There seems to be a number of routes that could be driven between Athlone and Donegal. Anyone have any suggestion as to which may provide the most interest? Castles, ruins, towns worth making a stop at, etc. Thanks.
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London, United Kingdom
135 posts
Hello
One fairly direct route to consider is Athlone>N61>Roscommon>N61>Boyle>N4>Sligo>N15>Ballyshon then Donegal (Town).
None of the towns listed are huge, but all have points of interest to stop in or near. For instance:
If you turn right off the N61 close to Tulsk (between Roscommon and Boyle) and do a 5 mile divert E on the N5 to Strokestown, you will be able to see the eerily magnificent, sad and historic Strokestown House & Park, which has the Irish National Famine Museum. In fact the House itself was owned by one of the notorious landlords. Well worth an hour or so.
Then in Boyle, there is Boyle Abbey - a monastic ruin well worth a 30 minute stop. And a mile or two N out of Boyle on the N4 is the magnificent 'Gaelic Chieftain' life-size mounted statue, with great views over Lough Key. The statue marks the rough site of the Battle of the Curlews. There is a lay-by next to the statue.
There are many other sights of various kinds either in all the towns you pass through, or just off them. Do some further research and you will unearth many.