Ireland’s spectacular coastline is dotted with lighthouses, for many centuries the protectors of ships, watchers of the seas and now unique attractions as part of the island’s rich maritime history.
Twelve of these make up the Great Lighthouses of Ireland trail and present phenomenal views and fascinating visitor centres, while eight also provide unique stayover opportunities.
A trip along the Wild Atlantic Way takes in half-a-dozen, from Fanad Head lighthouse in rugged County Donegal to Galley Head lighthouse in beautiful County Cork.
St John’s Point lighthouse in County Donegal overlooks the shores where three Spanish Armada ships were wrecked, while from atop Valentia Island lighthouse in County Kerry, fossilised dinosaur footprints are visible.
Loop Head lighthouse in County Clare features an interactive exhibition and a guided tour recounting its history which dates to 1670, and off the coast of County Mayo, Clare Island lighthouse provides an award-winning boutique hotel experience.
The trail continues into Ireland’s Ancient East, where the oldest operational lighthouse in the world, at Hook Head, can be explored. Sitting on the tip of the Hook Peninsula at the entrance to Waterford Harbour, it was built in the early thirteenth century and has a visitor centre and guided tour.
Along the Ancient East coastline also sits Wicklow Head’s unusual octagonal stone tower lighthouse, which has withstood lightning strikes, and Ballycotton, one of only two black lighthouses in Ireland and only accessible by boat.
In Northern Ireland, the strikingly striped St John’s Point lighthouse in County Down is the tallest onshore lighthouse on the island’s coast and offers cosy self-catering accommodation.
Further up the coast along the famous Causeway Coastal Route (named with Belfast as Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel for 2018) sits Blackhead lighthouse from where the lightkeepers would have watched the Titanic sail off on her maiden voyage.
Then, on the island’s northernmost island, Rathlin, can be found an upside-down lighthouse built into the cliffs below which Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, hid in 1306.
With dramatic land and seascapes to be enjoyed from atop these great lighthouses, including glimpses of whales and dolphins off the west and south coasts, a visit or an overnight in one provides a truly memorable trip on Ireland’s amazing coast.