Fanad Head Lighthouse

A lighthouse born of tragedy

The lighthouse owes its existence to disaster. In December 1811 the Royal Navy frigate HMS Saldanha was wrecked at the mouth of Lough Swilly with the loss of everyone aboard — around 250 souls. The subsequent outcry led to a light being established at Fanad Head, first lit in 1817 and still operational today.

The station is open to visitors: you can climb the tower for a keeper's-eye view over the Atlantic, browse the small exhibition, and even stay overnight in the converted lightkeepers' cottages, which are among the most sought-after self-catering stays in Donegal.

What else to see nearby

A short drive south on the Fanad Peninsula brings you to the Great Pollet Sea Arch, the largest sea arch in Ireland and a favourite of photographers at golden hour. On the eastern side of the peninsula, the road above Ballymastocker Bay near Portsalon reveals a sweep of golden sand once voted the second most beautiful beach in the world in a BBC poll.

Dolphins and seals are regularly spotted in the waters below the lighthouse, and the whole peninsula is quiet, even in high summer, compared with better-known stretches of the route.

Getting there and practical tips

Fanad Head is about 45 minutes north of Letterkenny via Ramelton and Milford, or a beautiful, slower run up the coast road through Portsalon. Check opening hours and book tower tours ahead in July and August. The Fanad Drive between here and Rathmullan is one of Donegal's great underrated road trips.