Walking Along The Coast of Malin Head, Inishowen

Denise Henry, Marketing, Inishowen Tourism

Malin Head is Ireland's most Northerly Point situated a short drive from Malin Town pictured above. On route to Malin Town, you will pass over an historic ten-arched bridge which leads to this bright and charming village.

                 

The word Malin itself originates from the Irish word Malainn meaning Braeface or Hillbrow, which hints at the type of geography you will encounter at this stunning location. On approach to Malin Head you will be greeted by an impressive Tower built in 1805 to act as a Signal Tower for the British Admiralty during the Napoleonic Wars. Today it is recognized as signature point along the popular Wild Atlantic Way Route.

In front of the Tower you will notice a large Eire symbol, pictured above, that is marked out by white stones on the landscape. Eire was used during the Second World War to inform fighter pilots on approach to Malin Head that they were in Ireland, a country of neutrality.

The Malin Head Trail

Located at Malin Head is a trail, viewed above, that will take you along a scenic path packed with wonderful views across the Atlantic and Inishowen Landscape. The route itself is graded as a moderate walk spanning a distance between 570-655m. A purpose built path with signage, will lead you along the picturesque headland.

From Malin Head you can view neighboring sites in County Donegal such as Fanad Head Lighthouse. This impressive Lighthouse marks the entrance to Lough Swilly that separates the Fanad Peninsula from the Inishowen Peninsula. On a clear day, the headlands of Horn Head and Dundaff Head, in the wider Co Donegal area can also be seen.

Making your way along the walk some of the sites you can see, weather permitting, include the beautiful Tory Island and to the North East the captivating Inishtrahull Island that you can see above. On a clear day it is possible to see the hills of Western Scotland and the Island of Islay. 

The rock at Malin Head is composed primarily of igneous and metamorphic rock that formed over 400 million years ago. During your walk you will notice a number of these striking rock formations, which includes Hells Hole, a deep chasm in the rugged cliff face with a subterranean cave, pictured above. At Hells Hole and throughout the trail you can see and hear the power of the sea as it crashes against the rugged rocks and coastline.

The Force Is With Malin Head

The captivating nature of the cliff walk and its surrounding scenery is a perfect location to capture the imagination of visitor and local alike. From your visit to Malin Head you can understand why a section of the headland that lies beyond the trail was chosen to shoot a number of scenes of the eagerly anticipated Star Wars Episode VIII due to air on December 15th 2017.

More To Come
Stay tuned for another installment of our walking guide series that provides information on scenic walks around Inishowen.

Mabel R. Colhoun; Our Guide to Heritage in Inishowen

By Denise Henry, Marketing, Inishowen Tourism

Who was Mabel R. Colhoun?

Mabel Remington Colhoun, pictured above, was a pioneering female involved with archaeology at the turn of the 20th Century, who spent over fifty years of her life devoted to researching, recording and surveying heritage in the Inishowen landscape. Her life's work in the area is best illustrated in "The Heritage of Inishowen: Its Archaeology, History and Folklore" published in 1995 following her death. What is so significant about Mabel's work is it was the first of its kind in the region and to date her research has been a guide to many who wanted to expand on the current knowledge of heritage in the peninsula. 

The Inishowen Connection

Mabel's ancestral home originated in the area of Knocklglass Malin, Inishowen, pictured above. Her grandfather was a farmer from that region and her father later moved from Inishowen to Derry City where he set up a successful building company called the Colhoun Bros. Mabel herself was born at North Lodge Derry/Londonderry in 1902. With this in mind Mabel was born and raised in the city, but from an early age had spent many childhood summers in Inishowen with her family.  

On the Road to Archaeology

Mabel, pictured above on the right with her mother Lizzie Gordon, was raised in a household passionate about history, archaeology, built heritage and nature.With this in mind it is no surprise that Mabel herself would become heavily involved in these areas. Mabel acquired her initial training in archaeological field work in the 1930s & 40s on digs across Northern Ireland. As you can see below Mabel documented photographically the progress of excavations at Dungiven and Tamnyrankin, Co. Derry/Londonderry. Using the skills Mabel gained on these digs and from the persuasion of experts in the field; Esytn Evans and Oliver Davies, Mabel would begin her own survey of the Inishowen Peninsula in 1940.

During the war years, when their was a petrol shortage in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Mabel would travel to archaeological sites by bicycle. This would mean a distance, of in some cases, 32 miles to travel from her home in Deanfield, Derry/Londonderry to sites in Malin Head, Inishowen. A staggering distance considering Mabel would have had to carry survey equipment, notebooks and maps. You can see from the image below that Mabel was dedicated to learning as much as possible from heritage sites in Inishowen. The image is taken from the "Skull House" as it is described locally at Cooley Graveyard in Moville, Inishowen.

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More to Come!

This is part one of a series that will explore the life of this unique lady and by following in Mabel's footsteps we will explore and learn about archaeology, history, local folklore and myth in Inishowen. Using Mabel's archive, that is cared for by the Tower Museum in Derry/Londonderry, we will explore the wealth of documents, artefacts and photographs to find out more about the work carried out by Mabel in Inishowen. A special thanks to the Tower Museum for facilitating my research!

Horsing Around at Malin Head, Inishowen

By Denise Henry, Marketing Assistant, Inishowen Tourism

Florian Wagner, an adventure photographer from a small town in the Bavarian Alps, and his team, have been making headlines all over Ireland during the past two months. Their epic journey would take them from Mizen Head, Cork, all the way to Malin Head, in the Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal. Florian said that "After having completed a similar trek in Germany one of my sponsors suggested Ireland as our next destination, since I had always wanted to explore Ireland, I jumped at the opportunity"

This was no ordinary road trip, the team would complete over 800 miles on horseback, capturing the diverse and beautiful Irish landscape along the way. You can see the team above, at the iconic, Wild Atlantic Way signature point; "Banbas Crown", a Napoleonic Tower, which marked the end of their long journey.

Florian noted that "Irish people have really proven their hospitality big time from the very start, the first friendly person we met was a truck driver on the ferry over". Through word of mouth and an eagerness, as found by Florian "within the Irish horse community, who all seem to know each other" people throughout the country "offered to stable the horses" and put them up for the night.

Meeting Florian and the Team at Malin Stables, Inishowen

Myself and Sally Toland, from Inishowen Tourism, reached out to the team when we heard of their journey to Malin Head. On arrival at Malin Stables we welcomed the group, pictured above, and were on hand to assist with their itinerary. The teams itinerary in Inishowen, Donegal, included; visiting the Doagh Famine Village located on the Isle of Doagh, traveling on horseback through varied terrain and picturesque beaches at Shroove, Pollan Bay, Trawbreaga Bay and Malin Head itself.

The crew enjoyed the hospitality of the Malin Hotel, The Seaview Tavern Bar and Restaurant and as you can see above, the team enjoyed a few drinks and some traditional music in Farrens Bar, Ireland's most northerly bar.

The team expressed gratitude to Malin Equestrian Centre, who stabled their horses and who were on hand to guide them along trails. A highlight for Florian and the team during their stay was a trek guided by Kane Gurney from Malin Stables, which took them "along the beautiful east coast of Inishowen from where we could see Scotland".

Highlights and Challenges on the Journey to Malin Head

Florian said that "Some of the most epic moments were at the Slieve League Cliffs, Donegal, Achill island off the West Coast of Mayo and Malin Head. "I just thought Malin Head was some place at the end of the world, some magazines say there are hardly any roads and no-one lives there but we found it the total opposite. It is remote in that it's not over populated but there are a lot of people and they're very nice and there are fantastic stable facilities at Malin Stables"

The main challenge for the team was a lack of sleep "We were working very hard before we left Germany so we were tired even before we started. We soon got into the rhythm of fighting through long days". With a jam packed schedule it was hard for Florian and the team to see and do everything that they wanted to in Inishowen. Florian wants to return "to ride along the sea when the tide is out which I haven't done here in Inishowen and so I would have loved to do that and I really want to come back"

Find out more about Florian and the Teams Journey!

https://www.facebook.com/adventureireland.eu/

http://adventureireland.eu/

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Getting Crafty at Moville Pottery, Inishowen

By Denise Henry, Marketing Assistant, Inishowen Tourism

Overlooking the picturesque town of Moville, Inishowen, there is a hub of craft called Moville Pottery. Moville Pottery is owned and run by Lowry Wasson and partner Brian McLaughin. 

"How Could you Live in Inishowen and Not be Inspired"

Arriving at the entrance, prepare to be greeted by Lacey pictured above. The shop itself is bright, spacious and full of coloured mugs and dinnerware of all shapes and sizes. On closer inspection you see the intricate designs and layered textures on their pottery range, that I found was chiefly "inspired by the Inishowen landscape". At every corner is an example of beautifully crafted, contemporary pieces of work, which include products from local craftspeople in Inishowen and the North West of Ireland.

From the Worlds Largest Tea Pots to Ceramic Speakers

At Moville Pottery you will get the chance to see, what was once the worlds largest tea pot that can hold up to 23 gallons of tea!! and the only example of a working ceramic speaker system in Ireland. They are fantastic examples of some of the innovation and craft that you will see at every stage of your visit from shop floor to workshop.

The popular Galaxy Green range pictured below, is inspired by the colours and textures of Kinnagoe Bay, an area steeped in history and natural beauty on the Eastern side of the Inishowen Peninsula. The formation and shape of the rugged rocks at Kinnagoe, and Five Fingers Strand, near Malin Head, inspire the shape and design of some of their pottery. 

Moville Pottery in High Demand

Having celebrated over forty years in business, owners Lowry and Brian, have built up an impressive range of pottery that is in high demand in Ireland and internationally. Commissions have been requested by cafes, restaurants, hair and beauty salons and other businesses throughout Inishowen, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Spain.

Both Lowry and the staff take time during your visit to answer any questions about the pottery making process, including the inspiration behind their designs. Upon invitation, you also have the opportunity to view their workshop, pictured above. 

Tune in next week to find out more about how Lowry and Brian make there unique pots and find out a little about some movie stars that are sipping tea out of a Moville Pottery mug!

Find Out More About Moville Pottery
http://www.movillepottery.com/
https://www.facebook.com/movillepottery

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Adventure at Malin Head, Inishowen

By Denise Henry, Marketing Assistant, Inishowen Tourism

Today’s adventure takes place at Malin Head with one of Ireland's leading climbing instructors Bren Whelan, pictured above. Bren is an award winning wildlife & landscape photographer, film maker and highly qualified  Mountain Instructor & International Mountain Leader. The day kicks off at Malin Head as my colleague and I meet Bren at the historic Banba's Crown, a Napoleonic Tower built in 1805. From there we make our way a little further along the headland to our climbing site, where we are fitted with harnesses, helmets and soft climbing shoes. The scenery is simply stunning, the jagged sea stacks of Skildrenmore and Skildrenbeg strike up from the water, a temptation to climbers, but until July, home to nesting gulls. 

Taking the Plunge: Abseiling at Malin Head, Inishowen

 As a beginner, who admittedly is a little nervous of heights, Bren starts off with a gentle abseil over a grassy edge pictured above, that tumbles down to meet the stark rocky barrier between us and the Wild Atlantic. Using a multiple belay system, we complete a loop down to the foot of the rock face. During the abseil you can hear the rolling sea drawing nearer behind you. At the bottom, standing on a thick bed of stones there is ample opportunity to pause and appreciate the raw beauty of our surroundings. Meanwhile Bren sets up the next belay ensuring the rope is attached to each cam and carabiner as he passes it. Ascending again, we learn more from Bren about the belay system, which keeps us all safe and connected.

At each interval time is taken to ensure that we both know exactly what to do and expect. During the climb we hear some inspiring stories about his trips around the world and experience with climbing in all types of conditions. While the third belay system is set up, I find a seat on a flat rock on this outcrop, and take time to appreciate the experience - the multitude of colours; shades of green, blue and grey and the changing ocean is striking.

 Fear and Exhilaration at "The Cauldron"

The final belay takes us across a manageable walkway, perched atop a jagged ridge, and back onto solid ground. We stroll across to Dawson's Dihedral - named after Dawson Stelfox, the first Irishman to climb Everest. It's a dramatic site, the chasm plummets to "The Cauldron", as its aptly known locally. At this point you will find your knees buckling, but with guidance from Bren, a balance can be found between terror, determination and adrenaline. Before I begin my descent I coat my hands in chalk to improve grip on the rock face, I descend to where I feel comfortable and find a thin grassy ledge, pictured above, to capture a few photographs of this moment. Although still nervous I found a sense of calm standing there as the sounds of the ocean act as a reminder of where you are and how fortunate it is to be at this stunning location at the top of Ireland. 

 

 Embracing the Wild Side of Malin Head, Inishowen

The morning's climb not only helped settle my fear of heights, it was an educational and exhilarating experience, one not to be forgotten and certainly to be repeated. Aside from the experience itself, Bren takes time to point out some of the abundant wildlife in the area - the sturdy little pink orchids and the skylarks' with their territorial song.You will leave Bren's company with an appreciation for how he and others have been bitten by the climbing bug and by the draw of Malin Head's enchanting coastline, pictured above.

Find out more about adventure in Inishowen:

@wawrockclimbing
http://mountaintraining.ie/
https://www.facebook.com/wildatlanticwayrockclimbing/

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Know Your Region- Part One

Know Your Region- Failte Ireland team up with Tourism Industry providers to “Take a trip on the Wild Atlantic Way” Inishowen Take the Day Trips and share the “Experiences”

 By Heidi Woods – Inishowen Tourism Development Officer

Since the launch of the “Wild Atlantic Way”, a major tourism initiative for the western seaboard in March 2014, interest in the long distance route has superseded expectations of the service providers and visitors alike. Tourist Offices such as Buncrana, here in Inishowen have seen a dramatic increase in visitor numbers during 2014, and furthermore during the first half of 2015. Inishowen Tourist Office has had a 34% increase in footfall in comparison to the same period in the previous year.

The Donegal section of the Wild Atlantic Way showcases 1,100 kilometres of coastline, and boasts the most Blue Flag beaches, a total of 13.

Bundoran, Rossnowlagh, Murvagh/Laghy, Fintra/Killybegs, Naran/Portnoo, Carrickfinn/Anagary, Killahoey/Dunfanaghy, Downings/Rosguill Peninsula, Magherwarden/Portsalon, Fanad, Lisfannon/Fahan, Shroove, Culdaff.  

	Donegal has been described in Failte Ireland literature as “Untouched, off the radar and crying out for exploration”. Locals resonate that in terms of tourism, improvements in infrastructure as a gateway to the North “we are the forgotten county”. However, the WAW new route has finally highlighted an opportunity to discover the beauty of this county driving through some of the most picturesque areas in Ireland. It encapsulates rugged and remote iconic sights, in a region that is rich in archaeological content, steeped cultural tradition, expressed through music and language that expands the mind, body, and soul in Donegal.

Malin Head Marine Tourism Launch

A warm welcome was extended at the launch of The Malin Head tourism project, celebrated at the community centre, Malin Head on Tuesday 16th of June. It was formally opened by Mayor Ciaran Brogan following speeches and brief overview of the project. This projects aim is to develop facilities at Malin Head which is the first designated iconic signature point of The Wild Atlantic Way. Pictured at the site viewing platform were Chairman of Inishowen Tourism, Johnny McGuinness, Interim Marketing Manager, Siobhan Kelly, and Councillor Bernard McGuinness.