How To Visit Bull Rock Island In County Cork

Bull Rock Island off the coast of Cork looks like a set from a Pirates of the Caribbean movie thanks to the long, dark tunnel that bores straight through its centre, earning it the nickname “the Entrance to the Underworld.”

You’ll find this craggy island rising from the Atlantic, just off the coast of the Beara Peninsula in wonderful West Cork.

While you can’t get onto the island itself, you can sail around and through it on one of several boat tours.

Visiting Bull Rock in Cork

Although Bull Rock is one of the more off-the-beaten-path places to visit in West Cork, a visit here is pretty straightforward.

1. Location

The chances are you’ll have heard of Cork’s Dursey Island (yep, it’s the one that’s accessible via a cable car). Dursey is situated at the southwestern tip of the beautiful Ring of Beara and it’s off the western point of Dursey that you’ll find Bull Rock Island.

2. How to get there

There are several Bull Rock tour providers that leave from either Beara or the Iveragh Penisnula (the one made famous by the Ring of Kerry). You’ll find info on both below, from where they leave from to how much the tours cost.

3. What to see

Now, although you can’t get onto the island itself, you’ll get to have a spin around it on the different tours and you’ll also go through the hole in the centre. You’ll also see Bull Rock Lighthouse and discover the story behind the mysterious little island. 

About Cork’s Bull Rock: ‘The Entrance to the Underworld’

Bull Rock measures to roughly 93m high and 228m by 164m wide and it sits alongside Cow Rock and Calf Rock Islands.

The island where souls gather

In Irish mythology, Bull Rock is said to be “Tech Duinn”—the house of Donn, the Celtic God of the dead. According to legend, this remote island is where the souls of the departed gather before journeying to the afterlife.

The dramatic tunnel that pierces through the rock is known as the “Entrance to the Underworld,” and it’s easy to see why – dark, narrow, and otherworldly, it looks like a gateway to somewhere far beyond this world.

How the tunnel formed

The tunnel that runs through Bull Rock wasn’t carved by hand or shaped by myth, but by nature itself. Over countless centuries, the powerful swell of the Atlantic battered the island’s surface, gradually eroding a weakness in the rock until a full passage emerged.

Today, that tunnel is one of the island’s most striking features – its gaping, shadowy entrance feeding the ancient belief that this was once a gathering place for souls on their way to the afterlife.

The Bull Rock Lighthouse

The original Bull Rock Lighthouse was built by Henry Grissell of Regent’s Canal Iron Works in London, after he won the contract in 1861. He completed construction of the lighthouse in 1864.

However, just 17 years later, in 1881, the Islands’ lighthouse was destroyed by a storm. Thankfully, the lighthouse keepers weren’t in the tower at the time.

It wasn’t until 1888 that a new lighthouse was completed and it wasn’t until 1st of January, 1889, that the light on the island started up again.

Bull Rock Lighthouse operated successfully for many years after. Then, in early 1991, it was fully automated and the Keepers were withdrawn.

Bull Rock boat tours

Since writing a guide to Bull Rock in Cork 4 years or so ago, we’ve received an awful lot of emails asking about tours of the Wild Atlantic Way’s most unique island.

Below, you’ll find info on the different Bull Rock Tours from Cork and Kerry.

1. Skellig Coast Discovery

This tour explores the Beara Peninsula’s dramatic coastline including Derrynane, weaving together mythology, wildlife, and history, with a chance to pass through Bull Rock’s famous tunnel.

Where they leave from: Westcove Pier in Caherdaniel, Kerry
Tour length: 2.5 hours
When they leave: Several times per day during the summer months (weather dependent)

2. Dursey Boat Trips

This 1.5-hour Bull Rock tour explores the wild Beara coastline, with stories of Viking raids, gory history, and a close-up view of Bull Rock’s sea arch and massive gannet colony.

• Where they leave from: Garnish Pier, Beara, County Cork (not Garnish Island near Glengarriff)
• Tour length: 1.5 hours
• When they leave: Daily from April to September (weather permitting)

3. Beara Boat Tours

A relaxed 2-hour fishing and sightseeing tour around Coulagh Bay, with the option to rent the entire 50ft boat for private trips along the Beara coast.

• Where they leave from: Ballycrovane Pier, Eyeries, Beara, Cork
• Tour length: 2 hours
• When they leave: Regular departures—contact directly for times and bookings

4. Skellig Tours

This scenic wildlife cruise crosses Kenmare Bay to Dursey Island and Bull Rock, combining sea arches, storytelling, and a strong chance of spotting dolphins and whales.

• Where they leave from: Bealtra, Caherdaniel, County Kerry
• Tour length: 2 hours
• When they leave: Seasonal (summer months), weather permitting