The Loop Head peninsula was awarded a European Destinations of Excellence Award in 2010, In 2013, Loop Head was named by The Irish Times in 2013 as the ‘Best Place to Holiday in Ireland.’ It has also been shortlisted in the ‘Best Destination’ category at the ‘World Responsible Tourism’ awards. The peninsula is dotted with beautiful beaches and coves, there are panoramic cliff views, seafood restaurants and bars, a choice of aquatic activities, and an abundance of beauty spots to pause at and to stand in awe and wonder. Loop Head is in the middle of the Wild Atlantic Way, 2,500 km of the finest coastal scenery in Ireland. But for a meagre mile of land connecting Loop Head to the rest of Co Clare, this peninsula could be an island. Loop Head is a slender finger of land pointing out into Atlantic Ocean from the most westerly point of Co Clare, between the ocean and the Shannon Estuary. As we left, we resolved that if we fail to get to Greece this summer, we must return to Kilbaha. “Do you know that your blood plasma is almost identical in makeup to seawater,” says Dermot, as he explains how the bath restores the body’s minerals.The cliffs and sea stacks at Lovers’ Leap the end of Loop Head in Co Clare (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2020)Īfter lunch in Keating’s in Kilbaha on Sunday afternoon, and a stroll around the small harbour in the summer sunshine, two of us decided to continue on to Loop Head and the Bridges of Ross. Owner Dermot Devine harvests wrack seaweed from local shores, and once it hits warm water, it releases a mineral-rich gel from its fronds. The plan was a post-hike swim at Newcastle’s Rock Pool – one of Ireland’s last outdoor seawater pools – but stormy seas have closed it, so we ease our aching muscles in Soak seaweed baths opposite instead. We climb to a cave as Peter tells stories of smugglers and the “brandy path” route they used here in the 18th century. He also shows us spongy sphagnum moss, used as an antiseptic in the first world war trenches. It’s raining, but Peter keeps us entertained, explaining how the 22-mile granite Mourne Wall was built, passing over 15 mountains to enclose a reservoir catchment area. These are Northern Ireland’s highest peaks, and we set off on the Blue Lough walk – a fairly easy introduction to the mountains – with Mournes walking guide Peter Rafferty. Photograph: Alamyįrom the lighthouse, the view across Dundrum Bay is of the black and pointy Mountains of Mourne in the distance. The Mourne Wall passes over 15 mountains and marks a reservoir catchment area.

Duane also shows us Lecale’s beaches and the town of Arglass, which has six castles. The site has bath houses for pilgrims who came in the middle ages.

Next we visit Struell Wells, to see holy wells linked with St Patrick, who founded Ireland’s first church in the area and was reputedly buried in Downpatrick in 461. The circle is 33 metres across and is probably from the late Neolithic or early bronze age excavations carried out in the 1930s found graves in a central cairn.

At the end is Ballynoe stone circle, a mysterious circle of with 50 evenly spaced stones. The mini hedges don’t disappoint – we take the long downhill Cow Path, lined with hawthorn and gorse which have entwined to form a low arch over the path. “Will we start the tour at the mini dark hedges which lead to a stone circle?” he asks, as my eyes widen, realising that this is like real-life Game of Thrones (which features the dark hedges in Ballymoney) and Outlander (a stone circle) all in one. Mini dark hedges on the path leading to Ballynoe Stone Circle.

Irish movie about lighthouse keeper