A short, easy clifftop walk around Clogherhead headland, the only high rocky outcrop on Ireland's east coast between the Mourne Mountains and Howth, with sweeping views of the Irish Sea, Cooley and Mourne Mountains and Lambay Island.
From the harbour car park, walk uphill through the car park and through the gap in the wall. Follow the informal, mossy grass path up to the lookout point (about 5 minutes) for panoramic views of the Irish Sea and the Mourne and Cooley Mountains. The short loop takes about 30 minutes.
To extend the walk, continue down onto Clogherhead Beach and return to the harbour along narrow local roads. Allow about 1 hour 15 minutes. The roads have no footpath and several blind spots, so take great care and walk facing traffic.
An almost mile-long Blue Flag beach backed by protected dunes, with lifeguards on patrol during the summer bathing season. The trail can drop down onto the sand, and the beach is a fine spot to swim, surf or picnic after the walk.
The 1885-built harbour is the largest fishing port in the north-east of Ireland and a working, authentic spot to watch boats land. Kayak hire and boat trips around the headland (past Redman's Cave) run from here in summer.
The headland is a Special Area of Conservation for rare coastal heathland. Look out for seabirds, grey seals and black guillemots, and dolphins offshore on lucky days.
Finish with fish and chips from the chip van on the pier, coffee, cake or ice cream from The Beach Hut on the sand, or fresh fish from Fisherman's Catch on the pier.
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