St John's Point Lighthouse

St John's Point marks the eastern jaw of Dundrum Bay, and its lighthouse, a striking tower banded in black and yellow and the tallest onshore light in Ireland, is a superb and surprisingly uncrowded subject. A single-track road runs out through farmland from Killough and Rossglass to the point, ending near the lighthouse keepers' cottages, now holiday lets. Pilots launch from the public road end or the low rocky foreshore and fly the tower against the open Irish Sea, with the Mournes filling the western sky and the Isle of Man sometimes visible far to the east. It is a genuinely quiet spot midweek, with only dog walkers and anglers about, which makes it easy to keep clear separations. The surrounding land is working farmland, so take off from the road or shore rather than tramping through fields or over stock. Wind off the sea is the main concern on this exposed peninsula, and the rocks make for an unforgiving emergency landing, so keep a healthy margin. Avoid overflying the lighthouse itself and any birds nesting on the shore rocks. Low sun rakes the banded tower beautifully in early morning, throwing its shadow across the turf and rock.