Horn Head (Corrán Binne) scenic drive
About
Horn Head is the headland that fills the view north of the village, Corrán Binne in Irish, and the road onto it leaves the N56 at Hornhead Bridge on the western edge of Dunfanaghy. It climbs across open heather to a viewing point with a seabird information board on the eastern side, then on to a small car park near the old coastguard station at the start of the walk out to the signal tower. The National Parks and Wildlife Service, which protects the headland as part of the Horn Head and Rinclevan Special Area of Conservation, records quartzite sea cliffs up to 207 metres high on the north side, and a breeding colony of razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars, shags and a small number of puffins, with choughs and peregrines on the cliffs as well. The road is narrow, with few places to pass, and is not suited to coaches. On a clear day the view runs from Tory Island round to Muckish and across Sheephaven Bay to Rosguill. In cloud you will see very little and should not leave the car parks.
Highlights
- ✓Quartzite sea cliffs up to 207 metres, per the NPWS site synopsis
- ✓A protected seabird colony: razorbill, guillemot, kittiwake, fulmar and puffin
- ✓Views to Tory Island, Muckish and across Sheephaven Bay
- ✓Two small car parks: the seabird viewing point and the coastguard station walk start
Tips
- →The road is single-track in places with few passing points: drive it slowly and pull in to let traffic by.
- →Check the cloud base before you go. When the head is in mist there is nothing to see and the cliff tops are dangerous.
- →It is not a road for coaches or large campervans.