Inishtrahull Pier

This beautiful island, once home to a thriving fishing population, has two high ends on which are situated a current and an historic lighthouse, and a low, fertile plateau that links them.

It lies 10km north-east of Malin Head and is your last stop if you are sailing the 1,000-plus kilometres to Iceland, if you are so inclined. Inis Trá Tholl translates as the island of the hollow beach and flanked by those two pinnacles, east and west, it is an exact topographical description.

Strictly speaking, but we don’t need to be strict - this is an amicable column, the most northerly point is a further kilometre away at the Tor Beg rocks. These inhospitable crags were once the target for derring-do currach locals who raced there and back for sport.