Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
excellent golf facilities and plenty of Gaelic Games. There's also the tiny seaside town of
Dunfanaghy
(pop. 312), which has a huge, usually quite empty, sandy beachfront. There's
only one hotel in town, and it's a bit rustic, but the location is hard to beat when it comes
to waves and open water. No nightlife to speak of.
There's no better reason to come to Donegal than hiking, however, and for that you have to
get outside the “major” population centers.
Hiking and Walking
Donegal is a rugged landscape with a variety of seaside cliffs, sharp mountain ridges, and
rolling hills. Much of the land is uncultivated, and you'll be amazed at the sense of wilder-
ness and isolation that you can achieve with even a short trek outside the towns.
Mount Errigal
(Photo credit: Owen Doody via Creative Commons)
Much of the hiking is concentrated in
Glenveagh National Park
, in the inland reaches of
northern Donegal. The park's mountains are not easy to climb, and it's best to make sure
that someone at your hotel (or the visitor's center) knows where you're going and when
you're expected to return. There's also the spectacular
Glenveagh Castle
, whose architec-
ture is nearly as grand as the mountains themselves. Admission to the castle is relatively
cheap (€5 for adults), and the grounds are extremely tranquil and pleasant.
