Inishowen Head Loop
Walking Trail · Donegal
Inishowen Head Loop is an 8.3 km moderate waymarked loop in Donegal, starting near Stroove.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Inishowen Head car park, near Stroove.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 55.2355, -6.92782
- Irish Grid reference
- C 683 437
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 3
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
About the trail
This wild remote loop follows bog roads, laneways, rough tracks and minor roads and takes in a WWII Lookout Tower on Inishowen Head, the shoulder of Crocknasnug and the point at Portkill from where St Columba left for Iona. There is wonderful coastal scenery including, on clear days, Scotland.
- Waymarking
- Purple arrow
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Donegal County Council
Donegal County Council
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Cruckahenny Trail 21 km away · 10 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Inishowen Head Loop?
8.3 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 250 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 2 hours 30 minutes.
How hard is the Inishowen Head Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Inishowen Head Loop start?
Starts at Inishowen Head car park, near Stroove. The trailhead is at 55.2355, -6.92782 (Irish Grid C 683 437).
Can you bring a dog on the Inishowen Head Loop?
Yes. The register records dogs as allowed. Much of the Irish trail network crosses working farmland, so keep a dog under close control near livestock.
Who manages the Inishowen Head Loop?
Donegal County Council. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Donegal
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.