Brow Head Cork: Visitor Guide With Map

Brow Head is hands-down the ‘wildest’ place that I’ve ever visited in Ireland.

It is, despite what many believe, the true southernmost point of Ireland’s mainland, sitting at 51.43°N further south than Mizen Head.

Although Brow Head was catapulted to fame when a scene from Star Wars was filmed here a few years back, this place is (thankfully!) virtually empty each time I come up for a ramble.

Visiting Brow Head in Cork

A visit to this place is arguably one of the best things to do in West Cork. The fact that you’re likely to have the whole place to yourself is the icing on the cake (more on this in a moment).

1. Location

You’ll find Brow Head a stone’s throw from the little village of Crookhaven, at the most southerly point of our little island.

2. Parking

If you don’t fancy walking up the hill in the video below, you can drive up it. You’ll find very limited parking here (enough for 2 – 3 cars max). If you fancy a ramble, park at Galley Cove Beach (just to the left before you reach the hill).

3. Safety

So, a couple of safety/warnings. The first is for those of you driving up the hill – it’s incredibly narrow, so if you meet another car on your way up/down, you may need to reverse the whole way back. If you walk up to the points mentioned below, be careful and don’t get close to the cliff edge!

4. The history

Brow Head’s jagged cliffs were once busy with copper miners in the 19th century, carving into the rock for a living. In 1804, a signal tower was built here, part of a chain of lookouts scanning for French ships during the Napoleonic Wars. Today, their crumbling remains still cling to the headland, a stark contrast to the wild emptiness that now defines the place.

5. The Star Wars connection

Like Skellig Michael and many other locations on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Brow Head has been immortalised in a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars Episode VIII. The Brow Head Star Wars connect all came about when filming at the location kicked off here in 2016. The lads at Lucas Film were so impressed they took out a newspaper ad thanking the people of West Cork for their hospitality!

Things to see and do at Brow Head in West Cork

If you fancy having a nosey around at Brow Head, you’re in for a treat – there’s plenty to see and do here, once you know what to look for.

Below, you’ll find everything from views and ruins to the signal town, more views and some handy info.

1. The buzz of going up and down the hill

I get that I probably sound like I’m 10, but there’s a great buzz when you make your way up and down the hill at Brow Head.

On the way up, you’re not really looking at the views – you’re just staring ahead, praying that a car doesn’t come over the brow of the hill, forcing you to reverse the whole way back.

On the way back down Brow Head, you’ve an absolutely magnificent view that opens up in-front of you. This is all the more impressive on a stormy day.

2. The signal station

You’ll find a signal tower that dates back to 1804 just up from the parking area. It was one of many towers built by in Ireland at the time (during British Rule) as a way of spotting an incoming French invasion.

If you reach this point on a clear day, you’ll be treated to mighty views of the surrounding area, with everything from Fastnet Lighthouse to Barleycove Beach visible in the distance.

3. The Miner’s Houses

As was the case with a number of parts of Cork (e.g. Allihies), Brow Head was used for copper mining in the 19th century. The remains of the mines and some of the buildings that the workers lived in can still be seen to this day.

4. The views

From the moment you reach any bit of elevation on the hill, you’ll be treated to glorious views, regardless of which way you look. To the west, there’s Mizen and Barleycove, while to the east, there’s the islands of Cape Clear and Sherkin.

Places to visit nearby

One of the beauties of this place is that it’s a short spin away from a clatter of other attractions, both man-made and natural.

• Barleycove Beach (10-minute drive): One of the finest beaches in Cork, was formed as a result of a tsunami hitting Lisbon many years ago
• Mizen Head (15-minute drive): One of the most popular things to do in Cork. You can see the signal station and cross the magnificent Mizen Bridge
• Towns and villages: Crookhaven (15-minute drive), Schull (28-minute drive), Skibbereen (50-minute drive) and Baltimore (1 hour drive) are a short spin away