Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is a famous coastal route that stretches the entire length of the island’s western shore. Running 1,600 miles through bays, inlets, and coves, the Wild Atlantic Way offers up some of the most stunning scenery in all of Europe. The northern reaches of this iconic route, in County Donegal, contains some truly breathtaking coastal imagery, including a scenic bay known rather eerily as ‘Murder Hole Beach.’
Located on the Rosguill Peninsula in the northern end of Donegal, Murder Hole Beach has the official name of Boyeeghter Bay. It’s a stunning place of rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, and dramatic tides. It’s also one of the most dangerous places to swim, owing to the strong rip currents in the water, and difficult coastal terrain. The bay got its nickname, Murder Hole Beach, because of a widely circulated story in the 19th century that a woman fell to her death off the craggy cliffs.
While not customarily listed on an Ireland travel itinerary, those with an explorer’s spirit will enjoy the adventure that comes with finding this beach. When we think of the term ‘hidden gem’ we often think of underappreciated places that become incredibly popular locations over time. Despite its ominous name, Murder Hole Beach is a true treasure that, if you’re up for a little adventure, could be one of the most beautiful places you ever visit.
How to get to Murder Hole Beach
To get to Murder Hole Beach from The Republic of Ireland, one option is to fly into Dublin International Airport. From there it’s a near 4-hour drive northwest to Rosguill Peninsula where Murder Cove Beach is. Another, likely easier, choice would be to fly into Belfast International Airport in Northern Ireland. From there, the drive to Boyeeghter Bay is only about 2.5 hours. And that’s just the beginning of the adventure.
Owing to its remoteness, it’s not possible to drive straight to Murder Hole Beach. You have to park at one of two locations and then hike to the bay. The newest path created in 2022 is steep and made of loosely packed gravel that takes roughly 25 minutes to walk. You can access this path from a carpark in the town of Melmore, where you will need to pay a €5 fee for parking.
The classic path to Murder Hole Beach is from a starting point at Tra Na Rossan Beach. There is a marked trail that takes you along the edge of the coast. While not as steep as the path from Melmore, this trail from Tra Na Rossan is much longer, often taking 40 minutes to an hour’s worth of hiking to complete. Decent fitness is required to make these trips possible. Unfortunately, neither path is wheelchair or mobility accessible, and no dogs are allowed due to local farm livestock.
The unsurpassed beauty of Boyeegther Bay
