Dunlough Castle (Three Head Castle)

Dunlough Castle, also called Three Castle Head, is a unique set of three crumbling stone towers sitting along a fallen wall at the very western tip of the Mizen Peninsula. The ruins sit all alone on a narrow strip of land between the Dún Lough and a sheer drop into the Atlantic Ocean. It is a photogenic set of stone ruins with its grey weathered towers surrounded by green treeless moorland, black water and the sea somewhere far below. The lough sits right in front of the towers and if you are lucky enough to be here on a calm day it creates a clean reflection of the whole ruin. As you hike in up the hill the the towers and the lake will suddenly line up together which is the ideal spot to pause the hike and start your photography adventure here. Down by the water's edge you can get low and experiment with reflections. If you venture on past the castle to the cliff, the land drops away into a deep sea gorge with a rock stack standing out of the water. Soft overcast light or a bit of drifting mist suits this place much better than hard sun. It will keep the stone moody and the whole scene feeling remote. Low morning or evening light will spread out across the towers if you manage to catch a clear, cloud free window. While you are exploring the ruins be aware that there are fences near the cliff edge, so mind your footing and keep well back from the edge. The trickiest part about this location is getting there. The ruins sit tucked away on the grounds of a working farm at the end of a narrow single lane road. From the small car park it is a rough uphill walk of around twenty five minutes over open, often boggy ground. There is a small per person fee in an honesty box at the edge of the parking lot. Because of the surrounding farm land no dogs are allowed, and drones are not permitted either, so plan on shooting this area from the ground. Right beside the car park is a scenic view looking out over Dunlough Bay that is worth capturing while you are in this area. (Dunlough, County Cork, Ireland)