MIZEN HEAD

Mizen Head is the most southwest point of Ireland (with Brow Head being the most southern point) and it is absolutely stunning. While there were people around us, Mizen Head does not nearly draw the same crowds as places like the Cliffs of Moher or the Ring of Kerry, so I would absolutely add this destination to your list if you would like to enjoy the Wild Atlantic Way without as many crowds!

And perhaps there aren’t as many people because being the most southwest point of Ireland means this peninsula is a little out of the way! Mizen Head is a two-hour drive from Cork City, two hours from Killarney, four hours from Galway, and up to five hours away from Dublin. However, if you do finally make your way to Mizen (along many winding and narrow roads), you will be rewarded with a car park, a little café, a shop, and raw nature!

The café has your necessities: simple sandwiches, beverages, bathrooms, and of course, ice-cream. Once you make your way into the gift shop, you will be able to purchase tickets to walk around Mizen Head. Take a stroll across the Mizen Foot Bridge, which was originally completed in 1910 and was made of reinforced concrete to combat the salty fog and sea spray that befalls Mizen Head. This bridge lasted almost 100 years before it was declared unsafe, and a new bridge made of concrete and reinforced steel was opened to the public in 2011, which allows you to get from the mainland to Cloghane Island with ease! If you are really lucky, you might see some wildlife such as seals, dolphins, and whales.

Once you have passed over the bridge, make your way to the Mizen Head Signal Station, originally constructed to warn ships of the rocks that loom close to the shore. Once back on the mainland, you can walk down towards the cliffs. Take care – the ground is paved, but the road is quite steep! You will eventually come to a viewing platform that offers incredible views. Just remember that you will have to walk back up the sharp incline, so be careful, and enjoy the gorgeous scenery!!