Grianán of Aileach

Grianán of Aileach crowns a hilltop on the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal, commanding wide views over Lough Swilly, Lough Foyle and the surrounding countryside. The great circular stone ringfort, with its thick drystone walls and internal terraces, is one of the most striking early monuments in the north-west of Ireland.

The site is associated with the ruling dynasties of early medieval Donegal and was restored in the nineteenth century, giving it the complete circular form seen today. It is freely accessible, exposed to the weather, and best approached with sturdy footwear.