Holiday cottages Donegal Ireland
PLACES TO EAT IN DONEGAL, IRELAND
THE GLEN BAR, GLEN, IRELAND
THE MILL, DUNFANAGHY IRELAND
BRIDGE BAR, RAMELTON,IRELAND good food but you need to make your own atmosphere, the restaurant is above the pub.
RATHMULLAN HOUSE HOTEL, IRELAND Tel. 58188
THE MILLBRIDGE, KILMACRENNAN, IRELAND
MY FAVOURITE PUBS IN DONEGAL!
The Glen Bar, Glen, Donegal, Ireland - go over Lough Salt Mountain the it's the first village you come to. Now with popular restaurant at the rear.
Rita's, Portsalon, Donegal, Ireland - (Possibly now called Sarah's) Rita died recently at the age of 96. A very old fashioned bar at the end of Ballymastocker Beach, a long and beautiful beach and golf course.
Conways, Ramelton, Donegal, Ireland - traditional thatched bar which has not been spoilt.
Bridge Bar, Ramelton, Donegal, Ireland - very nice owners, good for live music.
The Singing Pub, Atlantic Drive, Downings, Donegal, Ireland - good pub for eating, good fresh fish and chips.
The Harbour Bar, Downings, Donegal, Ireland - cosy unspoilt pub, good after wet walk on beach.
Donegal - Self catering holiday cottages - IrelandStarting out from Cottian, self catering cottage turn left going through Kilmacrennan and on to Ramelton, a pretty Georgian town where the River Lennon flows out into Lough Swilly. You can fill your picnic basket at Whoriskeys Spar Store in Ramelton and head up the coast towards Rathmullan. If you stop at Rathmullen Pier and have a walk either along the pier or along the beach. It is worth a look in at the Flight of the Earls Visitor Centre before carrying on along the coast road which has dramatic views over Lough Swilly. On towards Portsalon you drive down a very steep windy road with Ballymastocker Beach stretching out in front of you. Dramatic views all round. Drive on to Portsalon passing the golf course on your right and drop down to Rita's pub for a drink. It is a wonderful pub, stood still in time, with blazing fire and old fashioned grocery overlooking the pier and beach. If the sun is shining take your drinks out to the lawn going down to the beach. Either eat your picnic here or go into the Restaurant for fish and chips. Again, very old fashioned and basic but full of character. After lunch turn back along your tracks and head for Kerrykeel rather than back down the coast road. This road takes you down the other side of the peninsula along the shores of Mulroy Bay. It is full of islands and great views. Turn right in Kerrykeel and head on down to Milford at the southern end of Mulroy Bay. Turn left as you come into Milford and take the road up the other side of Mulroy through Cranford and round the northern part of the peninsular to Carrigart where you can stop for an icecream at one of the grocery shops. Go through Carrigart and turn left to Downings and the Atlantic Drive. Drive round the Atlantic drive and see fantastic rocky coast line and golden beaches, hopefully with a view of Tory Island to the North West. As you drive round and back into Downings turn right down to the pier and go to McNutts shop which sells tweed, pottery and Irish gifts. After leaving here it is probably time to head for home! Go back towards Carrigart and turn right up to Church and turn right again. After about half a mile turn left at fork in road towards Glen, if you want to stop for a quick drink on the way home stop in at the Glen Bar, full of atmosphere and a cosy pub. There is now a restaurant at the rear where I have not eaten but is said to be very good. The only drawback is that you cannot book. Otherwise head over Lough Salt Mountain to Kilmacrennan and turn right at the crossroads back to your luxury self catering accommodation with hot bath and cosy turf fire!! Suggested sightseeing trip to North West Donegal Ireland Turn left out of Smiths cottage, self catering cottage and turn left at the crossroads in Kilmacrennan. Take this main road through Barnes Gap and turn right just before Creeslough to Doe Castle, this was a ruined castle that has recently been restored and will soon be open to the public. Well worth going to see in its beautiful situation in the Lackagh estuary as it flows into Sheep Haven Bay. Return to Creeslough, go through Creeslough stopping at the Catholic Church and taking a look, it is a modern church designed by a prominent Irish architect. Then go on through Creeslough and turn right to Ards Friary, and drive out to the friary on the Ards Peninsula where there are pretty beaches to walk to and a pier to fish off. The road is a one way system which will take you back to the main Creeslough - Dunfanaghy Road. Turn right towards Dunfanaghy. You will see Muckish Mountain on your left (Muckish means Hogs Back in Gaelic). Follow this road all the way to Dunfanaghy meeting the coast at Port-na-Blagh where you will see the high dramatic cliffs of Horn Head. Drive on through Dunfanaghy down the west coast to Falcarragh. From Falcarragh head down the coast and then inland towards Mount Errigal, the highest mountain in Donegal. Drive through Dunlewey into the heart of the Derryveagh mountains with the Poisoned Glen on your right and Errigal on your left. Keep going turning into Glenveagh National Park on the right at the northern end of Lough Veagh. There is a visitors centre and car park where you can catch a bus down the side of Lough Veagh to Glenveagh Castle which is open to the public and has lovely rhodedendron gardens to walk in. Glenveagh was owned by Henry McIlhenny, the Curator of the Museum of Modern Art in Philadelphia until the early 80's when he left the whole estate to the State. Leaving Glenveagh National Park turn right across barren boglands. Turn right to Churchill and Lough Gartan. A few pretty old cottages and small farms around you come to the top of Lough Gartan. Turn right to The Glebe Gallery which is a Gallery housing a collection of paintings belonging to the artist Derek Hill who lived at the Glebe House, the collection contains works by famous artists such as Picasso, George Braque and Matisse, as well as some of Derek Hill's own paintings. He had a studio on Tory Island where he encouraged the Islanders to paint and they formed their own school of painting whose works are now very much sought after. After leaving the gallery and driving back along the north shore of Lough Gartan over Gartan Bridge up the road to Churchill, where it is definitely time to stop in one of the three pubs for a drink! If the sun is out McLaffertys has a pretty garden with views down the Lennon valley. If you ask nicely they will probably be able to make you a plate of delicious sandwiches! Then it is time to head on home turning left at the end of the street in Churchill. Carry on down the hill to a crossroads. Turn left through Trentagh and on along the road back to Cottian holiday cottage.
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