Sitting on the attractive Ballinskelligs Bay, the village of the same name is in an Irish-speaking area with a unique history and culture. Once the land base for the monks of Skellig Michael, the surrounding area has numerous pre-historic and early Christian ruins along its shores. Miles of golden, sandy beach and turquoise water attract the modern holiday-makers with safe swimming and excellent opportunities for watersports. Horse riding, cycling and walking are also popular and each year the village hosts the annual Ballinskelligs Regatta. You can also arrange boat trips to the Skelligs. Nearby, the village of Dungegan is home to a restored thatched cottage and a pre-famine village now used as an International Artists and Writers Retreat.