Before heading to County Cork I was under the impression that when visiting Mizen Head we would be stepping onto the most southern and most western point in the whole of Ireland. I even publicly declared this to be fact. Well, I was wrong. It turns out Mizen Head is neither of the above.


I'm not sure where the part about it being the most western point came from. This is what was mistakenly claimed in the information pack we got our hands on before departure, but a simple look at a map shows this is obviously not the case. 


The part about it being the most southern is a lot more commonly believed. In reality Brow Head, a few minutes down the road, actually reaches 30 feet further south. In the grand scheme of things there's not a lot between the two, so you'd be forgiven for believing this was the southern most point.


The mistaken beliefs have most likely come from times long gone. Once upon a time one of the main transatlantic shipping routes passed very close to these sea cliffs, meaning that for many seafarers Mizen Head was the first, or last, sight of Europe.


While it might be neither the most southern nor the most western point, Mizen Head is undeniably a spectacularly beautiful place. The clear sky provided a great backdrop to the dramatic sea cliffs, with the deep blue ocean and emerald green grass only adding to the mystical appearance.


The majority of the time I do not understand why anyone would want to be a geologist - why would someone dedicate so much time to studying rocks? But in a place like this, where you're surrounded by rocks with a story to tell, it makes perfect sense. I could have spent hours there just taking in all the details of the sea cliffs and imagining how they came to be.


While the visitor centre and information points were unexciting, I would definitely recommend a visit to Mizen Head for the breathtaking scenery alone.

Which is your favourite photo?

PS. If you like the stunning scenery, check out this post on the hills of Donegal.