Family Days Out in Waterville, Kerry
Families staying in Waterville have a handful of easy days out: a marine centre in the village, a fairy trail and gardens, a Blue Flag beach and a boat cruise past the Skelligs. Most are within 15 to 45 minutes of the village by car.
Sea Synergy Marine Awareness Centre
The centre in Waterville has a touch pool, shore workshops and snorkelling led by a marine biologist. It is a useful rainy-day stop, and it also takes bookings for Skellig Michael trips. Opening hours change with the season, so check ahead.
Derrynane Fairy Trail and House grounds
At Derrynane, ask at the café for the Fairy Trail leaflet. The trail has about two dozen fairy houses to find among the trees. The OPW’s Derrynane House is open 13 March to 1 November 2026, and tickets are €3 for a child and €13 for a family. The café and toilets are on site, and the house closes after 1 November until mid-March 2027.
The path across to Abbey Island is tidal and has unprotected cliff edges on the south side, so it is not suitable for small children. The beach at Derrynane has a marked no-swim section with strong currents.
Kells Bay House and Gardens
Kells Bay is roughly 40 km and 45 minutes from Waterville. It is open daily from 9:30 to 18:00 all year, with last entry at 17:00, and tickets are bought online. Adults pay €9.50, children €7.50, and a family ticket (two adults and up to three children up to 16) is €30. The garden has life-size dinosaur sculptures, and the SkyWalk rope bridge is about 33.5 m long and about 11 m above the Delligeenagh River.
Skelligs Chocolate Company
At St Finian’s Bay, the chocolate makers offer free viewing and tasting. Check opening days before you drive out, and combine it with the Skellig Ring views.
Ballinskelligs beach
Ballinskelligs holds a 2026 Blue Flag, with a castle at one end and a priory at the other. Kerry County Council lifeguards work on supervised beaches in season, on weekends in June and early September and every day in July and August. The bathing season runs from 1 June to 15 September. Swim only on the supervised stretch when a lifeguard flag is up.
Waterville Strand and Inny Strand are open Atlantic beaches with strong swell, and they are better for walking than for swimming. Keep children close to you.
Skellig cruise for children
Children under 12 cannot land on Skellig Michael because of the 618 steep steps, but the sea cruise around the islands is open to them. Cruises take about 2.5 hours and start from about €42 with Skellig Experience and about €60 with Casey’s. Little Skellig is home to a gannet colony. Boats leave from piers such as Portmagee, about 35 minutes from Waterville, and weather can cancel them, so keep a spare day.
Planning tips
- Pack waterproofs, because the Atlantic weather turns fast.
- The N70 is a busy main road, so do not walk children along it.
- Book Skellig cruises ahead in summer.
Read more: day trips from Waterville lists longer drives that suit a full day out.
Garden tickets are on the Kells Bay Gardens site, the OPW publishes Derrynane House hours and prices, and sea cruises can be searched on GetYourGuide .