A beautifully located, lakeside escape, less than 30 minutes from the bustle of Letterkenny.
The drive from Dublin is approx. 4 hours so I would suggest a 2–3-day trip to include a stay at Davey John’s Forge Cabins in picturesque Carrigart, a small Gaeltacht village in north Donegal.
If you love exploring Donegal, these cabins are in a great location to many towns, breathtaking beaches like Killahoey, Marble Hill Strand, Portsalon, Ballymastocker, Murderhole beach, Downings, Fanad and also the Glen Valley Adventure Centre and Mevagh Dive Center offer a range of activities – the list is endless of tourist spots and activities. The popular town of Dunfanaghy is 20 minutes’ drive through the town of Creeslough, passing Doe Castle and the many viewpoints of the North Donegal coastline. I highly recommend a visit to Dunfanaghy which has a great range of places to eat, quirky shops and also on the way in or out, visit Ards Forest Park for a post dinner walk.
But if you don’t want to do anything at all, Davey John’s Forge cabins is the place to have a digital detox, read a book or two and while away the hours in your private hot tub with some music on and watch the rabbits playing in the nearby fields.
There are two cabins and a cottage so they can cater for large family groups and possible reunions. The porch outside has plenty of space to sit and watch the sun set while jumping in and out of the hot tub. If you have children, they have plenty of space to play and if you have a pet, you can bring them too (cutting huge kennel costs) and who doesn’t want to bring their pet along on holidays!
The cabin interior is modern and cosy with a kind of Montana-esque vibe. You nearly expect Robert Redford as one of your neighbours, to call in for a cuppa. The cabin has all the mod cons and the extras that make the difference from basic accommodation to luxury. The towels are thick and fluffy and wrap around you fully. The furniture is comfy and plush, the roller blinds on the windows are beautifully handmade woven Donegal fabric. The king-sized bed is as cosy as your bed at home and is tastefully layered with a Donegal tweed runner. The cabin is a perfect couple’s getaway or for a quiet girly weekend or in my case it was perfect for me and my 10-year-old twins (the couch folds out into a bed) If you need more space for a larger family or gathering, the cottage sleeps 6. Between the three properties, they could easily accommodate up to 10+ adults, if you were looking for a family holiday base.
You know you have walked into a Donegal escape with a difference, that difference is the scenery, the charm and for us Dublin visitors, it’s a matter of packing up the car and driving up the road. And look out for Robert Redford in the local village – well, you just never know who is living around our beautiful country.