A young boy in an orange hoodie holding out a handful of feed to an alpaca through a wire fence, with more alpacas grazing beyond
Davey John’s Forge · Journal

A morning with the alpacas just down the road

Our friend Thomas brought his family to Gráinne Mór Alpacas in Downings, and we asked him to tell us how it went.

One of the things I enjoy most about this corner of Donegal is how much there is to do within a short drive of Ruby's Cottage and the cabins. Downings is barely ten minutes away, and it turns out it's home to something rather special. My friend Thomas visited Gráinne Mór Alpacas recently with his wife Emma and their two boys, Tom (6) and Leo (9 months). I'll let him take it from here.

"We had a fantastic morning at the alpacas in Downings. Getting to feed them was definitely the highlight — they were so gentle and friendly, and Tom absolutely loved being up close to them. The staff were welcoming, patient and great with children, making it a really relaxed and enjoyable visit."

A grey and white alpaca standing in a field of buttercups, with Downings village on the hillside behind
One of the herd, in a field gone over to buttercups.
Worth knowing

Wool, a village shop, and colouring sheets for the road home

Thomas was also struck by how much there was to learn on the day. "It was fascinating to find out more about the alpacas and to feel just how soft their wool is. We were also delighted to discover that Gráinne Mór alpaca wool products are available to buy in a shop in Downings Village — a lovely way to bring home a reminder of the visit."

The small touches clearly made a difference too. "It was a lovely touch that the kids were given alpaca colouring sheets to take home afterwards, which Tom really enjoyed." For a family with a six-year-old and a baby in tow, that kind of relaxed, thoughtful welcome goes a long way.

Thomas wrapped up with a straightforward recommendation: "We'd highly recommend the experience to anyone of any age. It really is a perfect family activity if you're visiting Donegal." You can find out more at gráinnemoralpacas.com.

A white cria and a dark brown cria standing close to the camera among buttercups, with two black adult alpacas behind them
The young ones come close enough to show you how soft the fleece really is.
Close by

Everything on your doorstep above Mulroy Bay

Downings is the kind of place you can combine with a walk along the shore, a stop for lunch, or a look around the village before heading back along the bay. If you're staying with us and looking for ideas on what's nearby, our local guide is a good place to start.

A herd of alpacas grazing in a buttercup meadow above Downings, with houses scattered on the hillside behind
The field sits above the village, ten minutes from the forge.

A big thank you to Thomas, Emma, Tom and Leo for sharing their morning with us.

Emma holding baby Leo, with Tom standing in front of her, beside a fence with alpacas grazing behind
Emma with Leo, and Tom holding his ground at the fence.
A young white alpaca sitting down in a meadow full of buttercups
One of this year's young, taking the morning at its own pace.
Come and stay

If this sounds like the kind of day you'd enjoy, we'd love to have you up here above Mulroy Bay — there's always something worth doing just down the road.

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