Inishowen Peninsula
Explore County Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula by car, from Atlantic cliffs at Malin Head to the hilltop stone fort of Grianán of Aileach.
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Inishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, in northwest Ireland. Travelers come for its Atlantic coastline, Malin Head at the northern tip of mainland Ireland, and Grianán of Aileach, a circular stone fort on a hilltop. Beaches and small coastal settlements make stops along the way, but the sights are spread across the peninsula.
A car is the practical way to connect them. You can stay in Inishowen or use Derry as a base; Derry is outside County Donegal, so plan for the drive on day trips. Allow at least a couple of days to see the main sights without rushing. Late spring to early fall suits a road trip, though Atlantic weather can change quickly. Inishowen suits travelers who want time on the coast and road, with historic sites along the route. It is less suited to a trip focused on staying in one town.
Inishowen Peninsula in five
- Start with Grianán of AileachA ring fort with a 5 m dry-stone wall above the waters of Lough Swilly. Ireland.com ties it to over 4,000 years of history. Go on a clear day, because the view is the reason to climb.Malin Head and the fort
- Drive to Banba's Crown at Malin HeadThe clifftop tower dates from 1805 and looks across the Inishowen hills towards Horn Head, with Inishtrahull Island to the east. Malin Head is just over an hour north of Derry.
- Sleep on the peninsula for dark skiesIreland.com says Inishowen has almost perfect conditions for the Northern Lights. Nothing is guaranteed: it needs a clear night and solar activity, so keep two nights spare.
- Cross from Derry with the right entry papersDerry sits in Northern Ireland, where UK entry rules apply. Most visa-free visitors who are not British or Irish need a UK ETA before crossing; the peninsula itself is in the Republic.UK ETA explained
- Visit Doagh Famine Village with the family guidesThe village includes original 1840s thatched dwellings, lived in until 1983, and the owner's family shows visitors around. Check the opening season on its own site before you drive out.
Things to do in Inishowen Peninsula
See all attractions in Inishowen Peninsula
Need to know
- Getting there
- By road from Derry; Malin Head is just over an hour north
- Getting around
- A car; the headlands are long drives with no rail line
- Best base
- Buncrana, Greencastle or the Malin Head end
- Size
- Largest peninsula on the island of Ireland
- Time needed
- 2 days for the main sights; 3 with walks
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain22 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Dark, stormyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, stormy
- FebruaryRain19 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Dark, stormyFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, stormy
- MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Cold, quietMarchRain
Good
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low7°Lengthening daysAprilRain
Best
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Lengthening days
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low9°Long daysMayRain
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JuneRain17 rainy daysHigh14°Low11°Longest daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Longest days
- JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Warmest, busierJulyRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest, busier
- AugustRain21 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Warmest, busierAugustRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest, busier
- SeptemberRain19 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Calm, clearSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calm, clear
- OctoberRain21 rainy daysHigh13°Low10°Aurora chanceOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Aurora chance
- NovemberRain21 rainy daysHigh10°Low8°Dark, stormyNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, stormy
- DecemberRain22 rainy daysHigh9°Low6°Dark, stormyDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 150 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, stormy
Average daily high and low in Malin Head, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Inishowen Peninsula
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Inishowen Peninsula
08:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°5°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue10°5°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed9°3°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°1°6%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Fri8°6°12%Friday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sat8°2°14%Saturday: Fog. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Sun8°3°8%Sunday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 08:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Derry~Londonderryjust over an hour south of Malin HeadA walled city in Northern Ireland and the usual gateway for the peninsula.Read the guide
- Causeway Coasta long day east by roadGiant's Causeway and the Antrim coast if you cross into Northern Ireland.Read the guide
- Doagh Famine Villageon the peninsula's north coastThatched cottages from the 1840s, shown by the family who owns them.
Before you go to Inishowen Peninsula
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Rules for Inishowen Peninsula, checked
- Entering Northern Ireland from Ireland needs a UK ETA unless you are British or Irish or live in Ireland; Inishowen itself is in the Republic.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Inishowen Peninsula
Giant's Causeway and the Antrim road
Read the guideNorthern IrelandDerry, Belfast and the entry rules for the north
Read the guideCounties Mayo and SligoThe Atlantic coast south of Donegal
Read the guideUK ETA explainedWho needs one to enter Northern Ireland
Read the guideAll of IrelandRegions, rail, driving and entry rules
Read the guideTrains, buses and carsHiring a car in the north
Read the guideInishowen Peninsula FAQ
Where is the Inishowen Peninsula?
In County Donegal, in the far north of the Republic. It is the largest peninsula on the island of Ireland and ends at Malin Head, the most northerly point of the mainland.
How many days do you need for Inishowen?
Two days cover Grianán of Aileach, Malin Head and a stretch of coast. A third day suits a long beach walk, Doagh Famine Village or a slow drive back along the Lough Swilly shore.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Inishowen?
Sometimes. Ireland.com says conditions here are almost perfect, but you need a clear, dark night and solar activity. Check an aurora forecast, stay two nights and avoid the full moon if you can.
Do you need a car for Inishowen?
In practice, yes. There is no rail line, the headlands are far apart, and the best viewpoints are down minor roads. A day tour from Derry is the car-free option if it suits your dates.
Is Malin Head worth the drive?
Yes for the cliff walk to Banba's Crown, the 1805 tower and the sense of reaching the end of the mainland. It was also a filming location for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Pick a clear day.