The town
Milford (Irish: Baile na nGallóglach, ‘town of the gallowglasses’) lies near the southern end of Mulroy Bay in north-west County Donegal. The gallowglasses were the heavily armed Gaelic-Norse mercenaries who fought for the northern chieftains, and their name still sits on the town and on its one real ruin. Milford itself came much later: it was laid out in the 18th century by the Clement family and named for a mill on Maggie’s Burn.
It works better as a base than a destination. The town has shops, pubs and local services, and the Gallowglass Community Centre opened in September 2023. None of that is the reason to turn off the main road. What runs around the bay is.
The Mulroy Drive
Go Visit Donegal lists the walking and cycling routes of the Mulroy Drive area, a coastal loop linking Kerrykeel, Milford and Fanad Head. Stick to the published routes and designated places to stop, and leave entrances clear. Keep off private shores and tidal approaches. Take it slowly; the stopping is the point, not the driving.
Moross Castle
Moross Castle is the oldest thing here, and it ties straight back to the town’s name: it was built in 1532 by Turlogh Mac Suibhne, whose MacSweeney family were gallowglasses themselves. The castle is a tower house set on a rocky island. Only the south-west corner still stands, two storeys of it, bound with a coarse mortar mixed from sea sand. Read the Moross Castle page for current access advice before planning a visit, and keep clear of tidal approaches.
Walking and the water
Milford has a signed Slí na Sláinte walking route in the town, which starts at the Diamond at the top of the town, drops down Main Street and crosses Maggie’s Burn. The sheltered inlets of Mulroy Bay suit kayaking, and the tidal flats are good for birdwatching, particularly on the wader and seabird migrations. Check with any operator before booking a guided trip.
Beaches nearby
Four beaches are within an easy drive: Portsalon and Rathmullan on the Fanad peninsula, and Downings and Tramore to the west.
Getting there and staying
Milford is a short drive from Letterkenny, the county’s biggest town. A car is the easiest way to explore the peninsula, and the TFI journey planner shows current services to Milford. The town has a scattering of family-run B&Bs and guesthouses; for hotels you may need to look to Letterkenny. Book ahead for July, when the whole coast is busy.
For a separate visit on the Fanad Peninsula, check Fanad Head Lighthouse for current tour arrangements.