Swim Tours Ireland · Sherkin Island Retreats 2027
Sherkin
Island
Retreats
Two retreats on one of Ireland's most unspoiled islands. Push your limits, or slow right down.
Enquire NowPlaces limited on both retreats — Enquire to secure yours
The Retreats
Some places feel different the moment you step off the ferry. Sherkin Island is one of them. The noise of the mainland fades. The pace changes. The air is cleaner. The water is right there, waiting.
In May we push distance and endurance across open water between the islands. In September we slow everything down — swim, breathe, move, and unwind. Choose the one that fits, or come to both.
Sherkin Swim, Yoga & Breathwork Retreat
17th–19th September 2027
3 days, 2 nights to slow down, get in the water, and reconnect — with nature, with yourself, and with a small group who came for exactly the same reasons.
What's Included
Guided Open Water Swims
Daily guided swims from Sherkin to surrounding islands and coastline.
Evening Breathwork
Wind-down breathwork sessions as the sun drops over Roaringwater Bay.
Morning Yoga
Gentle flows to open the body before each day in the water.
Wood-fired Sauna
Warm up after cold water. Look out over the Atlantic. Take your time.
Cold Plunges
Sharp, clean, invigorating. The best way to feel fully awake.
Food & Accommodation
All meals and 2 nights at Sherkin North Shore fully included.
All Inclusive Price
€650 per person
Friday to Sunday · 3 days, 2 nights · Food & accommodation included
Sherkin Test of Endurance
21st–23rd May 2027
Swim 5–10km per day from Sherkin to Heir Island and through the Catalogue Islands, with a swim out to Spanish Island. Routes are weather dependent, adapted daily to give you the best — and safest — open water challenge.
3 Days, 2 Nights Accommodation
Stay at Sherkin North Shore, with breakfast, lunch and dinner included each day.
Water & Land Safety Guides
Fully qualified safety cover on the water and on shore for every swim.
Boat & Kayak Support
Boat and kayak support supplied on every swim, escorting you the full distance.
Expert Local Guides
Experienced, professional guides with deep local knowledge of these waters.
5–10km Swims Daily
Swim from Sherkin to Heir Island and through the Catalogue Islands, plus a swim to Spanish Island.
Weather Dependent Routes
Routes and distances are adapted day to day depending on conditions.
Cost To Be Confirmed
€750 per person
3 days, 2 nights · Food & accommodation included
Where You'll Stay
Sherkin North Shore
You'll be staying at Sherkin North Shore — a stunning seafront location right on the water's edge in Roaringwater Bay. Positioned to catch the famous West Cork sunsets, it's one of the most peaceful spots on the island.
The accommodation is comfortable and welcoming, with hot showers and everything you need to rest and recover between swims. Meals are hearty and made with local ingredients — breakfast, lunch and dinner all taken care of.
The sauna sits right there overlooking the bay. After a cold Atlantic swim, there is nowhere better to be.
The Island
Sherkin Island sits in Roaringwater Bay, a short ferry ride from Baltimore on the West Cork coast. A population of just over 100 people. Rugged coastal paths. Wildflower meadows. Ancient ruins. Atlantic water so clear you can see the bottom.
No traffic. No noise. No notifications that feel urgent. Just tides, birdsong, and the kind of stillness that reminds you what it feels like to be present.
A Rich History
Centuries of Stories
Sherkin Island — known in Irish as Inis Arcáin — has been inhabited for over two millennia. A Celtic Iron Age promontory fort dating to around 600 BC stands as evidence of the island's earliest settlers, overlooking the same Atlantic waters you'll be swimming in.
In 1460, the powerful O'Driscoll Clan — the dominant maritime family of medieval West Cork — built a Franciscan friary on the island. Known locally as "the Abbey", it still stands above Abbey Strand near the pier. Their clan fortress, Dún na Long, was the seat of O'Driscoll power in Roaringwater Bay.
Both the friary and castle were heavily damaged in 1537 when citizens of Waterford raided the island following a dispute over a plundered ship — a dramatic episode that ended centuries of O'Driscoll dominance. The ruins remain to this day, hauntingly beautiful against the Atlantic sky.
The island once had a population of over 1,000 people. The Great Famine of the mid-19th century began a long decline, and today just over 100 people call Sherkin home year-round — artists, writers, fishermen, and farmers who have chosen one of Ireland's last truly quiet places.
Sherkin Friary — aerial view, built 1460, damaged 1537
Sherkin Island harbour and coastline
Views across Roaringwater Bay
Silver Strand — one of the island's finest beaches
"Step off the island feeling more peaceful and present than when you arrived."
FAQs
Do I need to be an experienced swimmer?
For the Swim, Yoga & Breathwork Retreat you should be a confident open water swimmer — every level is welcome and all swims are fully guided. The Test of Endurance is more demanding: expect to swim 5–10km per day, so a strong open water swimming background is required. If you're unsure which suits you, get in touch and we'll chat it through.
What's included in the price?
Both retreats include 3 days, 2 nights accommodation at Sherkin North Shore and all meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The Test of Endurance also includes water and land safety guides, boat and kayak support on every swim, and experienced local guides. The Swim, Yoga & Breathwork Retreat includes guided swims, breathwork, morning yoga, sauna access and cold plunges. Just bring yourself.
How do I get to Sherkin Island?
Sherkin Island is a short 10-minute ferry ride from Baltimore, West Cork. Baltimore is about 3 hours from Dublin and 1 hour from Cork city. We'll send full travel details on booking.
What about water temperature and wetsuits?
Summer water temperature ranges from 13 to 18°C. We advise 3/2, 4/3, or 5/4mm wetsuits depending on conditions. If you're an advanced or elite swimmer used to cold water and long distances, a wetsuit is not necessarily required.
Is there phone signal on the island?
There is limited signal on Sherkin — which is part of the point. Consider it a digital detox as much as a swimming retreat.
How do I secure my place?
Drop us an email at swimtoursireland@gmail.com with the retreat name in the subject line — 'Sherkin Test of Endurance' or 'Sherkin Swim, Yoga & Breathwork'. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come basis.
Test of Endurance · 21st–23rd May 2027 · €750 (TBC)
Swim, Yoga & Breathwork · 17th–19th September 2027 · €650
Ready to Join Us on Sherkin Island?
One island, two retreats. If either sounds like something you need — reach out.