Rerrin near the east end of the island.