The natural headland, jutting out towards the sea, has been fortified on its landward side by a drystone wall, effectively cutting it off from the mainland and creating a naturally defended space. This wall, though possibly reconstructed over the years, represents an ancient method of territorial control that took advantage of the landscape’s natural defensive features.

The site’s defences weren’t limited to the landward approach. Along the northern cliff edge, remnants of another stone wall can still be traced, strategically positioned to guard against any attempt to access the promontory from the sea below. This dual defensive system suggests the location held considerable strategic importance, controlling both land and potential maritime approaches to this corner of Donegal’s rugged coastline.

Scattered across the interior are several shapeless stone mounds, silent witnesses to the site’s most historically documented phase. These rubble heaps are believed to be all that remains of Donowen, a 16th century castle belonging to the O’Doherty clan, one of the most powerful Gaelic families in Ulster during the medieval period. The O’Dohertys controlled much of Inishowen and the surrounding territories, and this coastal stronghold would have served as both a defensive position and a symbol of their authority over the local seaways. Today, whilst the castle’s walls have long since collapsed, the site continues to offer visitors a tangible connection to Donegal’s turbulent past, where Gaelic lords once ruled from clifftop fortresses overlooking the wild Atlantic.