Overview
Boyeeghter Bay, often called Murder Hole Beach, is a steep-sided cove on the exposed north-eastern edge of the Rosguill Peninsula. It changes completely with the tide: at low water a wide expanse of sand is exposed, and as the tide comes in the beach splits around a central rock while the Atlantic hammers the eastern cliffs. Offshore lies Rough Island. There are no promenades or cafés. The point of the place is its emptiness and the raw run of the ocean.
It is a place to look at carefully rather than a beach to plan a day around. Access to the cove is across private land, so respect local signs and closed gates, and for a beach with a straightforward public approach go to Downings instead (see below).
The name and local lore
The Irish name is Bá Íochtair, anglicised as Boyeeghter Bay or Boyeeghter Strand, meaning the lower or northern bay – that is the official name; ‘Murder Hole’ is the one everyone uses. Two stories account for it. One tells of a young woman who fell from the cliffs in the 1800s. The other, blunter, points to the rip currents and sudden tidal surges here. Either way, the name is a fair warning.
What to see and do
The hinterland is classic Rosguill: green hills, dry-stone walls, grazing sheep, and long views to Horn Head. Low tide leaves rock pools with crabs, anemones and wrack, and gulls, kittiwakes and the odd razorbill work the headlands. Keep farm entrances clear and leave the fields to livestock.
Practical information
Tides and safety
Stay out of the water. Do not cross the sandbar to Rough Island or enter the sea caves. A falling tide still leaves you exposed to waves and currents, and the return route can disappear as water rises. The surf is heavy and the headlands are rocky, so this is no place to swim or to learn to surf. Check the Irish Coast Guard advice on tides and coastal hazards before any walk along this coast, and choose a lifeguarded beach for swimming.
Parking and facilities
There are no shops or cafés. Parking, access terms and any facilities are set by the local landowners and can change, so respect local signs and closed gates. Bring water and a windproof layer, as it feels brisk even in midsummer.
Nearby
For a beach with a straightforward public approach, go to Downings Beach. The resort village of Downings sits on the peninsula. Inland toward Creeslough stand the ruins of Doe Castle, on a low spit in Sheephaven Bay, and the cliffs of Horn Head near Dunfanaghy give a fine headland drive.