Malin Head
Cionn Mhálanna · Co. Donegal
Malin Head is where the Wild Atlantic Way begins — or ends, depending on which way you are driving. The most northerly point of the island of Ireland sits at the top of the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, a windswept headland of heather, rock and ocean that will be familiar to anyone who has ever listened to the sea area forecast.
The headland is crowned by Banba's Crown, named after one of the mythical queens of Ireland, and on a clear day you can see across the water to the Scottish islands of Islay and the Paps of Jura.
What to see and do
The focal point is the early 19th-century signal tower at Banba's Crown, built in 1805 during the Napoleonic wars and later used by Lloyd's of London to report shipping. Just below it, spelled out in white stones, is the famous EIRE 80 sign — one of more than 80 markers laid around the coast during the Second World War to warn aircraft they were entering neutral Irish airspace, since restored by local volunteers.
Follow the short walking path west of the car park to Hell's Hole, a deep, narrow chasm where the Atlantic thunders in at high tide. The headland is also one of the best places in Ireland to watch for the aurora borealis on dark winter nights, and its cliffs and stone walls attract choughs, seabirds and passing gannets in large numbers.
Film fans may recognise the cliffs: scenes for Star Wars: The Last Jedi were shot at Malin Head in 2016, and the local village of Malin got a brief taste of Hollywood when the crew came to town.
Getting there
Malin Head is about 25 minutes' drive north of Carndonagh and roughly an hour and a half from Derry. Follow the R242 through the village of Malin and continue to the signposted car park at Banba's Crown. The approach roads are narrow in places, so take it slowly — and expect to share the road with sheep.
Tips for your visit
The weather changes fast this far north, so bring a windproof layer even in summer. The Caffe Banba coffee truck often serves at the headland in season, but the nearest shops and pubs are back in Malin village. Sunset and sunrise are both spectacular from the tower, and in winter the headland is one of Ireland's most reliable aurora-watching spots when conditions align.
Where it is
55.3833°N, 7.3670°W
Nearby stops
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