Ballyliffin Golf Club is Ireland’s most northerly golf club and is home to two 18 hole championship links courses - The Old Links and Glashedy Links.
Ballyliffin Golf Club is one of the finest golf resorts to be found anywhere in the world.
Donegal is fast becoming one of Europe’s top surfing destinations with its powerful Atlantic breakers. Pollan Bay is renowned for it forceful surf and is one of the top 10 surfs to be experienced in Ireland.
From heritage trails to coastal hiking, from surfing to horse riding & archery to scenic walks The Wild Atlantic Adventure Centre are sure to have an activity for you to enjoy!
Enjoy a truly unique experience of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Whether you are travelling for the scenery, the action or just to relax, their bespoke packages will ensure you have an experience you will never forget.
Inishowen has been a mecca for divers for many years as it is surrounded by many wrecks including the famous La Trinidad Valencera of the Spanish Armada, which foundered in 1588. The Laurentic which lies in Lough Swilly and sunk carrying fountune of golf to repay British War Debts.
See Ireland’s most northernly coastline like never before with Inishowen Boating. The Inishowen Boating Experience gives you an opportunity to view the rugged Inishowen coastline by sea, showcasing some of the best views in all of Ireland.
Donegal Climbing is based in the National Geographic ‘Coolest Place on the Planet’ – Malin Head, Donegal, Ireland – which is one of the Star Wars film locations in Ireland for Episode VIII! Join them for an unforgettable Donegal experience at the Northern Headland area of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Inishowen is recognized internationally as a Wildlife Conservation Map especially Burt, Inch Island, Trawbreaga Bay, Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle. Thousands of species, including in illusive Corncrake can be observed and photographed in the region. Numerous wildlife groups visit regularly and organised tours can be arranged lead by qualified Wildlife Guides.
A famine village and typical dwellings depicting that time in Ireland. Sod or turf houses are displayed and story telling about times gone by is part of this popular tourist attraction. Tea room available.
Putting smiles on faces since 1999! Christmas in Donegal can be a magical and fun-filled experience, especially if you visit Santa’s Island at Donegal’s very own Lapland.
A short, but exceptionally rewarding walk through a wooded stream valley. Along the way there are a number of picnic areas and vantage pionts with stunning views of the surrounding coast and countryside.
The Museum is located in the old Coastguard Station at Greencastle Harbour. Its exhibits include boats from 6ft. to 50ft, the Armada room, and items of memorabilia and photographs of the treasures at this attraction. There is also a new state of the art Planetarium, with explorations of the universe and a spectacular star show.
Wild Ireland is a unique wild animal sanctuary located on the Inishowen peninsula. Wild Ireland offers sanctuary too many animals which have been persecuted and hunted into extinction on this Island such as Brown Bears, Wolves, Lynx and Wild Boar.
Explore the hills of Donegal with your very own Alpaca to guide you. Set on the stunningly beautiful Knockamanny Bens at Ireland’s most northerly point Malin Head. You can enjoy the spectacular views from Malin Head to Glashedy Rock to the Isle of Doagh and beyond.
Leisureland is recognised as one of Ireland’s leading Indoor Fun Parks. Catering for children of all ages, they offer a safe and secure environment loaded with fun. They also welcome school trips, youth clubs, birthday parties or any event.
Lurgybrack Open Farm is a special place where all the family can spend the day together seeing the animals and having fun. The centuries old farm building is home to a range of friendly farm animals.
Donegal’s very own slice of the Amazon, an unmissable experience with hundreds of tropical butterflies of all shapes and sizes, all in free flight. Tropical World is 80% under cover and facilities include an indoor play area, full disabled access as well as an onsite café and picnic facilities.
A beautiful walk way has been created over the past number years to allow people to enjoy a scenic walk through the dunes at Pollan Beach. The walkway offers easy walking for all ages with unbeatable views of the Atlantic Ocean, the golf courses and Pollan Beach. Strongly recommended for all visitors to the area and perfect for a morning jog.
A long steep incline to the Gap in the Urris Hills – take it in small stages, it is worth the climb. For the more adventurous walker there are paths in the Gap which lead to spectacular hill walks along the ridges of the Urris Hills.
Short but exceptionally rewarding walk through a wooded stream valley. The walk ends at Glenevin Waterfall which is one of Inishowen’s most spectacular attractions. The walk is virtually level and follows well prepared and maintained gravel paths. Picnic areas along the route
This spectacular walk follows a route through some of Donegal’s most impressive coastal scenery. Within a relatively short distance from the trail head the walker is in remote country with wonderful views (including Scotland).
Three signposted walks around the former military fort complex at Fort Dunree Military museum. Ranging from an easy walk along the cliff tops to a more strenuous climb up steep steps to the summit of the hill. Information panels, picnic areas and timber shelters dotted along walks.
A purpose built walking trail through Inch Wildfowl Reserve This scenic pathway follows around the lake edge and offers panoramic views of the surrounding agricultural landscape and wetlands.
The Inishowen 100 Scenic Drive is a 100 mile (160 km) signposted scenic driving route around the stunning Inishowen Peninsula. The route passes most of the top tourist attractions and places of interest on the peninsula and there are great things to do at every turn from hiking to cycling, golf to fishing and from blue flag beaches to whale watching and basking shark trips.
From the wind-whipped tip of Malin Head to the safe haven of Kinsale Harbour, wrap yourself in the wilderness of the west coast of Ireland on the world’s longest defined coastal touring route. The Wild Atlantic Way is a sensational journey of soaring cliffs and buzzing towns and cities, of hidden beaches and epic bays. So whether you drive it from end-to-end, or dip into it as the mood strikes, it’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Fort Dunree, Dun Fhraoigh in Irish means, Fort of the Heather. Built on The fort is located on a rocky promontory , it was built as a defensive structure located above a steep cliff, originally built as part of a series of fortifications defending Lough Swilly during the Napoleonic wars. Dunree is surrounded with stunning natural beauty and hosts walking pathways with breath taking views, after which you can relax in the café.
Origins of this circular site are believed to date from around 1700BC. Steeped in legend it was home to the ancient Irish High Kings, and has important connections with ancient monasteries in Donegal. The fort or cashel was restored in the 1870’s and is the centrepiece of the site. It is thought that St Patrick visited the site in the 5th century and baptised the local chieftain, Eoghan from whom Inis Eoghan (Inishowen) gets its name.
Perched on a rocky outcrop at the furthest most reaches of the stunning “Isle of Doagh”, built c1540, on an older settlement site, the remaining square keep and round tower was part of a much larger castle complex. Carrickabraghy, known locally as “The Castles” was one of the last four remaining strongholds of the O’Dochartaigh Clan on the Inishowen Peninsula. It was from here that Sir Cahir “Rua” O’Doherty planned his ill-fated revolt at the beginning of the 17th century which inevitably led to the full Plantation of Ulster.
This historical church lays claim to the Catholic, Protestant and Dissenters of the parish. The people of Clonmany hold the church in great affection. Clonmany or “Cluain Maine” which means “Meadow of the Monks”, takes its name from an early church established by St. Maine, a follower of St. Patrick. The vaulted cemetery contains many hundreds of graves piled on top of each other, both Catholic and Protestant, side-by-side, with the earliest from medieval times. The earliest of the marked headstones appear to be from medieval times.
Lough Swilly played a major strategic role in the British plans for the protection of Ireland from Napoleonic times up to 1938. Major advances in coastal defence weaponry brought about fortifications in Dunree Fort in the 1890s and the construction of Leenan Fort which hosted the largest guns of that era. Leenan Fort remained functional until the mid-1960s when it was abandoned. Army personnel were transferred to Dunree Fort which remained operational until the 1980s.
On the afternoon of Good Friday, 11 April 1941, during World War II, a Vickers Wellington bomber crashed into the Urris Hills after getting lost in thick fog. Six young Englishmen based at the airfield in Limavady perished after mistaking Lough Swilly for Lough Foyle. The crash site was located by two soliders from Leenan Fort. The bodies were taken to Leenankeel, Urris and laid out in a local forge. They were transferred to Dunree Fort prior to transport to England for burial.
Pollan Beach, Ballyliffin and Carrickabraghy Castle, Isle of Doagh are among some of the best places in Ireland to view the Northern Lights. This is due to their northern latitude and their general lack of built infrastructure. They are also excellent locations because they have very little light pollution. The best times of the year to view the ‘lights’ are from October to late April. Other good coastal locations to view them in Inishowen are Malin Head, Dunaff Head, Isle of Doagh, and Mamore Gap.
The Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi, planet “Ahch-To” features many scenes from beautiful Malin Head, Donegal.
Mark Hamill who plays Luke Skywalker has spoken many times about this wonderful place – he has been quoted as saying “I don’t know what it is but there’s something very magical there. I would encourage everyone to go there”.
