Walk in the footsteps of one of the earliest creatures to ever crawl onto land — these 385-million-year-old fossilised tracks on a wild Valentia Island shoreline are among the oldest evidence of vertebrate life on Earth.
Follow the short but steep path down to the rocky shoreline to see the fossilised footprints — about 150 shallow depressions forming a curved track up to 15 metres long. The trackway is protected behind ropes. Best viewed in low-angled light (early morning or late afternoon) when shadows make the prints easier to spot. An information board at the site explains the significance.
Alongside the footprints, the sandstone surface preserves ancient ripple marks from a Devonian river floodplain. These ripples formed in soft silt 385 million years ago and were turned to stone — visible proof that this coastline was once a muddy swamp near the equator.
The path to the trackway delivers sweeping Wild Atlantic Way views across Dingle Bay toward the Blasket Islands. Even if the footprints themselves are modest, the coastal landscape is spectacular.
Just 1 km from the trackway, Geokaun Mountain offers panoramic views over Valentia Island, the Skelligs, Dingle Peninsula, and the Blasket Islands. A road leads to the summit viewing platforms (small entry fee applies).
About 1.5 km from the footprints, this historic lighthouse features an interactive museum, tearoom, and guided tours. The cliffside setting offers dramatic Atlantic views.
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