About this place
Golden Hour & Blue Hour
00:54
Morning Astronomical twilight Start
02:56
Morning Nautical twilight Start
03:57
Morning Civil twilight Start
03:27
Morning Blue hour Start
04:41
Morning Sunrise Start
04:45
Morning Golden hour Start
19:45
Evening Golden hour End
20:36
Evening Sunset Start
21:49
Evening Blue hour End
21:19
Evening Civil twilight End
22:20
Evening Nautical twilight End
00:22
Evening Astronomical twilight End
Times calculated from coordinates using suncalc.
Current weather
13°C
overcast clouds
- Feels like
- 13°C
- Humidity
- 100%
- Wind speed
- 9.9 m/s
- Wind direction
- SE (144°)
- Sunrise
- 04:39
- Sunset
- 20:34
Hourly forecast
- Feels like:
- 13°C
- Humidity:
- 97%
- Wind speed:
- 5 (Fresh breeze)
- Wind direction:
- SE
- Cloud cover:
- 100%
- Dew point:
- 12.6°C
Photography tips
- Tidal Timing: Plan your visit during low tide to access the island and capture the abbey ruins with the surrounding beachscape.
- Bring the drone: the coastal area is exceptional and great for drone photography.
- Golden Hour: Photograph during sunrise or sunset to take advantage of soft lighting that enhances the textures of the ruins and the natural landscape.
- Composition: Utilize the abbey's stone structures and the island's natural features to create compelling compositions.
- Weather Variations: Be prepared for changing weather conditions, which can add dramatic elements to your photographs.
Hiking tips
- Access: Reach Abbey Island by walking across Derrynane Beach during low tide; ensure to check tide schedules to avoid being stranded.
- Footwear: Wear waterproof footwear, as the beach may be wet or slippery.
- Safety: Be cautious of rising tides and plan your visit accordingly to ensure safe return to the mainland.
- Preservation: Respect the historical site by staying on designated paths and not disturbing the ruins or graves.
Routes
Hikes & rides from here
Derrynane loop
- Distance
- 7.7 km
- Ascent
- 123 m
- Descent
- 116 m
- Duration
- 2h 8m
The Derrynane Loop is one of those walks that doesn't drain you but gradually fills you up. The route winds through a varied landscape along the Ring of Kerry — across sandy paths, low scrubland and open coastal flats where the sky feels wide and soft. The elevation gain is modest, the distances manageable; this is a route for those who want to absorb the surroundings rather than conquer them. Well within reach for leisurely walkers, families, or photographers who like to linger without feeling they're holding anyone up.
The undisputed highlight of the route is the moment you head towards [abbey-island-ireland] — Abbey Island, or Oileán na Mainistreach, a tidal island accessible on foot at low tide across Derrynane beach. The crossing itself is already a picture: the wide, wet sand, the abbey ruin etched against the sky, the silence you find there even in high season. The medieval stones have stood in this landscape for centuries and feel less like a sight to be visited than a natural, unhurried part of the coastline.
Photographically, the route offers many soft, layered moments — the transition from beach to island, the texture of old stonework against grass and sky, the light that in Kerry is rarely harsh. Early morning or around golden hour is preferable, though overcast weather is no enemy here. The two hours you set aside for the loop feel generous without the route ever losing its focus.
Gallery
