Brandon Point
Brandon Point, Srón Bhroin, is the headland at the north-eastern tip of the peninsula, out beyond Cloghane and Brandon village. It is a Wild Atlantic Way discovery point, it is free, and the car park is at the cliff edge with the viewing deck beside it, which means the view is there from the car if walking is difficult. You look out over Brandon Bay and the open Atlantic, back at Mount Brandon and the range behind it, and north across the water towards Kerry Head.
The walk is the reason to give it a day. From the car park a green road climbs west along the clifftops towards An Sás, Sauce Creek, the amphitheatre of cliffs four hundred metres high where the name means a trap: the fishermen's understanding was that what went in did not come out. The full circuit is around thirteen kilometres and four hours, graded moderate, over An Buaicín at 251 metres and Sliabh Glas at 324, which is the viewpoint over the creek. On the way you pass the ruins of a settlement where three families farmed that ground until 1910.
This is also one of the best seawatching stations in the country. In autumn, in a strong north-westerly, skuas and shearwaters run past the head, and whales and dolphins are seen offshore.
On the menu
Murphy's Bar on Brandon pier is where you go afterwards, and the fish and chips is what it is known for. It is fifth generation, open seven days a year round, walk-in only, with an open fire inside and a deck outside looking across the harbour at Mount Brandon. Kitchen from 1pm, later on Wednesday to Sunday. Calamari, prawn and monkfish tacos and crab as well. 087 187 5635.
The facts
- Where
- Out through Cloghane and Brandon, about 5km beyond Brandon village
- Cost
- Free. Car park and viewing deck at the cliff edge.
- The walk
- Siúlóid a' tSáis, about 13km, four hours, moderate, starting at the car park
- You need
- Boots, rain gear, a map and a compass. It is exposed and unsheltered.
- Seawatching
- Autumn, in a north-westerly. Skuas, shearwaters, whales offshore.
- Murphy's Bar
- Brandon pier. 087 187 5635, murphysbarbrandon.com
Good to know
The car park sits directly on a cliff edge, which matters if you have children or a dog with you. The approach roads are narrow.
The walk needs route-finding in cloud and the slopes above An Sás fall away steeply. This is not a stroll in bad weather, and the ground here has a history of landslip.
How we checked. Walk distance and grade from castlegregory.ie, with the Irish Times route description for the same line. Discovery point and views from Discover Ireland. Murphy's hours and food from its own site. Opening hours and prices on this coast change without notice, so ring before you travel. If anything here is wrong, tell us and we will fix it.