Valentia Island History

Even the Vikings hadn’t the heart to plunder Valentia when they called a thousand years ago. They decided that the place was just too special. It’s beautifully preserved, with it’s wonderful pre Christian remains, famous grotto, colourful flora and fauna. Just a five minute trip from the mainland -not by long boat, but by ferryboat.

Geokaun Mountain and cliffs is the highest point of Valentia Island with a stunning 360 degree panoramic views from the top. It is Valentia’s top tourist attraction situated in the middle of the island, 4km from the main village of Knightstown. It is a designated Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way. There are four spectacular viewing points on the mountain, namely Fogher Cliffs, Carraig na Circe, Shephards View

The roadway to the top is suitable for cars and buses.

A circular path of about one mile, with a gentle gradient loops around the Peak, a thirty minute walk that lingers long in the memory.

View after view opens up with every twist of the path…. Blasket Islands, Dingle Peninsula, Beginish Island, the lighthouse guarding the harbour entrance, McGillycuddy’s Reeks, Portmagee Channel and finally the majestic Skelligs Rocks rising far out in the Atlantic Ocean.

Information panels at the viewing points give a sense of place, touching on history, Mythology, flora and fauna. Fogher cliffs on Geokaun Mountain are special no matter the weather. A viewing deck perches on the end of the cliffs, guaranteeing an adrenalin rush not soon forgotten.

With the Atlantic Ocean at your feet, beating relentlessly at the rocks, this is the point where land and ocean collide.

The Tetrapod Trackway is a set of footprints made about 385 million years ago. It is the earliest record of when four limbed creatures began to leave the water and live on dry land. (‘Tetra’ means 4 and pod means ‘Feet’).

In1858 the HMS Agamemnon landed the first transatlantic telegraph cable, linking Knightstown Valentia to Hearts Content Newfoundland.

The ferry lands at Knightstown on Valentia one of the first planned villages in Ireland, designed by Alexander Nimmo for the Knight of Kerry.

Valentia Island offers many more highlights including:

Heritage Centre, Slate Quarry Grotto,The Skelligs Experience Centre, Candle making workshop and the Homemade Ice Cream Parlour.

Valentia Island Attractions 

Located on the Skellig Coast in the Southern Peninsulas of the Wild Atlantic Way adjacent to the Ring of Kerry, Valentia Island is still one of Ireland's best kept secrets.

Our heritage as an island, the birthplace of global telecommunications, geological uniqueness stretching back 350 million years, a mix of traditional and planned built architecture, a place where you can embrace Irish culture of language music and sport - lets face it, we've got it all!

The Valentia Ferry is a great starting point for visiting many venues and attractions such as:

Valentia Island Lighthouse
This is a section showing the local lighthouse as an attraction

Skelligs
This is a section showing Skelligs as an attraction

Valentia Observatory 
This is a section showing Valentia Observatory as an attraction

Kerry Treasures
This is another section that can be updated. 

Kerry County
The section 

Kerry Greenway

The recently opened Kerry Greenway

More Information 
Please visit www.valentiaisland.ie.