| Southwestern Donegal |
| En
route to Killibegs, you will pass a number of villages (Mountcharles,
Dunkineely and Bruckless). This part of the road is quite deserted and
lacks pubs or restaurants, it is advisable to fill up in Donegal or
Killybegs, depending on the way you are going. |
Accommodation_Donegal
KILLYBEGS is the largest port in Ireland. As an original experience,
you could go on a fishing expedition and catch pollock, cod or whiting.
Tours are organized by Brian McGilloway (call 973 2444 or 087-220 0982
for information). KILCAR is a major centre of the Donegal tweed
manufacture. It is an ideal base for exploring the stunning coastline
of this part of the county and the Slieve League cliffs. Neighbouring
CARRICK is also an ideal place to start from. If you are curious about
tweed, the Studio Donegal (call 973 8194 for information) in Kilcar is
an interesting visit, where you will be able to buy tweed by the metre.
Slieve League are the highest cliffs in Europe. The area is a great
place for walking. Every August in Kilcar, the International Sea
Angling Festival takes place, followed by the Kilcar Street Festival.
GLENCOLUMBCILLE is pure beauty. Travelling through the desolate land
and dark bogs, the road suddenly opens into a verdant valley where a
plethora of Stone Age remains will make a visitor’s delight. The Folk
Village Museum & Heritage Centre (call 973 0017 for information) is
a group of 18th and 19th centuries thatched cottages replicas. On the
way to ARDARA you should stop by the small picturesque village of
Maghery, around which the strand will lead you to a rocky promontory
with many caves. The Assarancagh Waterfall and the Glen Gesh Pass are
also worth a visit.
Another scenic town, ARDARA is another important manufacturing centre
(knitwear and hand-woven tweed). The Ardara Heritage Centre (call 954
1704 for information) provides a good background on the county’s role
in the weaving industry. In early June, the Ardara Weavers Fair is
celebrated.
Lakes and smooth hills are the main features of the landscape around
DAWROS HEAD. The area is a popular place for walking, and you could
even walk to Iniskeel Island at low tide. Located at the foot of two
valleys with a background view on the Blue Stack Mountains, GLENTIES is
a popular fishing and walking destination. Less frequented than other
parts of the county, the area which goes inland to the Finn Valley is
ideal for a retreat on your own, fishing or hill-walking. Towns in the
area include Ballybofey, Stranorlar, Fintown. From the latter a scenic
excursion is to be made to Glenties, aboard the narrow-gauge Fintown
Railway (call 074-954 6280 for information). |
| PS : GETTING AROUND SOUTHWESTERN DONEGAL:
Bus Eireann (call 972 1101 for information) operates the
following services: Donegal Town to Killibegs (via Mountcharles,
Bruckless and Dunkineely) Killybegs to Kilcar, Glencolumbcille, Ardara
and Portnoo (via Glenties) Kilcar and Carrick to Killibegs and
Glencolumbcille
McGeehan Coaches (call 954 6150 for information) operates
the following services: Glencolumbcille to Donegal and Dublin (via
Ardara Dungloe to Dublin (via Glenties) Glencolumbcille to Letterkenny
(via Glenties, Ardara, Killybegs, Kilcar and Glencolumbcille) Fintown
to Ballybofey (en route to Fintown, Killybegs and Glencolumbcille
The Feda O’Donnell (call 074-974 8114 for information)
service between Crolly and Galway stops in Ballybofey. |
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