Holiday rentals in County Donegal

The majestic power of nature is on display in County Donegal, on Ireland’s northwestern coast, where the verdant mainland meets the roar of the Atlantic Ocean. This is a region, too, that holds strong to its traditions. The Irish language is freely spoken here, and you’ll hear centuries-old folk music in many local pubs.

Many people come here to take in the natural beauty of the 2,600-kilometre Wild Atlantic Way, which winds its way around the Donegal coast. To the north, you may want to walk along the sandy beaches of Ballymastocker Bay, on the Fanad Peninsula, or take a boat ride on the dark waters of glacial fjord Lough Swilly. Powerful waves crash against Talland Beach in Bundoran, the most southerly town in County Donegal, known as the surfers’ capital of Ireland. The beating heart of the region is Glenveagh National Park, set among the untamed wilderness of the Derryveagh Mountains and home to 19th-century Glenveagh Castle, which stands on the grassy shores of Lough Barra.

Although County Donegal is regarded as a remote part of Ireland, it attracts high numbers of visitors from June to August. Summer, after all, is when the temperatures are normally at their highest, although rainfall is always a possibility. In May and September, the weather is still mild, and more Donegal cottages are typically available. From the beginning of autumn through winter, wild Atlantic weather can emerge from across the water, delivering prolonged periods of rainfall and strong winds that generate some of those dramatic waves that crash against the sea cliffs and rocky shores. December and January are among the best months of the year to witness the Northern Lights from the Inishowen Peninsula — nature’s very own light show, dancing across the night sky.

Inishowen Peninsula

The largest peninsula in Ireland, Inishowen is an untamed, rocky landscape whose windswept setting has served as a popular filming location for Hollywood movies. Malin Head is the most northerly point of the peninsula, and if you walk there as far as Banba’s Crown, a 19th-century tower, you can gaze across the dramatic cliffs and seascapes towards the Atlantic Ocean. Then head inland to visit the imposing stone fort of Grianán of Aileach, whose history dates back over one thousand years.

Mount Errigal

Rising up to around 750 metres at its pointed summit, the quartzite Mount Errigal is the tallest mountain in County Donegal. The Mount Errigal trail takes hikers right up to the top, rewarding them with commanding views across the Glenveagh National Park and as far as Slieve Snaght. The hike to the summit and back takes around three hours.

Slieve League

The power of Ireland’s nature is encapsulated in the breathtaking Slieve League, dramatic sea cliffs with sheer drops of up to more than 600 metres. The Pilgrim’s Path takes you on a four-kilometre trail walked by ancient pilgrims, leading you to a plateau, a strategic viewpoint looking over the rough Atlantic waves battering the dramatic cliffs.