Adventure Awaits

Welcome to

Ballycotton Sea Adventures

Ballycotton Sea Adventures was established in 2018 and for the past seasons thousands of people of all ages have enjoyed a bespoke adventure and uniquely memorable experience of visiting the iconic black Ballycotton Lighthouse. We operate a ferry from Ballycotton Pier which can carry up to 10 passengers across the bay to Ballycotton Island-a journey of about 10 minutes duration. The full tour takes approximately one and a half hours

Are you ready for a

Magical experience

We will take you on a really amazing trip to the Ballycotton lighthouse. Your adventure will begin with a short boat trip across the bay to the stunning island of Ballycotton, home to a lighthouse with a unique black tower. This tour is an unforgettable experience and a local guide will accompany you for the duration.
For fishing enthusiasts, we offer evening fishing trips or deep-sea angling.
After your excursions, visit one of the local fine restaurants that serves the freshest locally caught fish among its many delicious dishes.

Sea Adventures

How to book

You can book one of the following activities:

Ballycotton Island Lighthouse Tour
Lighthouse tour -led in polish/ Wycieczka do latarni morskiej Ballycotton
Evening Fishing Trips
Ghost Ship Tour
Deep Sea Angling
Private Charters

Online booking is NOW available. Just hit the “book now” button.
If there are free seats available, booking can also be made in person down at our Kiosk on the pier during summer months or by simply calling the number below.

If you want to offer someone one of Ballycotton Sea Adventures Activities, you can buy a voucher and give it as a gift. Then the owner of the voucher has to call us and we will block the places paid with the voucher

Reservations in advance are advisable. All bookings are subject to our terms and conditions.

Phone +353 87 396 3998

Find out more

Experienced crew

Sailing Times

Open: Sunday- Saturday seasonally and subject to weather and availability.
Departs daily from 10:00am onwards.
The tour takes approximately 90 minutes round trip.
Meeting point is at the Ballycotton Pier 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure

Requirements

Check-in is 15 minutes prior to departure down at the kiosk on the right below at the pier. Please plan your visit accordingly.
Visitors are asked to please keep within the boundary walls and fencing whilst on the island and we advise visitors to wear warm clothes and sensible shoes. We regret that the tour is not suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs, pets and children under 3.

Misc…

Don’t forget your camera… views from the Lighthouse lantern balcony are breath-taking but please leave nothing but your footprint on the island and take nothing but photographs and fond memories!

Book Now

Our Guides

Learn from the locals

We are an experienced and enthusiastic team local to Ballycotton.

It is our mission to share the rich history of the area, so join us and discover the past as we bring it alive for you through an enchanting retelling

Testimonials

Elpa_Cork Oct 2021

An Outstanding Day on Ballycotton Island Lighthouse Tour
"An outstanding day out in exceptional weather for this time of year (October). The tour is well run with an excellent guide and boat captain. Safety is of primary concern so we were all issued with proper lifejackets before departure. The history and social living conditions of the lighthouse keepers on the island are very well explained. Ballycotton holds a treasured place in Ireland's marine history and our guide was able to point out the Smiths Reef where the SS. Sirius ran aground and was lost in 1847. This caused the lighthouse to be built on Ballycotton Island rather than Capel Island off Youghal which is further East. Overall an outstanding tour. Well done to our guide, Heather and our captain Paddy. Go Raibh Mile Maith Agaibh. Liam and family"

James S Aug 2021

One of the best things to do around Cork. Great family experience
"Had a great tour on a fantastic sunny August day with amazing views from the island. Hazel was a brilliant tour guide and paid extra attention to my inquisitive 5 year old and equally curious 3 year old.

It’s a perfect way to spend an afternoon in Cork. The boat trip is nice and smooth - not too long! The island and lighthouse tour is really interesting."

Paula Galvin Aug 2021

Eddie the expert guide.
"Eddie our expert guide was a delight on this tour. A wealth of knowledge combined with a fine sense of humour made this a wonderful tour, thoroughly enjoyed by ourselves and the other five occupants of our boat.
Eddie had been a lighthouse keeper, not only in Ballycotton but in lighthouses the length and breadth of the country so he was able to tell us some great stories about his time.
It is such a shame to see this lighthouse and the two cottages being left to become ruins but we did manage to climb the two staircases of the lighthouse and imagine what it would have been like in its glory days, all gleaming brass and ship shape.
Thank you Eddie for sharing your passion of lighthouses with us!"

Book Now