This indented peninsula, measuring roughly 700 metres north to south and varying between 50 to 220 metres east to west, rises dramatically from the ocean and contains one of Ireland's most intriguing collections of ancient defensive structures and settlement remains. The area's natural defences are formidable; steep cliffs surround most of the peninsula, whilst narrow isthmuses create natural bottlenecks that ancient inhabitants cleverly incorporated into their fortifications.

The peninsula's defensive features are particularly impressive, with multiple layers of earthworks suggesting repeated phases of occupation and fortification. A narrow 40-metre-wide isthmus at the southern section still shows the grass-covered remains of a stone wall, possibly connected to the 'Little Castle' mentioned in the Civil Survey of 1654-56, though no castle structures remain visible today. Further east, a 105-metre-long earthen bank with an accompanying fosse runs from cliff to cliff, whilst the northern isthmus features the site known locally as 'Balor's Fort', an elaborate system of four massive earthen banks with three intervening ditches, complete with a narrowing causeway that funnels from five metres wide on the approach to just two metres at the inner entrance.

Beyond these defences, archaeologists have identified at least twenty hut circles scattered across the sheltered, south-facing slope, along with various stone enclosures, possible hearth sites, and even a rock-cut well. These circular and oval structures, typically about 10 metres across with substantial earthen and stone banks up to three metres wide, appear to have been built directly on the island's rocky surface before the development of turf cover. The easternmost section of the peninsula, accessed only by crossing another rock-cut fosse, contains further stone enclosures in extraordinarily exposed positions. Whilst local tradition offers no explanation for these structures' purpose, and some are fancifully named after mythological figures like Diarmuid and Grania, the sheer concentration and variety of archaeological features suggest this was once a significant fortified settlement, taking full advantage of Tory Island's natural defences and strategic position seven miles off the Donegal coast.