Ireland
Great Videos and Photos of the Best Places and Things to see in Inishowen Peninsula Ireland. For the independent traveller who is interested in seeing places while planning their next trip. Or for anyone who likes to be close to nature and see the quieter parts of the country or city
Inishowen Peninsula
The Inishowen Penisula is in the far north of Ireland and Ireland's most northely point lies at its tip. Malin Head is located on the northwest side. The area is beautiful for touring and has a number of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. On a fine sunny summer's day, there is little better than Five Finger Beach.
Ferry
Inishowen Peninsula
Lough Foyle, separates Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic, it is an open sea estuary that starts in Derry/London Derry, where the River Foyle flows into the sea.
A ferry service operating from Greencastle on the Inishowen Peninsula to Magilligan on the Northern side connects both sides of the Loch.
As the Ferry on the Northern side is out quite a distance down a long quiet road, its best to check the Ferry times in advance with the local tourist office in Port Stewart or Greencastle.
Greencastle
Inishowen Peninsula
Greencastle on the shores of Lough Foyle was formerly a fishing village, now it caters more for tourists.
A ferry operates across the Lough to Northern Ireland during the summer. The ferry has been running since 2002 and saves about 80kmon the drive around the lough.
As the Loch is tidal the sea level changes throughout the day, sometimes cruise ships visiting Derry berth outside Greencastle and bus their passengers onwards to Derry.
The village takes it’s name from the old Anglo Norman castle built at the start of the 14th century, some ruins remain, located close to the Napoleonic Martello Tower. The village has an interesting maritime museum over looking the harbour.
Inishowen Drive
Inishowen Peninsula
Inishowen in the north of Donegal is bordered on the west by Lough Swilly, on the East by Lough Foyle and the Atlantic to the north.
Apart from an area around Derry/Londonderry which is part of Northern Ireland, the peninsula is in the Irish Republic.
The peninsula is rugged, with bog and low hills and mountains inland, rocky shores and cliffs around the coast, though some of the best beaches in Donegal such as Five Finger Beach can be found around the shores.
The wash of the Atlantic around three sides of the peninsula helps to keep the winter temperature higher than more inland areas of Donegal.
The waters in Lough Swilly are much deep than in Lough Foyle and is regarded as one of Ireland’s best natural harbour.
Malin Head
Malin Head
Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland is on headland called Banba’s Crown on the western side of the vast Inishowen Peninsula. The headland is called after the mythical queen Banba. The headland is about 10km from the village of Malin.
East of Banba’s crown you can see the effects of the ice age, during which time the sea was much higher relative to the land as the weight of the ice forced the land down. Since the ice melting, the land rose and the ice age shore line can still be seen.
Through conservation work in cooperation with the local farming community, the corncrake is re-establishing itself in the area and you may hear it’s unusual call.
The top of Banba’s Crown is marked by a pretty ugly concrete tower built in the early 19th century and later used by Marconi to test transmissions.
The tower can be seen from quite a distance so finding the crown isn't difficult.
Malin Head Drive
Malin Head
While driving around the peninsula take in some of the small harbours like Greencastle or Leenan and the larger towns of Buncrana and head north to the village of Malin and if the weather is good stroll along Five Finger Beach before viewing Ireland’s most northerly point.
Five Finger Beach
Malin Head
The Five Finger Beach with it’s miles of soft sand lies west of the village of Malin , out towards Malin Head.
While the sand dune backed beach is beautiful, care needs to be taken if in the water as the currents constantly change with the rising and falling tides.