Bere Island, situated in Bantry Bay, is famed for its Martello towers, dating back to the Napoleonic Wars. The island, just a 10 minute ferry ride from Castletownbere, has always been of military importance due to its strategic positioning, at the mouth of one of Europe’s deepest harbours.
Settlers have been present on the island since the Bronze Age, leaving behind ancient sites such as Druid’s Altar wedge tomb, St. Michael’s Holy Well as well as standing stone sand ring forts. But it is Bere Island’s military history that dominates. Apart from the Martello towers, the island is home to a signal tower and Lonehort, a military base dating back to 1899.
But Bear Island is nothing if not spectacular, and a walk around the island gives you some amazing views of Slieve Miskish and Caha Mountains on the Bear Peninsula. The bay itself is also frequented by killer whales, basking sharks and bottle-nosed dolphins.
