Ginny Vail

We found the Top 5 things to do in Donegal, Ireland including a great Castle, a cruise on Donegal Bay, and the cliffs of Slieve League. There are so many things to do in Ireland, it is important to plan out and focus on a region. For this trip we headed straight to the west coast and made our way from south to north along the Wild Atlantic Way. On our first stop we took a boat to amazing Skellig Michael and we ended in the north where we found the top 5 things to do in Donegal. Donegal is next door to Northern Ireland where there are more not-to-be-missed sights. Two of our favorites are the Hexagonal Stone’s of the Giant’s Causeway and the Titanic Experience in Belfast. The Giant's Causeway is also a World Heritage site; the Titanic Experience really brings the tragic yet remarkable story to life. Finding the Best Things to Do in Donegal County. It takes a bit of effort to get to the cliffs of Slieve League, but they are truly worth it. Where is Donegal? Donegal County is the northernmost part of the Republic of Ireland. Bounded on its north and west sides by the North Atlantic Ocean, it’s rugged, remote, sparsely populated, pristine, and beautiful. It’s little wonder that National Geographic Traveler declared it the #1 coolest place to visit in 2017 . The county is also the northernmost section of Ireland’s new tourism route called the Wild Atlantic Way. When it officially launched in 2014, Ireland’s Minister of Tourism called the Wild Atlantic Way the “journey of a lifetime.” It winds for 2,600 km along Ireland’s Atlantic Coast from Kinsale in County Cork to the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal. We rented a car and drove a good portion of the Wild Atlantic Way, what fun! Cliffs, Beaches, and More. The roads in Donegal County are narrow and winding; it takes time to get around, but it’s worth the effort. There are remote beaches, romantic lighthouses, colossal cliffs, hiking trails, and, for us animal-loving photographers, lots of great sheep shots. Slieve League (Sliabh Liag) is not-to-be missed. It’s a mountain with 600-meter high cliffs plunging into the wild Atlantic. Signage at the sight claims these are the highest cliffs in Ireland. Unless you’re looking for a hardy hike, don’t park at the first gate you encounter — open the gate and go through. The gate isn’t there to keep people out; it’s there to keep the sheep in. A second parking lot is located further up the road and much closer to the cliffs. This remarkable dolmen (megalithic tomb) sits behind St. Conal’s Church in the Townland of Kilclooney More. While driving around Donegal County, we visited beautiful crescent beaches, stopped by Assaranca Waterfall, and found a stunning dolmen in a sheep pasture behind St. Conal's Church in the Townland of Kilclooney More. No trip to Ireland is complete without a few Sheep Shots — like this mammoth woolly at Slieve League. A Must-See in Ireland — Donegal Town. Donegal Town is at the southern end of Donegal County where the River Eske flows into Donegal Bay. It’s a small town (about 2,400 residents), but there is ample lodging, good restaurants, and plenty of friendly pubs. It’s perfect for day-tripping to other parts of the county, and it has a full day’s worth of sights including the Donegal Bay Waterbus, Castle, Friary, and Bank Walk. A calm early morning view of Donegal Harbour. The Waterbus tour on Donegal Bay is both interesting and entertaining. Don't Miss the Donegal Waterbus. The 75-minute boat tour of Donegal Bay is the most popular sightseeing opportunity in Donegal Town. The informative commentary points out features around the bay, provides historical insights, and is laced with Irish humor and spirited song. Donegal Harbour is home to a colony of Harbour seals, and, if the tide is right, you’ll see groups of them lounging on the sandbars around Seal Island. Harbour seals watching us as we cruise by on the Donegal Bay Waterbus. The Dún Na nGall is a comfortable, 160-passenger boat which provides a smooth ride on the bay and is equipped with a full bar and restrooms. There are 2-3 tours a day, but the schedule changes with the tide. Visit the Donegal Bay Waterbus website or visit their office on Quay Street for the schedule, tickets, and more information. Take a Castle tour or wander through on your own. One of Ireland's Top Attractions — Donegal Castle. Take time to tour the fully restored Donegal Castle located in the center of town on the bank of the Eske River. It was built in the 15th century by the chieftain of the O’Donnell clan, Red Hugh I. Guided tours are offered hourly, or you can wander through the castle on your own. The Friary ruin and Celtic crosses are a popular photo op. Donegal Friary. According to the Friary’s signage, “Donegal Friary was founded for the Franciscan Friars in 1474 by the first Red Hugh O’Donnell and his wife.” It was repeatedly attacked and taken over by the English. The Friary’s claim to fame is that Monks, who fled the Friary, are credited with compiling the ancient annals of Ireland into the Annals of the Four Masters — a major source of Irish history. The Friary is now a ruin enmeshed in a cemetery, but it’s certainly worth wandering through and offers some nice photo opportunities — especially of Celtic crosses. The Bank Walk is a 1.6 km path along the River Eske and the harbour. Take the Bank Walk. The Bank Walk is a 1.6 km trail that begins at the River Eske Bridge and follows along the riverbank and the edge of Donegal Bay. There are views of the harbour and the Friary, benches to sit and commune with nature, birdhouses in the trees, and even a whimsical Post Box for Fairies. It’s an easy, pleasant walk. Practical Information for Your Visit to Donegal. Getting to and Around Donegal. Without a car, there’s no easy, convenient way to travel around Donegal County and visit sights like Slieve League. There’s an airport about an hour north of Donegal Town with flights from Dublin, but typically visitors fly into Belfast or Dublin, rent a car and drive. Donegal Town is 177 km from Belfast and 225 km from Dublin. Map of Donegal Highlights. Click the map to open in Google Maps. Places to Stay. You won't go wrong with the Abbey Hotel right smack in the center of Donegal Town. This beautiful stone faced hotel has rooms with bay views and an excellent restaurant. Rooms are very comfortable and offer good value for the price. Check out the Abbey Hotel in Donegal! There are plenty of places to stay, though, and you can compare Donegal hotel prices here. Conclusion. As often happens when traveling, we ran out of time before running out of things to see, especially according the Best Ireland Itinerary. With one more day, we would have gone to Glenveagh National Park and castle, and Mount Errigal. Now we have a good reason to come back. Pin Discovering Donegal for later!

Ginny Vail

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