Donegal is littered with beautiful cliffs, national parks and impressive castles, making it a must-see county on your Ireland adventure. It’s the most mountainous county in Ulster, with rolling green hills creating postcard-perfect scenery at every turn. For those who are looking for a brief escape from it all, Donegal is the perfect place to relax and rewind. National Geographic once dubbed Donegal as ‘The Coolest Place on the Planet!’ back in 2017 – and it’s not hard to see why!
Our top 5 to-do list for Donegal:
Slieve League Cliffs
Visit the Wild Atlantic Way’s best kept secret! The majestic Slieve League are one of the highest oceanic cliffs in Europe, reaching almost 600 metres. That’s nearly 3 times taller than the Cliffs of Moher! As you walk towards the top, there are magnificent views across Donegal Bay, stretching as far as Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo. After your trek, pop into the nearby Ti Linn Café for a well-deserved treat!
Glencolmcille Folk Village
Step back in time at Glencolmcille, an incredible replica of a traditional Irish village. Wander through thatched cottages that each represent a different era of Irish history, going back over 300 years! The village even has a fully reconstructed schoolhouse and a pub/shop, giving you a real perspective as to how people lived in rural Donegal.
Inishowen Peninsula
Inishowen is the largest and arguably most scenic peninsula in Ireland. It’s the traditional starting point of the iconic Wild Atlantic Way drive, and even has a scenic route of its own, known as the ‘Inishowen 100’. There’s no one start point for this route, but we recommend starting from Grianán of Aileach and working your way up to Buncrana. One of the route highlights is Malin Head – the most Northerly point of Ireland. Super fans might recognise the dramatic landscape from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which was shot there in 2016!
Glenveagh National Park & Glenveagh Castle
Make sure to bring your walking shoes! Glenveagh National Park is the second largest national park in Ireland, with over 16,000 hectares of land for you to explore. It sits among the wild beauty of the Derryveagh Mountains. There are 6 different walking trails to choose from, ranging in length from 1km to 8 km, each with different views and varying levels of difficulty. On your walk, look out for the stunning 19th-century Glenveagh Castle.
Grianán of Aileach
Grianán of Aileach is a spectacular stone fort located on top of the Greenan Mountains. The ringfort dates back to the 6th century and was once the seat of the Kingdom of Aileach. It offers amazing views across Lough Foyle & Lough Swilly, as well as the entire Inishowen Peninsula. According to legend, St. Patrick himself came to Grianan in the 5th century to baptise the local chieftain. A holy well dedicated to St. Patrick can be found on the southern side of the hill.
Convinced Yet?
Donegal’s rich heritage makes it a must-visit destination for anyone planning an Irish adventure. From cliffside walks to ancient forts, Donegal captures the true spirit of Ireland. So why not add it to your travel list? It’s your time to discover why this northern gem continues to charm visitors from all over the world!
Get in Touch-
The best way to learn about Donegal in Ireland is to visit yourself through a Self-Drive or Chauffeur Tour. Contact us today for a quotation including some or all of these locations today –