Donegal Locations !

sunny2004

Again I am turning the the members here for advice on landscape locations, this time in the greater donegal area and coast line. I will be driving to Donegal from dublin so anywhere on route would also be interested, spending a week in donegal so anything of interest is appreciated.

Fajitas!

Inishowen penisula... just head up there and get lost, you'll come across the most amazing beaches, old ports, forts, everything!

mobileblog

Yeah take the inishowen 100 and you'll come across some nice sites.
kinnego bay, shroove beach /head malin head etc.
Don't forget you can get the ferry in Greencastle to Milligan, which will bring you to the Giants Causeway inside an hour

Burnt

SouthWest Donegal

Donegal Town - O'Donnell's Castle

Dunkineely - Go Down St.John's point; burned out Coast Gaurd station, Niall Mhor's Castle, Light House

Killybegs - Ireland's Largest fishing port, Fintra Bay

Kilcar - Spanish Church

Teelin - Cliffs at Slieve League and Bunglas

Malin Beg - Sliver Strand lots of megalithic tombs

Glencolmcille - More tombs cross standing stone etc...

Port - Abandoned houses, fantastic sunset

Ardara - Maghera sea caves, Assarncally waterfall, Nancy's Bar

Kilcooney - Massive Dolmen

Rossbeg - Doon Fort (a cashel on an island in a lake), Tra Mor

PortNoo/Narin - long long beach & Inis Caoil monastic site

with the added bonus fantastic scenery the whole way

sunny2004

cheers folks. Now its time so look over the map !

ThOnda

Once you are at Killybegs, don't forget the second tallest sea facing cliffs in Europe - Slieve League.
Inland Donegal are fantastic national parks like Glenveagh with beautiful castle.
Fort Dunree on Inishowen Peninsula is also worth seeing, especially if the weather allows you to go to the very top of the hill. But it could be closed during winter - check it first.

.Longshanks.

Fajitas! wrote: »

Inishowen penisula... just head up there and get lost, you'll come across the most amazing beaches, old ports, forts, everything!

I second this suggestion because i'm there for the christmas holidays!
The below was talken this afternoon outside a small town called clonmany (thats on the Inishowen 100 route)

sunny2004

Great Info guy's !
Where does the inishowen 100 start ?
More to the point what do I point the sat-nav at ?

I have given up on the idea of mapping it conventionally

mobileblog

http://www.visitinishowen.com/tour/scenic.html


From Discover ireland.com

Inishowen 100

Inishowen Donegal - Ireland West
The Inishowen 100 gets its name from the approximate distance in miles of the signposted drive, which officially starts in Bridgend on the Inishowen Peninsula. Buncrana has a 5km long sandy beach and is an important holiday resort. American clothing company, Fruit of the Loom, has a production facility here. The ruins of Buncrana castle and O’Doherty Castle are worth a visit. Take the R238 road from Buncrana, and turn left, following the signs for Inishowen 100 and Tullyarvan Mill. The mill has an interpretative centre tracing 250 years of textile production in Buncrana. Go north turning left for Mamore Gap, which offers breathtaking views of the northerly coastline and a descent of 800 feet. At the bottom, keep left for the Inishowen drive through the village of Dunaff. Continue through Clonmany and Ballyfiffin, where you will find fine beaches, sea angling and golf. Continue on for Carndonagh where there are some ancient monuments. Drive on the R238 to Malin, a former Tidy Town winner, where a 10 arch stone bridge crosses Trawbreaga bay. Follow the Inishowen 100 sign and the signs for Malin Head, Ireland’s most northerly point, with a wild sea ravaged coast and stunning seascapes. Continue around Malin Head, past the meteorological station. Wee House of Malin is signposted left and is a short detour to a hermit’s rock cell cut into a cliff, beside a cottage ruin. Return to the Inishowen 100 drive, towards Culdaff, a resort village. Follow the Inishowen 100 sign from Culdaff, along a narrow road with marvellous views. Continue to Greencastle, turning left at the T- junction, and on to Moville. The R328 brings you to Redcastle. As you continue driving south to Muff you will see Derry City in the distance. Take the R239, following the Burnfoot and Bridgend signs. At Burnfoot, return to Letterkenny.

cormthechippy

sunny2004 wrote: »

Great Info guy's !
Where does the inishowen 100 start ?
More to the point what do I point the sat-nav at ?

I have given up on the idea of mapping it conventionally

Not sure if this helps but the sign posts start just outside Letterkenny. Coming from Strabane on the N14 you'll hit the roundabout with the N13, signposted for Derry and Inishowen 100 starts here I think.

ThOnda

Get a map - it will show you more, all side roads and would contain information about places of local interest.

I've only visited the Ardara peninsula so I can only list a couple of places.As Burnt already mentioned,Slieve League,Silver Strand,Port,Assarnacally Waterfall and Maghera Caves are must visits.If you do visit the caves try and go at low tide.When I visited I was only able to get to 2 of the caves.According to the locals there are 2 larger ones acessible when the tide is fully out.I'd also reccomend the Glengesh Pass which passes through some fantastic scenery.If you are doing a coastal loop of the peninsula you would have to double back a bit to visit the pass but in my opinion it's well worth it.

Oh,and take as many backroads as possible,the going may be slower but you'll see some of the best parts of Donegal that way.

sunny2004

Cheers guys I am sitting in the ABBEY on the square, or should I say rectangle in Donegal town centre and this info is a life saver !

Have map in hand and was starting to worry where to next..

Thanks again !

rahtkennades

sunny2004 wrote: »

......on the square, or should I say rectangle in Donegal town centre ....

Worse again, it's actually called a diamond!!:p

I'd agree with all of what Burnt said, and also definitely check Glengesh, it's really lovely.

sunny2004

rahtkennades wrote: »

Worse again, it's actually called a diamond!!:p

I'd agree with all of what Burnt said, and also definitely check Glengesh, it's really lovely.

you're right on, its a diamond, but you were too late to save my face with the receptionist, she enjoyed correcting me !

smashey

If you get a chance when you leave Donegal Town, try the Bluestack Mountains as they are nearby. Some mighty scenery there.