Donegal
A silent landscape of empty valleys, purple mountains, rushing streams and towering sea cliffs
Donegal, situated in the north west of Ireland, is an enchanting place filled with atmospheric towns and villages, long stretches of coastline, sea cliffs and craggy countryside that boasts a uniquely desolate beauty and vibrant cultural heritage rich in tradition.
The haunting drama of the Donegal landscape includes the enchanting Glenveagh National Park and Castle, the wild and rugged Aranmore Island, Termon House dating back the 1770s and the ice formed Malin Head. The county also contains seven Blue Flag beaches starting in Bundoran with the magnificent Tullan Strand, a popular centre for surfing, to Rossnowlaugh, a very popular beach for families.
Donegal is a lively county town, steeped in the tradition of weaving and the making of tweeds, demonstrated at the Donegal Craft Village. Southwest across desolate bogland lies Lough Derg with its tiny Station Island, focal point for a major act of pilgrimage, St Patrick’s Purgatory. Today, pilgrims come for “time”; time to pray, time to reflect, time for themselves and time away from their hectic schedule. The same is true of all visitors to Donegal, for the relaxed way of life in Ireland’s North West is infectious and soothes the stresses of everyday life.
To the west along the craggy coastline lies the fishing port of Killybegs, and then another traditional music and tweed centre at Kilcar, before passing over the steep Glengash Pass towards Slieve League whose sheer cliffs are the highest marine cliffs in Europe. Rural Glencolmbkille presents traditional life over the centuries at the Folk Village Museum, though the popular village of Ardara sees holidaymakers enjoy Guinness, tweeds, Aran sweaters, salmon flies for the Owena and Owentocker rivers, and tapping their toes to fiddlers.
Dungloe is a raggedly charming peninsula of islands, trout lakes and inlets and birthplace of Ireland’s singing legend, Daniel O’Donnell, and 3 miles offshore is Aranmore Island with its dry-stone walls, excellent lake and shore fishing, and the charming atmosphere of the island’s traditional six Irish pubs.
To the east of the traditional Irish speaking town of Gweedore lies Donegal’s highest mountain, Errigal and the 10,000 acres of Glenveagh National Park, a perfect place for walking, cycling and horse riding.
The prosperous county town of Letterkenny on the River Swilly has a prominent Gothic cathedral built in local stone, and Colmcille Heritage Centre retells the story of the saint’s travels. The Celtic ritual site of the 64 stone Beltany Stone Circle lies to the north west, as does the golfer’s haven of Rosapenna around Mullroy Bay, and to the north east lie’s Malin Head on the Inishowen peninsula, Ireland’s most northerly point.
If you long to get away from it all, then Donegal is the perfect spot, as Donegal forces you to sit back, slow down and admire the view. And if you want to opt for long rambling walks over rugged terrain, laze around on a scenic beach, or explore an ancient site, this spectacular county in Ireland’s North West corner is hard to beat.
There are scheduled air services to Donegal from Dublin and Glasgow.
Useful linkswww.discoverireland.ie
Useful information
Donegal Town Discover Ireland Centre
The Quay
Donegal Town
Donegal
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 74 9721148
Email: donegal@failteireland.ie
Donegal Airport
For Donegal Airport Information click here