Mykidstime Family Guide to

Welcome to the Mykidstime Guide to Donegal. We have put together some suggestions to make your family’s visit to Donegal as enjoyable as possible. As parents ourselves, we are delighted to share with you some of the best family friendly spots round our favourite towns in the Northwest of ! The Mykidstime Team

Top Ten Things to do in Donegal

1. Visit National Park, Ireland’s largest national park and home to and its fine gardens. 2. Explore the Bay off Donegal Town by taking a Waterbus Tour. 3. Go to the beach, trouble is.....which one!! With a coastline of 772 miles, we are blessed with many beautiful beaches. 4. Drive the “ 100 Scenic Drive” or “ Scenic Drive”; just don’t forget to take your camera. 5. Take a surf lesson! 6. Tour , in the heart of the town. 7. Catch the view from Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Europe, you can walk or drive to the viewing point, on a good day you can see Mayo! Take a boat tour to see them from a different perspective. 8. “Those boots are made for walking” - Pack a picnic and head off on one of the many stunning trails that take in the natural beauty of the region. 9. Say hello to “Bád Eddie” (Eddie’s Boat) the iconic shipwreck has been situated on Magherclogher beach since the early 70’s where it had run ashore due to rough seas. 10. Not enough to see on the mainland? Take a trip by ferry to on the local islands, hear the corncrake and be greeted by the King of Tory!

Indoor Things to Do in Donegal

• Waterworld, Aqua Adventure Playground, in , is home to a number of flumes and water slides, the ”Whizzer” being the fastest waterslide in Ireland.

• Take a walk with the butterflies, which are in free flight, in Tropical World, . See the reptiles and tortoises and marvel at the array of species of birds.

• Everyone loves a movie! Theatres in , Letterkenny, and Bundoran or if you are lucky enough to catch the mobile cinema “Cinemobile” when it comes to town!

• There’s no shortage of indoor play-centres, with Dizzy’s Den in Bundoran, Wain’s World in Buncrana, Jungle King and Arena7 in Letterkenny, @Jacks in agus An Club Beag in , to name a few.

• Letterkenny Library has a wonderful children’s book section with toys and soft seats, not to mention it’s FREE!

• Ever played golf indoors? You can in Newtowncunningham, just outside Letterkenny! There’s an indoor 18 hole, mini golf-course, as well as an archery range! No chance of getting rained off the course!

• Take in some local history by visiting a museum. The county museum in Letterkenny is open all year round (Free), experience the history of fishing and carpet making in or be dazzled by the stars and light show at the Inishowen Maritime Museum & Planetarium.

Outdoor Things to Do

• Surf! If you are close to a beach you will be close to a centre where you can get a lesson! • Pack a picnic and spend the day at Lurgybrack Open Farm, just outside Letterkenny. • “Have all the fun of the fair” at Bundoran Adventure Park, located right on the seafront. • Visit Grianan Aileach, said to have been constructed in 1700BC, on the summit of Grianan Hill, Burt. Learn of the many folktales and legends associated with the ancient site. • Doagh Famine Village will take you back in time, with its original thatched dwellings, telling the story of life there, from famine time until recent years. • There are a number of excellent playgrounds throughout the county. – see our favourites, listed below • Take the Donegal Waterbus Tour. • Combine fun and exercise at Outdoor Education Centre, situated on the shores of Lake Gartan.

Where to Stay

Please mention Mykidstime when Booking Rockhill Caravan & Cabin Park Renting at Rockhill Park will get you and your , Letterkenny. family a range of organised Summer Activities, Tel: + 353 (0)74 91 500 12 Adventure Playground, use of indoor play for Fax: + 353 (0)74 91 50000 0-4’s, arts and craft classes for all, outdoor Email: [email protected] synthetic tennis court & football pitch, court Web: www.rockhill.ie games, watersports, climbing wall, bungee trampolines. Open all year round.

Inishowen Gateway Hotel A great base to explore Inishowen. Three star, Buncrana, Inishowen family friendly hotel. Kids will love Planet Active, a Tel: + 353 (0)74 963 1144 dedicated kid’s zone, where every child enjoys a Fax: + 353 (0)74 936 2278 world of fun and play. The Seagrass Spa and the leisure club, complete with modern fitness suite Email: [email protected] and swimming pool, should keep grown ups busy Web: http://www.inishowengateway.com/ too.

Jacksons Hotel Award winning, 4 star, pet friendly, and family Ballybofey friendly. Extensive leisure facilities, Bar, Tel: +353 (0)91 381200 restaurants, function rooms, Kool Kids summer Fax: +353 (0)91 753187 camps, extensive free parking Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.jacksons-hotel.ie

Lough Eske Castle & Solis Hotel & Spa. Complete luxury, just outside Donegal Town. Donegal Town, The only Irish hotel to claim a World Luxury Tel: +353 (0)74 97 25100 Hotel award and has won the Luxury Country Fax: +353 (0)74 97 23762 Hotel title two years in a row. Lough Eske Email: Castle has been named No.1 Hotel in Ireland [email protected] by MyGuideIreland Web: www.solishotels.com/lougheskecastle

Where to Eat

Eating out with kids in Donegal has become an easier and more pleasurable experience as more pubs, cafes and restaurants are becoming child friendly. There's great variety too: whether it's a snack in a café, a pub lunch, or you prefer to try one of the many different types of food that restaurants offer, there will be something to suit your needs.

• The Clock Tower, Fintrabay, Killybegs • La Belle Donna, 2 Bridge Street, Donegal Town • Blueberry Tea Room, Donegal Town • Yellow Pepper, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny • Pat’s on the Square, The Square, Letterkenny • The Silver Tassie Hotel, Letterkenny • Harry’s Bar & Restaurant, Bridgend, Inishowen.

Playgrounds

• Ballymacool Park, Ballymacool, Letterkenny • Rathmullen, on the Shorefront • , Pollan Beach • Bundoran, beside Waterworld

Other Suggestions

• Take a walk along the banks of the river Finn at Drumboe Woods, in Ballybofey. Start at Jackson’s Hotel and take the foot-bridge to the other side. • Go horse-riding on the beach in . • Paint your own pottery at Pottery. • Explore the caves at Maghera beach, near Ardara. • Visit www.mykidstime.ie for lots more suggestions for things to do while you are in Donegal

Shopping

• Mc Elhinney’s Department Store, Ballybofey. • The Craft Village, Donegal Town. • Letterkenny Shopping Centre, Indoor- Tesco, Penneys, Benetton etc. • Forte Shopping Centre, Letterkenny. Homebase, Dunnes, M&S, NewLook, River Island.