Horn Head

Horn Head is a broad quartzite headland north of Dunfanaghy whose seaward face drops around 180 metres in near-vertical cliffs. A single-track loop road runs around the peninsula from the village with several places to stop, and the standard views are north to Tory Island, east along the coast to Melmore and Fanad, and west to the Bloody Foreland. The north-facing cliffs hold a substantial seabird colony - guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars and puffins - which is best from a boat or from careful positions on the cliff top in early summer. Walking routes cross the headland's heath and dune ground, and there is a Napoleonic signal tower on the high point. The road is narrow, the cliff edges are entirely unfenced, and the grass above them is steep and slick after rain. Parking is limited to a few informal pull-ins.

What you'll find

• The cliff face - about 180 metres of quartzite on the northern side.
• The seabird colony - guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and puffins.
• The loop road - single-track around the headland with viewpoints.
• The signal tower - Napoleonic ruins on the high ground.

When to go

May to September; seabirds are on the cliffs from April into July. The headland is fully exposed and unpleasant in wind. Early morning gives the best light on the northern face.

Good to know

Unfenced cliff edges above a long drop, on steep grass that is slippery when wet. Single-track road with few passing places and informal parking. No facilities on the headland.

Nearby

Dunfanaghy and Killahoey Strand are south; Ards Forest Park is east.

Key facts