A base for North Donegal.
Rosapenna golf five minutes one way, the village four kilometres the other, beaches within twenty minutes, and Glenveagh and Errigal a half-hour off.
Rosapenna golf five minutes one way, the village four kilometres the other, beaches within twenty minutes, and Glenveagh and Errigal a half-hour off.
Davey John’s sits between Milford and Carrigart, four kilometres from the village, on a main road, which is the point. A short drive gets you almost anywhere on the Fanad and Rosguill peninsulas: the golf, the beaches, the mountains, dinner. Pick a category below to see what’s close; the big red marker on the map is us.
Two championship links five minutes from the door. Tom Doak’s St Patrick’s Links is the headline — routed through wild dunes above Sheephaven Bay — alongside the older Sandy Hills and Old Tom Morris courses. We’ll arrange tee times on request; just ask when you book.
A classic, affordable links on Ballymastocker Bay, regularly voted one of the world’s great beaches behind it. An easy run round the Fanad peninsula and a fine second course if you’re here for a few rounds.
The blue-flag beach at Downings — Trá Beag means “small beach” in Irish, though it’s a wide, safe, sandy sweep that’s ideal for families, with the Harbour Bar and the Beach Hotel a stroll away for chips after. Lifeguarded in summer.
The hidden one, and worth the effort. Parking is now at the Melmore car park behind a council barrier — €5 on entry — and you walk down from there to a dramatic horseshoe of sand between cliffs (Boyeeghter Bay on the map). No facilities, strong currents, and dogs aren’t allowed — there are sheep on the access land and the signs are up. On a still evening you’ll often have the beach to yourselves.
Trá Mór — “large beach” in Irish — a long, dune-backed strand on the Rosguill peninsula. A proper walking beach, good for blowing the cobwebs off and letting the dog run. Quieter than Downings even in August.
A 1.1km wooden boardwalk runs across the dunes to a long white beach — smooth enough for buggies and bikes, a lovely easy walk in itself. On-site there’s the Hooked bar & restaurant looking over Sheephaven Bay, and Spá na Mara, a proper spa with a thermal suite and treatments you can book in. Between Carrigart and Creeslough.
A lovely bakery just a couple of minutes away — fresh bread, cakes and treats, and the handiest thing in the world to have around the corner from the cottage. Well worth a stop.
Donegal’s smallest distillery, practically a neighbour — Michael O’Boyle’s grain-to-glass craft distillery in an old cottage above Mulroy Bay at Gortnabrade, by the Harry Blaney Bridge. Hand-distilled Mulroy Bay Irish Gin and poitín in tiny batches, infused with local botanicals. A proper local dram to take home.
A Victorian landmark in the village, beautifully restored — Mickey Stephen’s Bar, Walshes Snug, food Thursday to Sunday and a focus on live music. Four kilometres up the road; ask for Tony at the bar and tell him you’re staying at Davey John’s. Also takes overnight guests if you’ve friends needing a room.
A country pub in Cranford run by Paddy Logue and his family — and one to note: my brother, a serious steak man, rates the steak here among the best he’s ever had. There’s a charming bit of history too: the premises includes an old forge once worked by Tom Logue as a blacksmith. A great spot for a meal or a quiet pint.
A 1.1km wooden boardwalk runs across the dunes to a long white beach — smooth enough for buggies and bikes, a lovely easy walk in itself. On-site there’s the Hooked bar & restaurant looking over Sheephaven Bay, and Spá na Mara, a proper spa with a thermal suite and treatments you can book in. Between Carrigart and Creeslough.
One of Donegal’s oldest bars (circa 1768) with a seriously good restaurant out the back, in Glen village. The kind of place locals book and visitors stumble on — small, seasonal menu, terrific. The restaurant runs Thursday to Sunday and they prefer you to book a table online; note a credit card is needed to reserve, and tables with children are at the 5:30 and 5:45 sittings only.
A lovely recently-opened coffee spot in Downings, right across from the McNutt weaving mill — grab a proper coffee and a sweet treat, then wander into McNutt’s for their famous Donegal tweed throws and scarves. Well worth the stop.
The one you don’t want to miss. Tony and Lina’s tiny seafood bar beside the Harbour Bar has been a Donegal sensation since 2018 — the Irish Times named it the best fish and chips in the county, and it’s been listed among the Business Post’s 101 Great Irish Restaurants. Small plates, fish straight off the local boats, and famous fish tacos. No bookings, so arrive early and have a pint next door in the Harbour Bar while you wait for a table.
Pints and fresh seafood right by the pier at Downings — Casey’s to the locals, and one of our own favourite spots for a weekend pint. Unfussy, friendly, the chowder is the order, and there’s a good chance of live music.
Our top pick for a local chipper — Max’s in Downings does proper fish and chips. The go-to when you want a takeaway without going far.
A burger place in Milford you can sit in or take away — good when it’s open, but a word of warning from hard experience: check the opening hours before you set off, as it keeps its own counsel on when it trades.
A lively spot in Downings worth the trip for its fantastic pizza and cocktails — and, like the Harbour Bar and the Singing Pub, a good bet for live music at the weekend. Between the three of them you’ll rarely be short of a tune.
A gorgeous old thatched stone pub with a green door and open turf fires, on the Atlantic Drive five minutes beyond Downings. Pub grub and a separate restaurant with a weekly-changing menu — and, as the name promises, a real chance of a session. Full of character; a proper Donegal night out.
The most varied takeaway around — in Creeslough, with everything from a genuinely good Indian, through pizzas, fish and chips, kebabs and more. If the group can’t agree what they fancy, this is the answer.
On the R245 just outside Letterkenny — if you’re driving back to us from town and starving, it’s very hard to pass. A warm, family-run hotel restaurant; steak is the speciality and the turkey and ham is a favourite of ours. Also a hotel and spa if you need a room.
Your nearest village, four kilometres on — a SuperValu for the big shop, a butcher, a couple of good pubs, a pharmacy and the Carrigart Hotel. Everything you need for a self-catering week without driving far.
The seaside town on the Rosguill peninsula — Trá Beag beach, the Harbour Bar, the Beach Hotel and Goose & Gander, plus the start of the Atlantic Drive. Eight kilometres of coast road from us.
The county’s biggest town, twenty minutes away — the large supermarkets and retail parks, the An Grianán Theatre, and a multiplex cinema if the weather turns and you want a bigger screen than the cottage projector.
A small village fifteen minutes west, on the road to Dunfanaghy — handy for Doe Castle and Ards Forest Park, with a shop, a couple of pubs and the Braai restaurant nearby.
A pretty, characterful village half an hour west around Sheephaven Bay — galleries, good cafes and restaurants, Arnolds Hotel, and the gateway to Horn Head’s dramatic cliffs and Killahoey beach. Well worth a day.
The nearest bigger village in the other direction, twelve minutes south — a supermarket, shops, and the Mulroy Woods Hotel. Your handiest stop for anything Carrigart doesn’t have.
A handsome Georgian heritage town on the River Lennon, twenty minutes south — elegant quayside warehouses, the Tap Room, good food and a genteel, unhurried feel. One of the prettiest towns in the county.
A scenic 1.5km woodland walk along the shore of Mulroy Bay on the Mulroy Drive — through mixed woodland of Scots pine, bilberry and bracken, up a gentle rise to spectacular views over the bay. Watch for swans, ducks, seabirds, and if you’re lucky, otters. Parking at the forest pier.
Hugh Hunter’s adventure outfit launches from Woodquarter Pier on Mulroy Bay, just up the road — guided kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and coasteering, plus family splash-and-dash sessions and sunset paddles. Fully qualified, brilliant with nervous first-timers and kids alike. The best way to get out on the bay.
Donegal’s iconic quartzite cone, glowing pink at sunset. The walking path up starts about thirty minutes away; it’s a stiff three hours up and down, but on a clear day the summit views over the whole county are extraordinary. Proper boots and a weather check first.
The loop road around the Rosguill peninsula from Downings — fifteen minutes of cliffs, hidden coves, marram dunes and big Atlantic horizons. A short, spectacular drive; do it at golden hour.
A genuinely special, peaceful place between Creeslough and Dunfanaghy — a Capuchin Franciscan friary on 200 acres of woodland on the shores of Sheephaven Bay, where the friars have lived since the 1930s. They warmly welcome everyone to visit for free: wander the coastal path from the Lucky Shell beach round into the adjoining Ards Forest Park (1,200 acres of woods, beaches and trails), sit on the marble benches above the bay, and call into the little coffee and pastry shop. Car park and toilets on site. An oasis of calm and one of the loveliest walks in the county.
One of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world, and far easier to reach from us than the map first suggests. Rather than driving all the way round Mulroy Bay, you hop across the Harry Blaney Bridge — the bridge between the Rosguill and Fanad peninsulas, opened in 2009 — just beyond Downings, with a gorgeous viewpoint over the water as you cross. From there it’s a scenic run out to the headland. The working lighthouse (built in 1817 after the wreck of HMS Saldanha) offers guided tower tours — 76 steps up to a 360-degree view over the Atlantic and Lough Swilly. A proper Wild Atlantic Way day; book the tour ahead.
Hire an electric bike in the centre of Downings (Joe and Mairead will set you up) and take the Atlantic Drive or roll over the Harry Blaney Bridge to Roy Island — the e-boost turns the Donegal hills from a slog into a joy. A brilliant, low-effort way to see the peninsula.
Private, family-only alpaca walks and meet-and-greets on a farm above Sheephaven Bay at Downings — a gentle, genuinely lovely hour with the animals and their guides, and a little farm shop of alpaca knitwear after. A hit with kids and grown-ups alike. Book ahead; they’re not an open farm.
Donegal’s smallest distillery, practically a neighbour — Michael O’Boyle’s grain-to-glass craft distillery in an old cottage above Mulroy Bay at Gortnabrade, by the Harry Blaney Bridge. Hand-distilled Mulroy Bay Irish Gin and poitín in tiny batches, infused with local botanicals. A proper local dram to take home.
Hugh Hunter’s adventure outfit launches from Woodquarter Pier on Mulroy Bay, just up the road — guided kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and coasteering, plus family splash-and-dash sessions and sunset paddles. Fully qualified, brilliant with nervous first-timers and kids alike. The best way to get out on the bay.
A genuinely special, peaceful place between Creeslough and Dunfanaghy — a Capuchin Franciscan friary on 200 acres of woodland on the shores of Sheephaven Bay, where the friars have lived since the 1930s. They warmly welcome everyone to visit for free: wander the coastal path from the Lucky Shell beach round into the adjoining Ards Forest Park (1,200 acres of woods, beaches and trails), sit on the marble benches above the bay, and call into the little coffee and pastry shop. Car park and toilets on site. An oasis of calm and one of the loveliest walks in the county.
A full day out, half an hour away — a romantic 19th-century castle on a glacial lough deep in the national park, with celebrated gardens, a red-deer herd and miles of walking trails. A shuttle bus runs from the visitor centre to the castle, or walk the lakeshore.
A handsome 16th-century tower house on a spit into Sheephaven Bay, fifteen minutes away — one of the best-preserved of its kind in the country, free to wander around, and a lovely short stop with the water on three sides.
One of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world, and far easier to reach from us than the map first suggests. Rather than driving all the way round Mulroy Bay, you hop across the Harry Blaney Bridge — the bridge between the Rosguill and Fanad peninsulas, opened in 2009 — just beyond Downings, with a gorgeous viewpoint over the water as you cross. From there it’s a scenic run out to the headland. The working lighthouse (built in 1817 after the wreck of HMS Saldanha) offers guided tower tours — 76 steps up to a 360-degree view over the Atlantic and Lough Swilly. A proper Wild Atlantic Way day; book the tour ahead.
Beach and dune treks on horseback from the village — one, two or three-hour rides across the sands and countryside, for all levels, with safety the priority (AIRE-approved). One of the real Donegal experiences with kids. Open daily through the summer; book ahead.
The rainy-day saviour — the biggest indoor soft-play in the North West, part of the Century complex in Letterkenny, with supervised zones for toddlers up to bigger kids, plus an arcade, indoor crazy golf, and an eight-screen cinema under the one roof. Twenty minutes away.
Another brilliant wet-weather standby for the kids — a family entertainment complex on the Ramelton Road with ten-pin bowling, Laser Quest over a multi-level maze, a soft-play adventure centre, pool, arcades and the Wood Berry Grill for feeding everyone after. An easy half-day when the Atlantic’s being Atlantic.
Hire an electric bike in the centre of Downings (Joe and Mairead will set you up) and take the Atlantic Drive or roll over the Harry Blaney Bridge to Roy Island — the e-boost turns the Donegal hills from a slog into a joy. A brilliant, low-effort way to see the peninsula.
Private, family-only alpaca walks and meet-and-greets on a farm above Sheephaven Bay at Downings — a gentle, genuinely lovely hour with the animals and their guides, and a little farm shop of alpaca knitwear after. A hit with kids and grown-ups alike. Book ahead; they’re not an open farm.
A 1.1km wooden boardwalk runs across the dunes to a long white beach — smooth enough for buggies and bikes, a lovely easy walk in itself. On-site there’s the Hooked bar & restaurant looking over Sheephaven Bay, and Spá na Mara, a proper spa with a thermal suite and treatments you can book in. Between Carrigart and Creeslough.
The spa at the Donegal Boardwalk Resort — a thermal suite with heated loungers and a relaxation room looking over Sheephaven Bay, plus a treatment menu. Ten minutes away; book your slot ahead, it gets busy in season.
Sarah McGroddy’s wellness and therapy practice, a five-minute drive away in Carrigart — a lovely local spot for a treatment during your stay. Best reached through her Instagram for current services and booking.
The handiest shop for the everyday — groceries, the basics and bits you’ve forgotten, right in Carrigart village, four kilometres up the road.
The petrol station on the edge of the village — fuel, plus a small supermarket attached for milk, bread, the paper and a top-up shop without going far.
The bigger supermarket for a proper weekly shop — just the other side of Carrigart as you head out the Creeslough road. The one to aim for when you’re stocking the cottage for the week.
A handy convenience store in Downings for essentials if you’re down at the beach or out the Rosguill side and don’t want to drive back to Carrigart.
The nearest Lidl, twelve minutes south in Milford — this is the one for “the Big Shop” if you’re stocking up properly for the week.
A lovely bakery just a couple of minutes away — fresh bread, cakes and treats, and the handiest thing in the world to have around the corner from the cottage. Well worth a stop.
For when Davey John’s is booked out, a few good places nearby we’re happy to point you to.
A Victorian landmark in the village, beautifully restored — Mickey Stephen’s Bar, Walshes Snug, food Thursday to Sunday and a focus on live music. Four kilometres up the road; ask for Tony at the bar and tell him you’re staying at Davey John’s. Also takes overnight guests if you’ve friends needing a room.
On the R245 just outside Letterkenny — if you’re driving back to us from town and starving, it’s very hard to pass. A warm, family-run hotel restaurant; steak is the speciality and the turkey and ham is a favourite of ours. Also a hotel and spa if you need a room.
The Goose & Gander in Downings — the pizza-and-cocktails spot — also has glamping pods out the back, a fun and different option if we’re full and you fancy being right in the village near the food and the music.
The accommodation alongside the Olde Glen Bar in Glen — handy rooms if you want to roll straight from that excellent restaurant to your bed, ten minutes from us.
A friendly family-run hotel right in Downings, by the beach — a good option if we’re full and you’d like to be on the Rosguill side, with a bar and restaurant on site.
Another long-established, family-run hotel in Downings overlooking the bay — comfortable rooms, bar and food, steps from Trá Beag beach.
The golf resort’s own hotel — 70 rooms, many with views over the links or Sheephaven Bay, a restaurant and bar, and the first tees on the doorstep. The obvious choice for a serious golf trip if we’re booked up.
Self-catering lodges and suites with the spa and the boardwalk on site — a different style to us but a lovely spot if you want a larger lodge or we’re full.
If we’re booked out and the hotels are too, there’s a great range of private cottages and lodges around Downings and Carrigart on Airbnb — search the area and you’ll usually find something special.
The nearest airport — about an hour’s drive at Eglinton, just past Derry, with links to Britain (and seasonal routes). The handiest arrival point for a short hop.
The tiny, scenic Donegal Airport at Carrickfinn — regularly voted one of the world’s most beautiful landings. Small, with limited routes (Dublin, Glasgow), but a memorable and very local way in, about an hour and a quarter west.
About two and a half hours east — the main Northern Ireland hub, with the widest choice of UK and European flights and the major car-hire desks. A common arrival point for guests flying in.
Two championship links five minutes from the door. Tom Doak’s St Patrick’s Links is the headline — routed through wild dunes above Sheephaven Bay — alongside the older Sandy Hills and Old Tom Morris courses. We’ll arrange tee times on request; just ask when you book.
A classic, affordable links on Ballymastocker Bay, regularly voted one of the world’s great beaches behind it. An easy run round the Fanad peninsula and a fine second course if you’re here for a few rounds.
The blue-flag beach at Downings — Trá Beag means “small beach” in Irish, though it’s a wide, safe, sandy sweep that’s ideal for families, with the Harbour Bar and the Beach Hotel a stroll away for chips after. Lifeguarded in summer.
The hidden one, and worth the effort. Parking is now at the Melmore car park behind a council barrier — €5 on entry — and you walk down from there to a dramatic horseshoe of sand between cliffs (Boyeeghter Bay on the map). No facilities, strong currents, and dogs aren’t allowed — there are sheep on the access land and the signs are up. On a still evening you’ll often have the beach to yourselves.
Trá Mór — “large beach” in Irish — a long, dune-backed strand on the Rosguill peninsula. A proper walking beach, good for blowing the cobwebs off and letting the dog run. Quieter than Downings even in August.
A 1.1km wooden boardwalk runs across the dunes to a long white beach — smooth enough for buggies and bikes, a lovely easy walk in itself. On-site there’s the Hooked bar & restaurant looking over Sheephaven Bay, and Spá na Mara, a proper spa with a thermal suite and treatments you can book in. Between Carrigart and Creeslough.
A lovely bakery just a couple of minutes away — fresh bread, cakes and treats, and the handiest thing in the world to have around the corner from the cottage. Well worth a stop.
Donegal’s smallest distillery, practically a neighbour — Michael O’Boyle’s grain-to-glass craft distillery in an old cottage above Mulroy Bay at Gortnabrade, by the Harry Blaney Bridge. Hand-distilled Mulroy Bay Irish Gin and poitín in tiny batches, infused with local botanicals. A proper local dram to take home.
A Victorian landmark in the village, beautifully restored — Mickey Stephen’s Bar, Walshes Snug, food Thursday to Sunday and a focus on live music. Four kilometres up the road; ask for Tony at the bar and tell him you’re staying at Davey John’s. Also takes overnight guests if you’ve friends needing a room.
A country pub in Cranford run by Paddy Logue and his family — and one to note: my brother, a serious steak man, rates the steak here among the best he’s ever had. There’s a charming bit of history too: the premises includes an old forge once worked by Tom Logue as a blacksmith. A great spot for a meal or a quiet pint.
A 1.1km wooden boardwalk runs across the dunes to a long white beach — smooth enough for buggies and bikes, a lovely easy walk in itself. On-site there’s the Hooked bar & restaurant looking over Sheephaven Bay, and Spá na Mara, a proper spa with a thermal suite and treatments you can book in. Between Carrigart and Creeslough.
One of Donegal’s oldest bars (circa 1768) with a seriously good restaurant out the back, in Glen village. The kind of place locals book and visitors stumble on — small, seasonal menu, terrific. The restaurant runs Thursday to Sunday and they prefer you to book a table online; note a credit card is needed to reserve, and tables with children are at the 5:30 and 5:45 sittings only.
A lovely recently-opened coffee spot in Downings, right across from the McNutt weaving mill — grab a proper coffee and a sweet treat, then wander into McNutt’s for their famous Donegal tweed throws and scarves. Well worth the stop.
The one you don’t want to miss. Tony and Lina’s tiny seafood bar beside the Harbour Bar has been a Donegal sensation since 2018 — the Irish Times named it the best fish and chips in the county, and it’s been listed among the Business Post’s 101 Great Irish Restaurants. Small plates, fish straight off the local boats, and famous fish tacos. No bookings, so arrive early and have a pint next door in the Harbour Bar while you wait for a table.
Pints and fresh seafood right by the pier at Downings — Casey’s to the locals, and one of our own favourite spots for a weekend pint. Unfussy, friendly, the chowder is the order, and there’s a good chance of live music.
Our top pick for a local chipper — Max’s in Downings does proper fish and chips. The go-to when you want a takeaway without going far.
A burger place in Milford you can sit in or take away — good when it’s open, but a word of warning from hard experience: check the opening hours before you set off, as it keeps its own counsel on when it trades.
A lively spot in Downings worth the trip for its fantastic pizza and cocktails — and, like the Harbour Bar and the Singing Pub, a good bet for live music at the weekend. Between the three of them you’ll rarely be short of a tune.
A gorgeous old thatched stone pub with a green door and open turf fires, on the Atlantic Drive five minutes beyond Downings. Pub grub and a separate restaurant with a weekly-changing menu — and, as the name promises, a real chance of a session. Full of character; a proper Donegal night out.
The most varied takeaway around — in Creeslough, with everything from a genuinely good Indian, through pizzas, fish and chips, kebabs and more. If the group can’t agree what they fancy, this is the answer.
On the R245 just outside Letterkenny — if you’re driving back to us from town and starving, it’s very hard to pass. A warm, family-run hotel restaurant; steak is the speciality and the turkey and ham is a favourite of ours. Also a hotel and spa if you need a room.
Your nearest village, four kilometres on — a SuperValu for the big shop, a butcher, a couple of good pubs, a pharmacy and the Carrigart Hotel. Everything you need for a self-catering week without driving far.
The seaside town on the Rosguill peninsula — Trá Beag beach, the Harbour Bar, the Beach Hotel and Goose & Gander, plus the start of the Atlantic Drive. Eight kilometres of coast road from us.
The county’s biggest town, twenty minutes away — the large supermarkets and retail parks, the An Grianán Theatre, and a multiplex cinema if the weather turns and you want a bigger screen than the cottage projector.
A small village fifteen minutes west, on the road to Dunfanaghy — handy for Doe Castle and Ards Forest Park, with a shop, a couple of pubs and the Braai restaurant nearby.
A pretty, characterful village half an hour west around Sheephaven Bay — galleries, good cafes and restaurants, Arnolds Hotel, and the gateway to Horn Head’s dramatic cliffs and Killahoey beach. Well worth a day.
The nearest bigger village in the other direction, twelve minutes south — a supermarket, shops, and the Mulroy Woods Hotel. Your handiest stop for anything Carrigart doesn’t have.
A handsome Georgian heritage town on the River Lennon, twenty minutes south — elegant quayside warehouses, the Tap Room, good food and a genteel, unhurried feel. One of the prettiest towns in the county.
A scenic 1.5km woodland walk along the shore of Mulroy Bay on the Mulroy Drive — through mixed woodland of Scots pine, bilberry and bracken, up a gentle rise to spectacular views over the bay. Watch for swans, ducks, seabirds, and if you’re lucky, otters. Parking at the forest pier.
Hugh Hunter’s adventure outfit launches from Woodquarter Pier on Mulroy Bay, just up the road — guided kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and coasteering, plus family splash-and-dash sessions and sunset paddles. Fully qualified, brilliant with nervous first-timers and kids alike. The best way to get out on the bay.
Donegal’s iconic quartzite cone, glowing pink at sunset. The walking path up starts about thirty minutes away; it’s a stiff three hours up and down, but on a clear day the summit views over the whole county are extraordinary. Proper boots and a weather check first.
The loop road around the Rosguill peninsula from Downings — fifteen minutes of cliffs, hidden coves, marram dunes and big Atlantic horizons. A short, spectacular drive; do it at golden hour.
A genuinely special, peaceful place between Creeslough and Dunfanaghy — a Capuchin Franciscan friary on 200 acres of woodland on the shores of Sheephaven Bay, where the friars have lived since the 1930s. They warmly welcome everyone to visit for free: wander the coastal path from the Lucky Shell beach round into the adjoining Ards Forest Park (1,200 acres of woods, beaches and trails), sit on the marble benches above the bay, and call into the little coffee and pastry shop. Car park and toilets on site. An oasis of calm and one of the loveliest walks in the county.
One of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world, and far easier to reach from us than the map first suggests. Rather than driving all the way round Mulroy Bay, you hop across the Harry Blaney Bridge — the bridge between the Rosguill and Fanad peninsulas, opened in 2009 — just beyond Downings, with a gorgeous viewpoint over the water as you cross. From there it’s a scenic run out to the headland. The working lighthouse (built in 1817 after the wreck of HMS Saldanha) offers guided tower tours — 76 steps up to a 360-degree view over the Atlantic and Lough Swilly. A proper Wild Atlantic Way day; book the tour ahead.
Hire an electric bike in the centre of Downings (Joe and Mairead will set you up) and take the Atlantic Drive or roll over the Harry Blaney Bridge to Roy Island — the e-boost turns the Donegal hills from a slog into a joy. A brilliant, low-effort way to see the peninsula.
Private, family-only alpaca walks and meet-and-greets on a farm above Sheephaven Bay at Downings — a gentle, genuinely lovely hour with the animals and their guides, and a little farm shop of alpaca knitwear after. A hit with kids and grown-ups alike. Book ahead; they’re not an open farm.
Donegal’s smallest distillery, practically a neighbour — Michael O’Boyle’s grain-to-glass craft distillery in an old cottage above Mulroy Bay at Gortnabrade, by the Harry Blaney Bridge. Hand-distilled Mulroy Bay Irish Gin and poitín in tiny batches, infused with local botanicals. A proper local dram to take home.
Hugh Hunter’s adventure outfit launches from Woodquarter Pier on Mulroy Bay, just up the road — guided kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and coasteering, plus family splash-and-dash sessions and sunset paddles. Fully qualified, brilliant with nervous first-timers and kids alike. The best way to get out on the bay.
A genuinely special, peaceful place between Creeslough and Dunfanaghy — a Capuchin Franciscan friary on 200 acres of woodland on the shores of Sheephaven Bay, where the friars have lived since the 1930s. They warmly welcome everyone to visit for free: wander the coastal path from the Lucky Shell beach round into the adjoining Ards Forest Park (1,200 acres of woods, beaches and trails), sit on the marble benches above the bay, and call into the little coffee and pastry shop. Car park and toilets on site. An oasis of calm and one of the loveliest walks in the county.
A full day out, half an hour away — a romantic 19th-century castle on a glacial lough deep in the national park, with celebrated gardens, a red-deer herd and miles of walking trails. A shuttle bus runs from the visitor centre to the castle, or walk the lakeshore.
A handsome 16th-century tower house on a spit into Sheephaven Bay, fifteen minutes away — one of the best-preserved of its kind in the country, free to wander around, and a lovely short stop with the water on three sides.
One of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world, and far easier to reach from us than the map first suggests. Rather than driving all the way round Mulroy Bay, you hop across the Harry Blaney Bridge — the bridge between the Rosguill and Fanad peninsulas, opened in 2009 — just beyond Downings, with a gorgeous viewpoint over the water as you cross. From there it’s a scenic run out to the headland. The working lighthouse (built in 1817 after the wreck of HMS Saldanha) offers guided tower tours — 76 steps up to a 360-degree view over the Atlantic and Lough Swilly. A proper Wild Atlantic Way day; book the tour ahead.
Beach and dune treks on horseback from the village — one, two or three-hour rides across the sands and countryside, for all levels, with safety the priority (AIRE-approved). One of the real Donegal experiences with kids. Open daily through the summer; book ahead.
The rainy-day saviour — the biggest indoor soft-play in the North West, part of the Century complex in Letterkenny, with supervised zones for toddlers up to bigger kids, plus an arcade, indoor crazy golf, and an eight-screen cinema under the one roof. Twenty minutes away.
Another brilliant wet-weather standby for the kids — a family entertainment complex on the Ramelton Road with ten-pin bowling, Laser Quest over a multi-level maze, a soft-play adventure centre, pool, arcades and the Wood Berry Grill for feeding everyone after. An easy half-day when the Atlantic’s being Atlantic.
Hire an electric bike in the centre of Downings (Joe and Mairead will set you up) and take the Atlantic Drive or roll over the Harry Blaney Bridge to Roy Island — the e-boost turns the Donegal hills from a slog into a joy. A brilliant, low-effort way to see the peninsula.
Private, family-only alpaca walks and meet-and-greets on a farm above Sheephaven Bay at Downings — a gentle, genuinely lovely hour with the animals and their guides, and a little farm shop of alpaca knitwear after. A hit with kids and grown-ups alike. Book ahead; they’re not an open farm.
A 1.1km wooden boardwalk runs across the dunes to a long white beach — smooth enough for buggies and bikes, a lovely easy walk in itself. On-site there’s the Hooked bar & restaurant looking over Sheephaven Bay, and Spá na Mara, a proper spa with a thermal suite and treatments you can book in. Between Carrigart and Creeslough.
The spa at the Donegal Boardwalk Resort — a thermal suite with heated loungers and a relaxation room looking over Sheephaven Bay, plus a treatment menu. Ten minutes away; book your slot ahead, it gets busy in season.
Sarah McGroddy’s wellness and therapy practice, a five-minute drive away in Carrigart — a lovely local spot for a treatment during your stay. Best reached through her Instagram for current services and booking.
The handiest shop for the everyday — groceries, the basics and bits you’ve forgotten, right in Carrigart village, four kilometres up the road.
The petrol station on the edge of the village — fuel, plus a small supermarket attached for milk, bread, the paper and a top-up shop without going far.
The bigger supermarket for a proper weekly shop — just the other side of Carrigart as you head out the Creeslough road. The one to aim for when you’re stocking the cottage for the week.
A handy convenience store in Downings for essentials if you’re down at the beach or out the Rosguill side and don’t want to drive back to Carrigart.
The nearest Lidl, twelve minutes south in Milford — this is the one for “the Big Shop” if you’re stocking up properly for the week.
A lovely bakery just a couple of minutes away — fresh bread, cakes and treats, and the handiest thing in the world to have around the corner from the cottage. Well worth a stop.
For when Davey John’s is booked out, a few good places nearby we’re happy to point you to.
A Victorian landmark in the village, beautifully restored — Mickey Stephen’s Bar, Walshes Snug, food Thursday to Sunday and a focus on live music. Four kilometres up the road; ask for Tony at the bar and tell him you’re staying at Davey John’s. Also takes overnight guests if you’ve friends needing a room.
On the R245 just outside Letterkenny — if you’re driving back to us from town and starving, it’s very hard to pass. A warm, family-run hotel restaurant; steak is the speciality and the turkey and ham is a favourite of ours. Also a hotel and spa if you need a room.
The Goose & Gander in Downings — the pizza-and-cocktails spot — also has glamping pods out the back, a fun and different option if we’re full and you fancy being right in the village near the food and the music.
The accommodation alongside the Olde Glen Bar in Glen — handy rooms if you want to roll straight from that excellent restaurant to your bed, ten minutes from us.
A friendly family-run hotel right in Downings, by the beach — a good option if we’re full and you’d like to be on the Rosguill side, with a bar and restaurant on site.
Another long-established, family-run hotel in Downings overlooking the bay — comfortable rooms, bar and food, steps from Trá Beag beach.
The golf resort’s own hotel — 70 rooms, many with views over the links or Sheephaven Bay, a restaurant and bar, and the first tees on the doorstep. The obvious choice for a serious golf trip if we’re booked up.
Self-catering lodges and suites with the spa and the boardwalk on site — a different style to us but a lovely spot if you want a larger lodge or we’re full.
If we’re booked out and the hotels are too, there’s a great range of private cottages and lodges around Downings and Carrigart on Airbnb — search the area and you’ll usually find something special.
The nearest airport — about an hour’s drive at Eglinton, just past Derry, with links to Britain (and seasonal routes). The handiest arrival point for a short hop.
The tiny, scenic Donegal Airport at Carrickfinn — regularly voted one of the world’s most beautiful landings. Small, with limited routes (Dublin, Glasgow), but a memorable and very local way in, about an hour and a quarter west.
About two and a half hours east — the main Northern Ireland hub, with the widest choice of UK and European flights and the major car-hire desks. A common arrival point for guests flying in.
Patrick Gallagher Travel runs a Monday-to-Saturday service (route 974) between Glen and Letterkenny, and it comes right through Carrigart and past the bottom of our street. There’s no formal stop; you simply walk down, put your hand out, and it’ll pull in for you. A handy, scenic run into town without the car.
Into Letterkenny: 7.45am, 10.45am & 2.55pm. Back towards Carrigart & Downings: 1.20pm & 6.05pm. Times can change, so do confirm with the operator on +353 74 913 7037 before you set off.
Our go-to local taxi, aptly named. Perfect for an evening out when you’d rather not drive, or a lift to dinner and back. A word to the wise: book him with as much notice as you can, especially for a Saturday evening, as he gets run off his feet.
A long-established local firm on the Milford Road in Carrigart (founded 1994). For bigger jobs than a taxi: airport transfers with flight tracking and door-to-door pick-up, golf-tour transport to Rosapenna and further afield, plus sightseeing tours and group travel. Worth a call for an airport run or a group day out.
Three stays on one smallholding, five minutes from the golf and twenty from the beaches. Book direct: we honour Airbnb and Booking.com rates with no commission.
