Overview
The headland is properly called Benwee Head, on the north-western edge of County Mayo, where the cliffs fall about 270 metres straight into the Atlantic – higher than the Cliffs of Moher, and among the tallest sea cliffs in Ireland. From the small car park near the Children of Lir sculpture, marked paths lead to the cliff edge, with the jagged Stags of Broadhaven sitting offshore and, on a clear day, the cliffs of Slieve League visible far to the north.
Most people should walk the short cliff loop, not the full route. It is about 3 to 4 km from the Children of Lir car park, takes roughly an hour, and still delivers the cliff edge, the views over Broadhaven Bay and the wartime EIRE marker. The 11.3 km Benwee Loop is a serious day out and only worth it if you are fit and the weather is settled.
History and the wartime marker
During the Second World War, Ireland’s neutrality was spelled out along this coast for aircraft overhead. A large stone-and-whitewash ‘EIRE 63’ marker still sits on the headland, one of dozens placed around the coastline so Allied and other pilots knew they were over neutral territory. It is visible from the trail and is one of the more legible reminders that this empty-feeling clifftop was once watched closely. The name Benwee itself comes from the Irish for ‘yellow peak’, after the colour of the rock.
The walks
The waymarked routes all start in the Gaeltacht village of Carrowteige (Ceathrú Thaidhg), where there are four separate loops of increasing difficulty, each marked with a different colour of arrow – the green arrow being the shortest.
The longest of them is the Benwee Loop Walk:
Trail at a glance:
- Distance & Format: 11.3 km loop
- Grade: Strenuous
- Total Ascent: 383 m
- Estimated Time: 5 hours
- Dogs: Welcome (keep on lead near livestock and cliff edges)
It crosses mainly dry bog track and open moorland before reaching the cliff edge, and it is best tackled in dry conditions: the bog turns to mud after rain, and the exposed ground needs sturdy footwear and a head for heights. There are no shelters on the route, so carry water and layers, because Atlantic weather here turns fast.
Wildlife
The Stags of Broadhaven hold nesting seabirds through spring and early summer, and the cliffs and surrounding bogland support hardy plants like heather and bog cotton. On calm mornings you may see dolphins or porpoises working the water further out, which adds to the sense of being at the very edge of things.
Getting there and practical tips
Benwee Head is reached via the R314 and minor roads north to Carrowteige, with Belmullet the nearest service town, roughly 15 km away, for accommodation, cafés and bus connections. From Belmullet, follow the signposts for Carrowteige and the Children of Lir car park.
Parking is free but limited to a small layby, so arrive early on fine summer days. There are no facilities at the headland. The walking routes involve uneven, exposed and steep clifftop ground, so they are not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.
Nearby stops
- An Ceann Ramhar (Doohoma Head) – A drive east, with its own sea-stack views and coastal walks.
- Ballycroy National Park – Ancient oakwoods, blanket bog and the rugged Bangor Trail.
- Belmullet – The regional hub for supplies, Gaeltacht culture and harbour-side dining.
If you only do the short loop, time it for late in the day: the light over Broadhaven Bay shifts quickly as the Atlantic cloud moves in, and the EIRE marker and the Stags both look their best with the sun dropping behind them.