Hornhead Loop
Hornhead Loop
5
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
25 within 5 kms
Attractions
15 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
263 reviews
Excellent
213
Very good
45
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Sean F
Limerick, Ireland344 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Amazing views from here.It is well worth the short drive from Dunfanahy to see this natural attraction.
The views in all directions are amazing.
The road to the head is very narrow in places and there is not much parking when you get to the top.
The views in all directions are amazing.
The road to the head is very narrow in places and there is not much parking when you get to the top.
Written 26 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NHjo
Saco, ME14,431 contributions
Sept 2017 • Solo
I didn't drive the whole loop because the heights were terrifying. I started the loop from the town of Dunfanaghy. The narrow road up had me on the edge of the cliff (no railings, of course). I thanked God no vehicle came down the road toward me because I don't know where I could have pulled off, except off the edge of the cliff. When I got to the top, I experienced a panic attack because it was so high you could practically see the curvature of the earth. Stunning, but terrifying. There were rams and cars everywhere, and it was a tight place to turn the car around (because there was no way I was going to continue the loop). I clung to the mountain, too afraid to go to the edge of the cliff for a closer look (again, no railing), and a kind Englishman offered to turn the car around for me. Before he did so, I went back to the car and grabbed my purse -- not because I didn't trust him, but if he went off the cliff, I wanted my passport and money. His wife gave me a strange look, but I didn't care. He turned the car around and left the gear in neutral, with the parking brake on! I went back down that road quicker than you can say 'Oh no, the parking brake let go!'. If you have acrophobia or fear of narrow roads that lean to the left toward the cliff as you're driving (on the left, of course) up the mountain, I'd recommend skipping it or letting someone else drive while you close your eyes. I've driven other 'skyline' roads, but this one was the mother of all beasts.
Written 15 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johnm1922
Dublin, Ireland61 contributions
Aug 2016
A long walk or a short drive, the Hornhead Loop is a must if visiting Dunfanaghy, Co.Donegal. Around 6km in length (though further from Dunfanaghy itself) it's a steep climb, as the cliffs rise to 600 feet (180+ meters), providing spectacular panoramic views along the way. If driving, it's a narrow road but well surfaced, there are places to pull in if you meet oncoming cars. There is no official one way system, but it just requires some common sense and driver courtesy. If you see a car approach in the distance and you've a place to pull in, do so and enjoy the view til they pass, pondering the thought that the Donegal rally used to run this route! There are a number of viewing points where you can pull in, overlooking Dunfanaghy and Kileyhoey beach, the surrounding countryside and Muckish mountain behind. Another viewpoint overlooks Sheephaven bay, with Rossguil Head to the east and a great view of Hornhead itself to the west (observe the Napoleonic fort right at the end of the head, which you can also walk to, tho good boots or old shoes are advised, as the route crosses bog, there are no official tourist trails here). Atop the head itself stands a World War 2 era lookout post, offering an amazing, if generally windy but bracing, view west, towards the Bloody Forelands, a great view of the Derryveagh mountains, including Errigal, Donegal's highest peak and out to sea the historic island of Tory, former home of the Cyclops god Balor. The sunset from Hornhead is a sight to behold, but even on a cold, cloudy day, when the views are obscured, a drive around Hornhead is advised. You'll know you've been out in the fresh air after a few minutes standing on Hornhead. It'll make you feel alive and glad to be so, in such spectacular surroundings.
Written 19 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
03ran51
San Antonio, Texas62 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
My wife and I spent two weeks driving around the Donegal region, visiting all the "heads" (Bloody Foreland, Horn Head, Fanad Head, Malin Head) and, I must say, the most dramatic was Horn Head. The Hornhead Loop is not for the faint-hearted, so if you are intimidated by lonely stretches of winding narrow roads, this is probably not for you. But the "loop" is mostly one-way, so you can at least have a fair amount of confidence that you won't encounter somebody coming the other way! But once at Horn Head itself, you will experience one of the most dramatic and breath-taking locations in Ireland.
Written 5 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie V
Cool, CA457 contributions
Oct 2015
Many other reviews talk about how treacherous and narrow this road is...they must not have driven many single -track roads. That said, this is a single-track road!! Stay to the left at the junction and drive the loop counter-clockwise to reduce the likelihood of having to back up a long way. And drive at a slow to moderate speed! The countryside and views on the head are beautiful. My ancestors lived on the Horn, and it was fun to hear the stories that one of my distant cousins told of growing up there as a young boy as he drove around the Horn Head Loop pointing out ancestral home sites. We'd driven the loop ourselves the day before.
Written 26 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mia h
Houston, TX13 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
The locals thought I was crazy for wanting to walk Hornhead instead of drive it, but luckily I got to do both. It's not a bad walk - unless you do it in the driving rain - which we did, but it's so worth it!
Written 7 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robbiefromdonegal
Dunfanaghy, Ireland42 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
Take the road out of Dunfanaghy to a junction which is signed to Hornhead to the left. Ideally the flow of traffic should be in this direction keep following signs to Hornhead and you will eventually arrive at a car park where the views out to sea are spectacular "next stop America". Continue along this narrow road and you will take in the best views in the area. Sheep haven Bay, Portnablagh, Killyhoey beach, Dunfanaghy before returning to your original route.
Written 3 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kingdomDublin
dublin369 contributions
Jul 2018 • Solo
A friend from Donegal advised me to do this drive - although as she pointed out to me it isn't for the fainthearted. She was right...but what a view from the top. Looking out onto Torey Island - the road up is very narrow with loads of bends so i would advise doing it very early in the morning or towards the end of the day.
Written 23 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lambretta101
Gourock, UK4,815 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
With almost ever turn the Wild Atlantic Way reveals another stunning part of this coastline. It just gets better and better.
Written 8 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keneff
Lisburn, UK208 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
Horn Head is a headland pushing into the wild Atlantic just by the town of Dunfanaghy in Donegal. It's a wild bird nesting site with a splendid view out to Tory Island. The loop can be walked, or covered by car. There are several viewpoints if travelling by car, and there is a small car park by the old coastguard station where you can get out of the car and take a short path to view the cliffs and Tory - the best of both worlds. There is also a great beach accessible only on foot from the bridge leading out to the Head.
Written 13 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Looking for some walking route suggestions?
Al
Written 29 May 2018
I would just add that the "Wild Atlantic Way" road signs try to direct traffic clockwise so you might be best to walk anti clockwise. But take care as some cars ignore the signs - which are not mandatory.
Written 30 May 2018
Staying at Arnold's Hotel in June and would like to do a loop walk of some description around Hornhead. It'll likely be morning time as we'll be driving back to Dublin in the afternoon.
Can we drive somewhere, park the car, and go from there? We just want to get a feel for the area, and those amazing sea views.
All suggestions of walking routes are appreciated.
Written 10 April 2018
Walking the whole of the peninsula would take a long time. Probably better to drive it and park to take in the awesome views. Or, better still, ask a local. Sorry I can’t be of more help but do enjoy the scenery!
Written 11 April 2018
Showing results 1-4 of 4
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing