Fair Head and Lough Doo

From the car park at the end of Fairhead Road, a track leads north past Lough Doo to the clifftop. The path runs out to Fair Head, which rises about 180 m (600 feet) above the sea and is the closest part of the mainland to Rathlin Island, then returns west along the top and back down by the track.

It is 4.6 km round with 231 m of ascent; allow about 1¾ hours. The grade is Moderate: a clear path and tracks, rough and wet in places, with a steady climb to about 190 m. It is a short walk but not an easy one: Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council describes the area as steep and slippery and grades its Fairhead and Murlough Bay walks as difficult.

The path runs near the cliff edge: keep well back in wind or poor visibility, and keep children and dogs close. Dogs are not allowed, says the council's leaflet. Fair Head is a rock-climbing area and wild goats roam the rocks below the cliff top. The Grey Man's Path, the steep gully path down the cliffs, is not part of this line.

The land belongs to the National Trust and private landowners. The car park at the end of Fairhead Road is shown in OpenStreetMap with a private operator and an honesty box; the council gives no charge.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.