Donegal & the North West
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Donegal & The North West Photo: Monicami/Shutterstock.com A windswept emerald scenery lined with rugged limestone cliffs—Donegal's breathtaking landscape is filled with thousand-year-old history, the finest of tweed garments, and sublime marine cuisine, accompanied by a creamy Guinness and warm Gaelic hospitality. NickKont/Shutterstock.com Top 5 Glenveagh National Park & ... Ireland's second largest national park offers several walking and cycling tr... Malin Head Malin Head, known locally as Banba’s Crown, is Ireland’s most northerly poin... The Art House ianmitchinson/Shutterstock.com This cosy art gallery has a vast selection of Irish and international contem... The Silver Strand A sheltered horse-shoe shaped beach with B&Bs and a coffee shop nearby, and ... Biddy's O'Barnes Biddy's O'Barnes' origins date back to the 18th century, and it still is one... grafxart/Shutterstock.com Updated 17 April 2019 Destination: Donegal & The North West Publishing date: 2019-04-17 COUNTY DONEGAL TOP 5 Phil Darby/Shutterstock.com gabriel12/Shutterstock.com Sharing the province of Ulster with Northern There’s a lot to keep you busy in Donegal, from Ireland, Donegal has always been considered an photographable spots to adventure parks for the odd-out in the Republic—up here it's dierent, as whole family. local word has it. However, Donegal has had its fair share of the turbulences of Irish history: it Glenveagh National Park & Castle was among the most hardly hit regions of the Ireland's second largest Great Famine in the 1840s, and also suered as national park oers the forefront of the partition of Ireland in 1921. several walking and cycling trails for you to From megalithic landmarks to the long-cherished admire the scenic view traditions of the shing and weaving industry, and abundant wildlife, Donegal, home to the second largest Gaelic which also includes a remarkable red deer speaking community in the world, is a county habitat. Stop for a tea and travel back in time at where history is still stunningly alive today. the 19th-century Victorian castle, also enjoyed by Great Garbo during her visit in Donegal. The region is considered as one of the most picturesque destinations one can visit in entire Photo: alexilena/Shutterstock.com Address: Church Hill, Letterkenny Europe, and so did think National Geographic Opening hours: March to October 9.15–17.30, November to when it selected Donegal as the Coolest Place on March: 9.00–17.00 the Planet in 2017. Start the engine and see it Phone: +353 76 100 2537 for yourself: Donegal's rugged coastline awaits Internet: www.glenveaghnationalpark.ie Email: [email protected] you with probably the most scenic stretch of the 2,500-km long Wild Atlantic Way, and wherever Malin Head you are driving along the route, we made sure Malin Head, known you'll also get your x of entertainment, to top locally as Banba’s Crown, the admirable view. is Ireland’s most northerly point, and an area of great scenic beauty and historical, Destination: Donegal & The North West Publishing date: 2019-04-17 scientic and ecological importance. Visit the old Biddy's O'Barnes Radio Station, try to spot the wreckage of Biddy's O'Barnes' origins Twilight that never made it to Derry, and admire date back to the 18th the stunning view of the endless sea embracing century, and it still is one the Tory Island. of the most sought after watering holes of Photo: shawnwill23/Shutterstock.com roadtrippers in Donegal, Address: Malin Head, Inishowen proudly drawing the best Guinness in the county. Phone: +353 74 936 2600 Photo: RR Photo/Shutterstock.om The Art House Address: Barnesmore Gap (between Croaghconnelagh and This cosy art gallery has a Croaghonagh) vast selection of Irish and Opening hours: Mon to Thu: 11.00–23.30, Fri and Sat: 11.00–00.30, Sun: 12.30–23.00 international Internet: http://biddysobarnes.com contemporary art, including the works of DONEGAL TOWN Brian O'Doherty, who happens to own this studio, and loves to have a friendly chat with his visitors. Photo: Denis Kuvaev/Shutterstock.com Address: Main Street, Dunfanaghy Opening hours: 9.30–18.30 daily Phone: +353 74 910 0552 Internet: www.dunfanaghy.info/places/The-Art-House/76, www.brianodoherty.com PJ photography/Shutterstock.com The Silver Strand With probably the largest variety of A sheltered horse-shoe entertainment options in northwestern Ireland, shaped beach with B&Bs the town of Donegal and its area are a rich and a coee shop nearby, source of active pastimes, souvenirs, and rich and the views only Slieve Irish avours. League can provide. Maghera, on the northern Donegal Castle side of the peninsula, is also worth a dip. The Donegal castle was Photo: Milosz Maslanka/Shutterstock.com built by the mighty Address: Malin Beg, Glencolumbkille O'Donnell dynasty in the 15th century. After the Flight of the Earls in 1607 which saw the O'Donnels leaving the country, the castle was granted to the English Brooks family, whose Destination: Donegal & The North West Publishing date: 2019-04-17 ownership also left lasting marks on one of the Address: Mountcharles most prominent landmarks of Irish history. Opening hours: May to September: 14.00–18.00 daily Phone: +353 74 973 5387 Internet: www.donegalgardens.com Photo: noradoa/Shutterstock.com Email: [email protected] Address: Donegal Town Opening hours: Easter to Mid September: 10.00–18.00. Mid September to Easter: Thursday to Monday 9.30–16.30 Bundoran Surf Co. Phone: +353 74 972 2405 Surng classes and Internet: www.heritageireland.ie/en/north-west/donegalcastle rentals in what is also Email: [email protected] noted as the surf capital of Ireland. For beginners, Lough Derg the beach of Rossnowlagh Not to be mistaken with is protected enough for a the larger lake of the rst try, while old-timers can ride world-class same name that straddles waves at The Peak. the Tipperary-Limerick border, Lough Derg in Photo: Wonderful Nature/Shutterstock.com Co. Donegal is visited for Address: Main Street, Drumacrin, Bundoran the St Patrick's Purgatory on Station Island, a Phone: +353 71 984 1968 renowned pilgrimage site still keeping Internet: https://bundoransurfco.com/welcome-to-bundoran-s urf-mobile thousand-year old traditions alive. The three-day Email: [email protected] pilgrimage programme is also open to anyone interested. Castle Adventure Farm An interactive open farm Photo: Jesus Barroso/Shutterstock.com with plenty of Address: St. Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg, Pettigo Opening hours: Open May thru September, but oice open all entertainment for the year round 9.00–17.00 whole family: drive a go Phone: +353 71 986 1518 kart or a mini digger, Internet: www.loughderg.org feed the goats, and Email: [email protected] discover the indoor or outdoor play area! The Salthill Gardens place also has a café with delicious cakes and Set just a short distance sandwiches. from the sea near Photo: Steven Frame/Shutterstock.com Mountcharles, Salthill Address: Ballymacaward, Wardtown Castle, Ballyshannon Garden is a ne verdant Opening hours: Sat and Sun: 10.00–17.00 selection of perennials, Phone: +353 71 985 2688 vegetables and shrubs, Internet: http://openfarm.ie Email: [email protected] individually styled by Elizabeth Temple. The More Info: Closed 2 Oct–26 Oct, and from 5 Nov 2018 garden also has a trail, doable in less than two hours. Photo: LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com Destination: Donegal & The North West Publishing date: 2019-04-17 Waterworld Photo: ianmitchinson/Shutterstock.com An indoor aqua park Address: Lurganboy, Donegal where everyone will nd Opening hours: Summer: Mon to Sat: 10:00-17:00. Winter: Tue to Sat: 10:00-17:00 something to their taste Phone: +353 74 97 23222 (and swimming skills). Internet: www.donegalcraftvillage.com Toddler pool for the youngest, gravity and Magee 1866 twister for the bravest, and seaweed bath for Founded by John Magee those looking to relax, among many others. in 1866, Magee's is now an internationally Photo: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock.com acclaimed tweed Address: Seafront, Bundoran manufacturer that Opening hours: April and May: 12.00–18.00 weekends only, June: 12.00–18.00 daily, July and August: 12.00–19.00 daily, produces the nest rst two weeks of September: 12.00–18.00 daily hand-woven menswear and womenswear, Phone: +353 71 984 1172 incorporating over 150 years of experience into Internet: www.waterworldbundoran.com the latest fashion trends. Email: [email protected] Photo: Look Studio/Shutterstock.com Biddy's O'Barnes Address: The Diamond, Donegal Biddy's O'Barnes' origins Opening hours: Monday to Saturday:10:00–18:00, Sunday: date back to the 18th 13:00–17:00 century, and it still is one Phone: +353 74 972 2660 Internet: www.magee1866.com of the most sought after watering holes of Olde Castle Bar roadtrippers in Donegal, Located by the city's proudly drawing the best Guinness in the county. signature landmark, Olde Castle is just as lled Photo: RR Photo/Shutterstock.om Address: Barnesmore Gap (between Croaghconnelagh and with history as it is with Croaghonagh) guests: this multi-award Opening hours: Mon to Thu: 11.00–23.30, Fri and Sat: winner restaurant 11.00–00.30, Sun: 12.30–23.00 presents a nely chiselled lunch and dinner Internet: http://biddysobarnes.com menu, from venison pie and chowder to locally Donegal Craft Village produced seafood. Red Hugh is brewed exclusively for the visitors of Olde Castle. Stock up on the most authentic Irish souvenirs Photo: Christopher Elwell/Shutterstock.com in the number-one craft Address: Tirconnell Street, Donegal shop in town! Fine Opening hours: 12.00 till late, lunch is served until 17.00, jewellery, donegal tweed, dinner until 21.00 an on-site Glass studio, Phone: +353 74 972 1262 Internet: www.oldecastlebar.com and the popular Aroma coee shop await the Email: [email protected] visitors.