Walk Northern Ireland - Mountaineering Ireland

Right: Pebbles on Murlough beach
Below: White Rocks, County Antrim
Beaches
Beach walking
in Northern
Ireland is an
activity for any
weather and
any time of the
year
Benone Strand
Benone Strand is one of Ireland’s
longest beaches, stretching for
more than 9km from the tiny
village of Downhill to Magilligan
Point at the mouth of Lough Foyle.
It’s a marvellously atmospheric
place for a walk whatever the
weather. Endless lines of ocean
swell come rolling in from the
Atlantic to thunder onto the beach,
which stretches off west as if to
infinity. To the northwest you can
see the proud line of hills marking
Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula,
while in clear conditions you
should also be able to identify the
Scottish islands of Jura and Islay to
the northeast. All of this is
overlooked by the majestic cliffs of
Binevenagh, which provide a half
day of fine walking in themselves,
offering aerial views of Magilligan,
Lough Foyle and the Sperrin
Mountains.
In practice most walkers simply
walk west from Downhill as far as
their time and energy permit. The
Umbra Stream comes after about
two kilometres; this is the only
obstacle you’ll encounter and it can
be easily crossed near the water’s
edge. The beach and duneland
from Magillian Point to Downhill
falls within the Magilligan Special
Area of Conservation. At
Magilligan Point itself you’ll find
an old Martello Tower and great
views across the mouth of Lough
Foyle to the village of Greencastle
on the other side.
walk… Beaches
There is a certain meditative simplicity in beach
walking. The open space and sense of freedom are
exhilarating, and even on a wild day there is nowhere
to feel closer to nature. Northern Ireland’s long,
sweeping beaches are one of its most prized habitats.
Above lies Mussenden Temple,
perched precariously on the edge of
the crumbling cliff high above the
beach. If you want to visit the
discovernorthernireland.com
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