The Northern End Of Ireland Boasts A Breathtaking Bay Eerily Known As 'Murder Hole Beach'

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. 

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.

While swimmers might be dismayed that they cannot actually swim in the icy northern Atlantic waters of Murder Hole Beach, there are plenty of other reasons to add this place to your Irish travel plans. For one, it is stunningly beautiful. From the crest of the big hills on the Melmore or Tra Na Rossan paths, you can get an aerial view of the golden sands, crystalline water, and surrounding verdant hills that will remind you why Ireland is called the Emerald Isle.

Now, you could just call the trip over at this point. Set up a nice picnic and enjoy the views. For those looking to explore the actual beach, you will need to watch out for the tides. Low tide is the best time to be on the sand, because most of the beach is exposed.

It's also the only time you'll be able to find Murder Hole. This is a secret beach cave only accessible during low tide. It's hidden among the cliffs located at the back If you manage to find it, you will be in for a stunning view of the sand flanked by the walls of the cave. Yet another reason why Ireland is one of those countries that, though small, packs big views and plenty of surprises.