Fáilte Ireland - Ireland Buyers Guide for Group and FIT Organisers

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FREE WILD ATLANTIC WAY EXPERIENCES
Downpatrick Head: Dún Briste,
the Broken Fort
Business Details
Downpatrick Head, Knockaun, Co. Mayo
GPS 54.323611 -9.343888
Experience
Downpatrick Head is a majestic heritage site found about 5km north of
Ballycastle village. Jutting out into the ocean and rising almost 40m above
the waves, it provides unparalleled views of the Atlantic, including the unique
collection of islands known as the Staggs of Broadhaven.
You can also spot the nearby Dún Briste sea stack, with its different coloured
layers of rock and nesting sea birds. In addition to the natural scenery and
wildlife, Downpatrick Head is home to the ruins of a church, holy well and
stone cross, which together mark the site of an earlier church founded by St
Patrick. Ireland’s patron saint is also honoured with a statue that was built in
the early 1980s.
The sea-stack is called Dún Briste (broken fort). Local legend says that when a
pagan chieftain refused to convert to Christianity, St Patrick struck the ground
with his crozier, splitting a chunk of the headland off into the ocean, with the
chieftain on top!
Self-guided visit. Print material in English and Gaelic, no audio guides
available.
Duration: 1 hr
Pricing & Capacity
Free
Tour Operator Rate n/a
FIT Rate n/a
Ad Hoc Group Rate n/a
Tour Series Rate n/a
Opening Details & Refreshment
Open all year. Shop/café at Ballycastle (10 mins drive).
Parking, Access/Ability & Special Requirements
Parking at entrance to Downpatrick Head
Nearest Accommodation Hub
Ballina (40 mins drive)
Experiences Nearby
Wild Atlantic Cultural Tours (25 mins drive)
Belleek Castle (35 mins drive)
Céide Fields & Cliffs (18 mins drive)
Killaspugbrone Loop Walk
Business Contact Details
Strandhill, Co. Sligo
T n/a
E n/a
W
GPS 54.270591 -8.609154
Business Contact N/A
Experience Description
This is a stunning (self-guided) coastal walk through the north of the dune
system in the busy seaside village of Strandhill. The trail brings walkers
through a variety of coastal habitats including sand dunes, salt marsh and
pine woodland.
It passes Killaspugbrone Church, an early Christian site with historic and
legendary associations. The route features magnificent views of Benbulben
and Knocknarea and out over Sligo Bay. Killaspugbrone church was founded by
Saint Patrick in the fifth century. According to local folklore, when Saint Patrick
visited the site he tripped on rough ground and lost his tooth. The gold relic is
now preserved in the National Museum of Ireland. The present ruins dates to
the period between 1150 and 1220.
Duration 1-1 hr 30 mins
Opening Details & Refreshments
Open all year round.
Parking, Access/Ability & Special Requirements
Ample coach and car parking at Strandhill. Grade is moderate so reasonable
level of fitness required. Prepare for changing weather conditions; please bring
walking shoes and raingear. Restaurants and shops at Strandhill.
Nearest Airport
Knock Airport – 55 mins
Nearest Accommodation Hub
Strandhill (immediate vicinity)
Sligo (11 mins)
Other Experiences Nearby
VOYA Seaweed Baths (immediate vicinity)
Strandhill Surf School (immediate vicinity)
Relive Ireland’s earliest Takeaway: A seatrail with Shellfish and Sea Shells by
the Shore, Seatrails, (immediate vicinity)
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