Days Out NI
Coastal walk Cloughey

Cloughey to Burr Point

A free beach-and-dunes walk to the most easterly point of the whole island of Ireland.

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Open accessWalk it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
ClougheyCoastal walk
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5 hoursHow long
2 miles returnDistance
FreeCost
All agesBest for
On leadsDogs

Cloughey to Burr Point — A free beach-and-dunes walk to the most easterly point of the whole island of Ireland.

  • Distance: Roughly 2 miles return along the beach and shore; check how far you go.
  • How long: About 1 to 1.5 hours, longer with beach time.
  • Terrain: Firm sand, a dune boardwalk, a short lane and rocky shore.
  • Dogs: Welcome; keep on a lead near nesting terns on Burial Island and any livestock.
  • With kids: No clifftop drops on the beach, but the rocky shore is uneven and tides cover the sand, so keep children close and check tide times.
  • Parking: Free car park at Cloughey beach; second free car park at Ballyhalbert harbour for the point itself.
Plan your visit

An easy walk to the edge of Ireland

Start at Cloughey beach, where firm white sand runs for about a mile and a half. A boardwalk carries you through the dunes so you do not trample the protected flora of the Warren. From there you can follow the shore north toward Ballyhalbert, roughly two miles there and back depending where you turn around. Burr Point itself is best reached on foot from Ballyhalbert harbour car park, as the lane to the point is residents only with nowhere to turn. The reward is the big steel E sculpture, the disused coastguard lookout on the hill above, and Burial Island just offshore. It is mostly flat, but the rocky ground near the point is uneven underfoot.

Free Free car park Beach and dunes Most easterly point of Ireland Rock pools Mostly flat and easy
Good to know before you go:

The Ards Peninsula coast hosts seasonal guided walks, ranger and wildlife events and village festivals through the year. Check ahead for what is on around Cloughey, Ballyhalbert and the wider peninsula before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Good shoes or bootsShore paths can be rocky, uneven and a little muddy after rain.
  • 🧥A coat or windproofThe coast is breezy — a fresh sea wind is half the fun of it.
  • 💧Water and a snackThere is rarely a shop right on the path, so pack a little something.
  • 🔭Binoculars or a cameraFor the seabirds, the seals and the big views across the water.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free
Parking
Free car park at Cloughey beach; second free car park at Ballyhalbert harbour for the point itself
Distance
Roughly 2 miles return along the beach and shore; check how far you go
How long to allow
About 1 to 1.5 hours, longer with beach time
Difficulty
Easy and mostly flat, with some uneven rocky ground near the point
Terrain
Firm sand, a dune boardwalk, a short lane and rocky shore
Safety with kids
No clifftop drops on the beach, but the rocky shore is uneven and tides cover the sand, so keep children close and check tide times
Dogs
Welcome; keep on a lead near nesting terns on Burial Island and any livestock
Buggy-friendly
Not really; soft sand and rocky shore are hard going for buggies
Toilets / food nearby
Toilets at the far end of the Cloughey car park; playground and a chip shop in the village
Address
Cloughey beach car park, Cloughey, Co. Down; Burr Point reached from Ballyhalbert Harbour car park, Ballyhalbert, BT22
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How far is the walk?
Roughly 2 miles return along the beach and shore; check how far you go
How long should I allow?
About 1 to 1.5 hours, longer with beach time
Can I bring the dog?
Welcome; keep on a lead near nesting terns on Burial Island and any livestock
Is it buggy-friendly?
Not really; soft sand and rocky shore are hard going for buggies
Getting there

Cloughey to Burr Point is at Cloughey beach car park, Cloughey, Co. Down; Burr Point reached from Ballyhalbert Harbour car park, Ballyhalbert, BT22. Free car park at Cloughey beach; second free car park at Ballyhalbert harbour for the point itself. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around ClougheySee what else is close by More coastal walks across NIBeaches, cliffs, harbours and headlands
The story

About this stretch of coast

Burr Point, two kilometres south of Ballyhalbert, is the most easterly point of mainland Northern Ireland and of the island of Ireland. In 2012 local artist Ned Jackson Smyth created a 2.5-metre steel sculpture of the letter E here, symbolising East and the art of navigation; it was restored in 2022.

Just offshore lies Burial Island, a rocky islet believed to have been a Viking burial site and now a seasonal nesting place for terns. Norse history runs through this coast: nearby Strangford takes its name from the Old Norse for strong, after the powerful tides.

Above the point stands a disused coastguard lookout, a remnant of a station established in 1863 that carried out sea rescues along this exposed shore through the nineteenth century. Cloughey's dunes, the Warren, are a Designated Area of Special Scientific Interest protected for their plant and animal life.