I am traveling to County Donegal and was hoping to hear from someone who has traveled there and get their impressions. I am hoping to get suggestions as to what to see and comparisons to other, more famous counties such as Galway.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
468 posts
Absolutely loved Donegal. It had a landscape, solitude and wild character that was stunning. It was my favorite part of the Dublin/Northern Ireland trip that we did in 2015. We actually used Derry as our base, rented a car and drove around in Donegal. Did a long walk in Glenveagh National Park, a short hike in the Bloody Foreland cliffs area (Horn Head), Dunfanaghy (where we bought sweaters), Killahoey Beach, and checked out The Mill as a place to stay in the future but it wasn't open for the season yet. We had a really nice tour of the grounds with the owners though.
Posted by
Chattanooga, TN USA
589 posts
County Donegal is a great choice! We based for a week in a little village between Donegal town and Killybegs. You will want to see Slieve League cliffs, which we thought more impressive than Moher. A little farther up the coast is the folk village at Glencolmcille. A drive or hike to An Port will leave you feeling like you’re at the edge of the world. Head toward Poison Glen and track down Dunlewy Chapel, then take in the views of Mount Errigal and Glengesh Pass. Lots to see and do In Glenveagh Park. You won’t run out of things to do!
Posted by
30 posts
County Donegal is awesome. I was there last September and am going back again this September. LOVED this area. I particularly liked the fact that it's a little more off the beaten path and as a result you don't run into as many huge tour buses with loads of tourists wearing name tags. Friends have a house in Annagry and we use their house as a base. This year when we fly into Shannon (spending a week in Scotland first) we will get the rental car and drive up to Westport to stay there for 3 nights (did the same last year) and then make our way up to County Donegal, Annagry.
Glenveigh National Park is a must. The castle was closed for renovations last year while I was there, but has since re-opened. Lovely gardens and grounds and hiking to be had there. https://www.nationalparks.ie/glenveagh/things-to-do/
After visiting Glenveigh, to end the day, stop at the delicious and beautiful Croithli Distillery for a tour and tasting of Irish whiskey. Whiskey spelled the right way!!!
Slieve League, another must. Less crowded and better IMO than Cliffs of Moher. If you arrive late in the day, and the bus had stopped running, you can still pay your admission fee and drive up to the parking lot where the bus would have taken you. Just be sure to close the gates behind you to keep the sheep safe and where they are supposed to stay!
As part of your Slieve League day-Glencolmcille- is in area where Slieve League is located. Outside of Killybegs, just north on the R263. There is a Folk Village Museum here. Glenfolkvillage.com
Once you cross over the bridge at the riverside village of Carrick you have reached the parish of Glencolmcille. From Carrick to Glencolmcille the scenery begins to take on a wilder aspect, giving way to endless acres of soggy, black boglands crossed over with soft green and red heather-covered mountains.
Drive carefully as you traverse the bog as sheep may be resting on the road. Eventually the road drops into Cashel, the village in the middle of the Glen Valley which is referred to as Glencolmcille or simply as "Glen" by the locals. Explore Cashel on foot: walk to the beach (opposite the Folk Village Museum) or walk a circle around 'the block', passing the wonderful Protestant Church. Beyond Cashel the road continues to the Folk Village with incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and Glen Head, concluding at the Silver Strand beach./Malin Beg.
Malin Head (north of Annagry), region known as Inishowen (weather permitting as you are driving along coast and bluffs, no point in doing so if lousy weather).
Drive to Rathmullan and get car ferry to Buncrana https://rathmullan.net/swilly-ferry-2022/#tab-id-2
North of Buncrana is the Doagh Famine Village. https://www.doaghfaminevillage.com/
Open 10 to 5 pm, guided tours, last one at 4 pm- EXCELLENT!!!!
I hated Galway. Maybe because we were only passing throug and only stopped for dinner. The traffic was awful and there were more Americans there than Irish. Tons of tour buses and crowds. Not my cuppa.
Also loved Ennis and The Burren. Easy drive over to Doolin from Ennis and can take ferry out to Aran Islands and see Cliffs of Moher from boat.
Have a lovely time. If you can't tell already, I can't wait to go again.