Page 272 - Guerin Media | The Wild Atlantic Way

Horn Head Discovery Point
Horn Head
“I am off on holiday to Dunfanaghy ..., to the
wildest, loneliest and loveliest country I know, a
country of hills, and hollows, of lakes and woods, of
cliffs, mountain rivers, inlets of sea, sands, ruined
castles and memories from the beginning of the
world.” George Russell (-AE,c.1905)
Horn Head is a magnificent peninsula jutting out
into the wild Atlantic Ocean, giving shelter to
the village of Dunfanaghy and Sheephaven Bay. It has
been designated as a Natural Heritage Area. New Lake
near Dunfanaghy was formerly part of the inlet with
salt water marsh but alterations to local sand dunes
meant the marsh filled with fresh water and became
a lake. Over time New Lake became a haven for
seabirds and is now a Special Protection Area.
Horn Head which can be visited via the picturesque
seaside village of Dunfanaghy has been described by
the noted early 20th century Naturalist and Botanist,
Robert Lloyd Praeger, as “perhaps the finest headland
in Ireland”. This is probably the most dramatic of the
beautiful Donegal peninsulas. Visitors get a real sense
of the power of the Atlantic while standing at these
cliffs.
The viewpoint on Coastguard Hill at approx 700ft
(213m) shows Atlantic Ireland at its best. The vista
starts in the South-West with Aranmore Island and
Bloody Foreland, Tory Island and the three inner isles.
To the North the viewer has a bird’s eye view of the
restless North Atlantic and the opportunity to spot
Basking Sharks, Sperm Whale and pods of Dolphins,
frequently seen quite close to shore. Looking North
-East one sees Melmore Point, Fanad Head with its
lighthouse and Ireland’s most Northerly point, Malin
Head and Tor Beg rock - but none can match the
drama of Horn Head’s cliffs, their tops carpeted in a
covering of purple heather. The cliffs, from the point
@ Martin Fleming Photography
of Horn Head Eastwards to the coastal promontory
fort of Duncap Isle, rival the Cliffs of Moher not just
in height but definitely in variety of dramatic views
and accessibility. In days of very good visibility the
mountain range “The Paps of Jura” on the Island of
Jura off the West coast of Scotland can be observed.
There are two splendid viewing points on Horn Head
one on the North side where the cliffs dominate the
scenery and the other on the South side, overlooks
Killahoey Blue Flag Beach
Dunfanaghy village and Killahoey Blue Flag Beach.
During the nesting season the almost 660ft (200m)
rock face scored by ledges comes alive with nesting
sea-birds. It has been designated as an Irish Natural
Heritage Area and a Refuge for Fauna (specifically sea
birds).
Horn Head is packed with reminders of our early
ancestors. There are dolmens and court cairns dating
back to Neolithic times, a stone circle, cashels and
ring forts. The latter are evidence of Iron Age fortified
homes. A discovery last century of a hoard of fine
golden torcs on the slopes of Largatraney gives a
glimpse of a level of prosperity we would not have
otherwise imagined. This collection can be seen
in the National Museum in Dublin. (Most of the
monuments can be found on the Discovery Series
Ordnance Survey Maps).
Two new way-marked walks are almost ready for
opening. The longer one will enable visitors to walk
out to the horn itself and enjoy the spectacular views
from the cliffs. The shorter walk will take visitors out
above the magical Tramore Beach and back through
the dunes with their unique flora and fauna. This
magnificent sandy beach with breath-taking views of
the islands of Tory and Innisbofin is also accessible
directly from Horn Head bridge. Horn Head
discovery point offers an unforgettable experience.
270 Tramore Beach