Ballyliffin: Beaches, Walking Trails and History

Ballyliffin brings together a range of ways to enjoy an active holiday with traces of the past. Several walking trails start in the village, while nearby Pollan Bay draws visitors with its long sandy beach and watersports. There is also a golf course, Bronze Age rock art and historic remains. When choosing a holiday apartment, it may therefore make a difference whether you mainly want to walk, cycle, spend time at the beach or explore Ballyliffin’s history.

Walking trails of varying lengths

The Mullagh Way, The Highway to the Castle, The Druids Road and the Coastal Pathway all start at the information sign in Ballyliffin village. Their lengths vary considerably: The Mullagh Way is 2.7 km long, The Druids Road is 10 km and The Highway to the Castle is 15 km. The Coastal Pathway covers 9.5 km, including the return route. These figures make it possible to compare the trails directly by length, without needing to estimate how long they take to walk.

The Mullagh Way also offers specific scenic and historic landmarks: it passes the deserted village of Mullagh and offers views of Glashedy and Carrickabraghey Castle. This means you can choose the Mullagh Way for its sights, rather than considering only its length.For a cycling trip, the challenging Blue Route takes a 157 km circular route through Ballyliffin, making it a separate option for travellers considering a longer cycle.

Pollan Bay: beach, watersports and golf

Pollan Bay, near Ballyliffin, has a long sandy beach where various watersports are possible, with windsurfing particularly highlighted. This gives the coast a different character from the walking trails in the village. If you would like to combine your stay with the beach and watersports, you can take this into account when choosing accommodation, alongside the starting points for the walking trails.

A beach path runs along Ballyliffin Golf Club by the bay and leads to Carrickabraghey Castle on the Isle of Doagh. The club is also home to Pollan Links, a nine-hole par-3 course designed by Pat Ruddy. Depending on your interests, you can make walking along the beach path, golfing at Pollan Links or visiting Carrickabraghey Castle different focal points of your stay. Pollan Bay also offers access to Binion Hill, a designated walking area for nature lovers and hill walkers.

Rock art and railway traces

The area’s history can also be seen at specific locations. Bronze Age rock art is found on the western slope of Crockaughrim near Ballyliffin. In the village, gateposts are all that remain of the station house of the Lough Swilly Railway, which operated there from 1901 to 1935. The rock art and the visible posts belong to different historical contexts: one is Bronze Age art, while the other relates to the former railway in the village. Together, they offer two distinct points of interest for a trip that takes in local history as well as the beach and outdoor activities.

Seasonal events

Events take place at different times of the year. The Ballyliffin International Coastal Challenge is held at Easter and finishes at Pollan Beach. In March, the four-day Inishowen International Folk Song & Ballad Seminar takes place in Ballyliffin, Dumfries and Clonmany. The programme includes traditional singing, performances, sessions, workshops and talks. The Disappear Here Film Festival takes place in Ballyliffin in September. If you are interested in one of these events, you can use the dates mentioned as a guide when planning your trip.

Nature adds a seasonal highlight too: large numbers of eider ducks come to Pollan Bay at the end of summer. The experiences on offer therefore vary according to your interests and the time of your trip—from walking routes and watersports to events, birdwatching and historic traces.

Discover more places

If you would like to expand your search for suitable holiday destinations, here are some more places to explore: Rossnowlagh, Annagry, Ballintra, Fort Stewart, Fintragh, Dunlewey, Carrickart and Knockfola.

For the broader travel overview: County Donegal.