An epic 3-day road trip around southwest Donegal for you to steal

Donegal, Ireland, , 56 Comments

Last Updated on the 24th of January, 2024 

Last autumn we carved out some time for family fun in Donegal and oh my, did the universe deliver! The wind was howling all night, and we didn’t know what to expect in the morning.

We were surprised to wake up to the quiet light and low-hanging moon. The morning mist was dancing around the Benbulben mountain as we drove by and crunchy frosting covered the ground.

If you decide to visit Donegal, a place where nature is both wild and gentle, you’ll be generously rewarded. You’ll encounter empty coastal roads resting under sunny skies, you’ll be able to dive into the sea of green ferns, you’ll be on the way to a never-ending learning experience, and you’ll see more sheep than people.

I love spending time in Donegal to photograph the surrounding coast, persistently changing colours and moods of fast-moving natural elements.

In this place, changes in temperatures and winds can create an ever-evolving and appealing scenery. Sunsets and sunrises are well worth staying up for; it’s rather spectacular on the edge of darkness with vivacious flashes of ruby-red to perfect golden shades on constant display.

Read More: How To Vist Glenveagh National Park in County Donegal-The Ultimate Guide

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Kilclooney Dolmen, which dates to between 4,000 to 3,000 B.C., is located just a short drive away from Ardara Village.

An epic 3-day road trip around southwest Donegal for you to steal

Everyone who visits Donegal – a county that’s nicknamed Irelands Forgotten County – is bound to fall in love with the vastness of the landscape and friendly people.

And after the trip, no matter how big or small, you won’t be able to stop dreaming about this part of Ireland that’s full of vast bogs, forlorn costs and incredible cliffs.

Road Trip Details & Essentials

This blog post covers a road trip where we drove around the southwest part of Donegal from Donegal town to Slieve League Cliffs, Glencomcille, Ardara and back to Donegal town.

And, as with any road trip, there is so much more to see and do than one blog post can cover.

 • Car Rental | Renting a car in Ireland is pretty straightforward, and you can pre-book one at any of Ireland’s airports for a reasonably affordable price. At  Ireland West Airport you can arrange car hire with Avis, Budget, Hertz and Europcar Rentals. If you are arriving at Dublin Airport offer a great range of car hire companies too.

The best option is always to book directly with the chosen car hire company and to secure the keys to the rental, you’ll need to bring a valid driver’s license, credit card and for ID purposes – your passport.

 • Toll Roads | Even if you are not a resident, you still have to pay when travelling around the Republic of Ireland and passing through one of 11 Toll Points. Speak to your car rental company about their policy; you might be required to cover the costs yourself. Have a look at the Eflow website if you have specific questions.

 • Road Map | A good road map or a guidebook is essential to make sure you won’t miss any must-see sites and can come in handy if you don’t have internet coverage.

  • Duration: Three days
  • Route Length: 165 kilometres
  • Driving Time: 4-5 hours
  • Start: Donegal Town
  • Stops: Donegal Town, St. Johns, Killybegs, Slieve League, Ardara, Maghera Beach
  • Finish: Donegal Town

#1. Stroll through Donegal Town and visit its castle

Start your trip by visiting Donegal town and exploring the historical Donegal Castle, built by Red Hugh O’Donnell and his wife Lady Nuala.

The entrance fee to the castle is Euro 5 for an adult, and you can take a self-guided tour to see the grounds and interior of the castle.

We have been visiting Donegal Town, situated in northwest Ireland for the past year and love everything about it.  There are several things you can do in town.

You can go on one one-hour cruise with Donegal Bay Waterbus to see seal-inhabited coves, visit The Railway Heritage Centre or wander around the ruins of Donegal Abbey.

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The centre of Donegal town is called ‘The Diamond.’

#2. Visit St. John’s Point lighthouse

Leave Donegal, catch the last look of beautiful Blue Stack mountains and head towards St John’s lighthouse, which still provides an essential service to southwest Donegal’s fishermen,  via an open coastal road.

St. John Lighthouse was one of the locations we were most excited to visit and photograph when we left for the trip. As this beautiful lighthouse, whose tower was designed by  George Halpin, is located on the longest peninsula in Ireland, driving 11 kilometres to the tip of it was quite exciting.

After finding a tiny spot between two motorhomes with English registration numbers for our campervan and setting up camp on a small sandy beach overlooking a little bay, we went for a walk to St. Johns lighthouse. We were greeted with remarkable views, abundant plant and birdlife as well as much-needed tranquillity.

* Our Crossings Tip: If you love lighthouses, check out the Great Lighthouses of Ireland webpage for more valuable information.

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Our first time at the beautiful lighthouse.

#3. Stop at Killybegs Town and sample  fresh fish 

Located north of Donegal, Killybegs is the largest fishing port in Ireland with the Killybegs harbour full of trawlers. This little town makes for a great and convenient stop as it is located on the Donegal Wild Atlantic Way. 

You can visit the Killybegs Information Centre situated on Shore Road and chat with knowledgeable staff about available outdoor activities.

If you are interested – take on Killybegs Heritage Trail and visit the Coastguard Station, The Corn Store, the Heritage Centre and more.

Read More: 10 Essential Items To Pack For An Unforgettable Trip To The Emerald Isle

Located north of Donegal Bay, Killybegs is the most important fishing point in Ireland.

#4. Marvel at the sheer size of Slieve League Cliffs

Some places just feel much bigger than the space they take up. Wild, rugged and miles from everywhere, Slieve League cliffs – 601 metres at their highest point –  is a remote place that’s usually battered by the harsh weather.

Whenever we visit this part of the Donegal and are looking for an adventure, Slieve League cliffs come to mind. Just to name a few reasons that make this place special – there are fantastic photo opportunities and rewarding hiking trails like Pilgrims Path with the infamous One Man’s Pass.   And on a clear day, you’ll get a great view of County Sligo and Benbulben mountain.

Slieve League Cliffs are located about an hour’s drive from Donegal town towards the southwest and this is the place where you can have a full Irish weather experience.

Because we have seen this place with gusty winds and sideways rains, that made it impossible to stand still or take a decent photo, it was nice to see it glowing under the golden autumn light.

Read More: Your Guide To Visiting Beautiful Slieve League Cliffs In County Donegal

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A perfect spot for sitting in silence with thoughts.

#5. Visit the Deserted Village of Port

Far away from maddening tourist crowds, surrounded by steep cliffs, sits a remote and abandoned village. The last residents are long gone, leaving behind crumbling cottages and a life where making a living from the land and the sea, while bracing the elements, was the only way to survive.

While driving around the Glencomcille area, we took the wrong turn and stumbled upon The Deserted Village of Port. If you are comfortable wandering down the little dirt road for a few miles (single lane, of course), put on hiking boots, grab a sandwich, and water and make your way across the little bridge. It’s a gateway to hikers’ paradise with views of soaring cliff faces surging from the ocean floor.

The little village, situated 15 km from Glencomcille, is worth a visit, and it took us half an hour to get there. One of the cottages is renovated and is up for rent if you fancy getting away from it all! See more here.

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There are genuinely remote places to visit in Donegal.

#6. Explore Maghera Strand & Caves

I loved how we could jump out of the campervan right into this beautiful out-of-the-way wilderness location. We have seen different versions of Maghera Caves of all shapes and sizes through other travellers’ photos but climbing all the way to the expansive beach and seeing them in person, was something we wanted to do for a very long time.

We were delighted to find a truly stunning white sand beach with towering dunes and impressive rock formations; great for the whole family to experience. Due to the fast tides, the caves aren’t always accessible and keep in mind that despite the beautiful setting, the currents are powerful.

Maghera Strand is located around 8 kilometres from Ardara Village and on your way to the beach, you’ll pass by a waterfall which makes for a great photo stop.

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A short boardwalk brings you through the soft sand dunes to the beach.

#7. Take in the views at Glengesh Pass

Situated between the lovely town of Ardara and Glencomcille, Glengesh Pass meaning “Glen of the Swans” waves through a beautiful setting and is often used by travellers heading to Slieve League cliffs.

The travel distance between the two towns is 15 km, and the twisty road makes for a great drive with picnic tables and stunning views waiting at the top of it.

Glengesh Pass doesn’t receive a great deal of traffic; take your time navigating through the curves and enjoy the beautiful setting and Mulmosog Mountains.

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Glengesh Pass, Donegal, Ireland.

Where to stay in Donegal

On our first road trip around the Glencomkille region, we decided to stay in Malinbeg Hostel, located in untouched South-West Donegal. We chose this place because it is situated only a few minutes from the beautiful horseshoe-shaped Silver Strand beach and because it offers excellent value for money and free parking.  Our private room was clean and comfortable and the hostel had a fantastic view of the Rathlin O’Byrne Island.

You’ll find plenty of accommodation options throughout southwest Donegal to suit any budget and travel style. Always make sure it offers free or nearby parking for your car.

Donegal town is a great place to stay for a couple of days, and you can even use it as a base to explore nearby sights like Slieve League cliffs, Ardara and Killybegs but if you decide to drive out to the very tip of the peninsula its best to find an overnight stay near Glemcolmcille region.

  • The Abbey Hotel is located on the main square in  Donegal town and The hotel restaurant – The Market House – uses fresh Irish produce.

  • Harvey’s Point  | The luxury hotel located just 6km from Donegal town is sitting pretty on the shores of beautiful Lough Eske. Harvey’s Point restaurant offers elegant dining, and you’ll be spoiled with stunning views.

  • Lough Eske Castle |  Treat yourself to a memorable night at the castle, enjoy world-class treatment, and traditional dishes and relax at the Solis Spa.

  • Gort Na Mona B&B | Located 3km from Adara Village, this B&B offers clean and space rooms, homemade jams and mountain views.

When booking hostels or hotels for more than one night, always ask if there are any discounts available, especially when travelling off-season. On a good few occasions, we managed to get an upgrade at no extra cost and were able to choose a room.

The Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town.

Where to go for a meal in Donegal

While now we have an option to cook a fresh meal in our campervan, once in a while we find a lovely traditional pub with a great atmosphere and settle in for dinner or lunch.

Make sure to stop at one of Donegal Good Food Taverns (there are 9 in total), well known for serving fantastic food made from locally produced ingredients. Leo’s Tavern, located in the village of Meenaleck, is our firm favourite, but there is also one in Ardara Village called Nancy’s Bar, famous for its oysters.

To save money while eating out, look for restaurants with an early bird menu.  Usually served Monday through Friday, they offer good food at affordable prices. Keep in mind that eating out on a Sunday is popular in Ireland and many places are bustling during lunchtime.

How to get around Donegal

The best way to visit every place mentioned in this blog post and learn about a thousand years of history is to rent a car as the local transport system won’t take you to most places.

We drove from Sligo to Donegal town, continued along N56 and then R263 towards Glencomcille. That’s the same road that will bring you to St. Johns Point, Killybegs, and Slieve League cliffs. From Glencomcille we headed for Adare village and then back to Donegal Town.

Even though the total length of this little loop drive was just 165 km, we could have easily spent a week or even more stopping at every village, viewpoint and hiking trail.

  • From Knock Airport | You can fly into Ireland West Airport situated just 117 km from Donegal’s Town, and rent a car or Donegal Abbey Hotel using Bus Éireann services.

  • From Dublin | The Driving distance from Dublin to Donegal town is 224 km via N3 and it takes well over 3 hours to get there.

  • From Dublin Busáras | You can travel from Dublin’s Busáras Bus Station to Donegal and back with Express Route 30 which goes through Dublin Airport and Ballyshannon before it comes at a full stop at the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town.

  • From Donegal Airport | Located at Carrickfinn, Kincasslagh, Donegal Airport is only an hour’s drive away from Donegal town and offers twice-daily flights to Dublin Airport.

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Now, over to you!

Have you been to Donegal?  Let us know in the comments below!

Let us know if you are plotting a visit to Donegal and have travel-related questions.

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Our Crossings follows the daily adventures of Latvian expats living in Sligo as they surf and explore the world

56 thoughts on “An epic 3-day road trip around southwest Donegal for you to steal”

    1. Thanks so much, Donegal doesn’t get as many visitors as Galway or Dublin and that’s one of the reasons why we keep returning back to it. Coastal views and friendly locals are a big plus too, hope you get to see this beautifully rugged reagion. Thanks for stopping by and have a good day. Aiva 😊

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  3. A friend of mine is visiting Scotland as we speak and it seems IMPOSSIBLE to not take gorgeous pictures in northern Ireland and Scotland. I’ve always wanted to visit a little village pub; it’s on my bucket list. Hope to experience that soon.

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    1. Donegal is full of magic and pretty sights! It’s our favourite region to explore in Ireland and we are utterly delighted to live nearby. Thanks for reading and have a good day. Aiva

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    1. Yes, Donegal is so stunningly beautiful that it deserves at least couple of encounters if not more. And it’s so pleasantly quiet, if you compare it to places like Galway and Cork. Thanks for reading, Aiva

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    1. It’s our favourite place too and that’s why moving from Dublin to Sligo last year was a super easy decision- knowing we are only a short drive away from Donegal! Thanks for following and have a good day 😀

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    1. Hi, Marie and thanks for reading! Your mum grew up in such a beautifully rugged place, we’ve been back countless times and on every ocation, Sleave League cliffs just takes your breath away! Have a good day 🙂

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    1. I’m glad you feel the same way, I can’t wait for the autumn season to arrive so we can go on yet another photography adventure! Thanks for stopping by and have a good day! Aiva xxx

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    1. Thanks so much – when it comes to describing my favourite places in Ireland I usually like to put my heart and soul into it and receiving feedback like yours – which is much appreciated – makes me feel content. Hope you are enjoying your life in Ireland, it’s a lovely place to explore and call home – even if just for a while. Thanks for stopping by and have a good day 🙂

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      1. I will look forward to your posts – it will also be a way for me to experience Ireland. I hope we visit some of the places that you write about but I also love to experience a place via a book, a good piece of writing, a poem, a photograph, a novel, a painting. Growing up middle-class and in a single income family in India, good writing was one of the ways to experience the world around you as you always may not be able to travel. So thank you for your posts – it helps me see the country I am currently in in a new light.

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  12. Wow! What stunning photographs and what a wealth of information you have given. Have you ever thought of being tour guides yourselves? Seems to me it would be right down your street. I was born and brought up in N. Ireland, in Co. Down, and spent a few holidays in Donegall. I never saw I like you’ve shown it though. I missed a lot, obviously. I shall definitely head that way next year, perhaps an add-on from my trip to the Noireland Book Festival in Belfast next March.

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    1. Hi, and thanks so much for your lovely comment, it would be so much fun to work as a tour guide, but first we want to learn everything we can about the history, culture and have a deeper understanding of the wild Atlantic way of life! And thanks for pointing out about the Book Festival in Belfast, I should definitely look into it, it’s been a very long time since my last one! Have a good day and thanks for stopping by 😊😊😊

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  15. We spent a Christmas in southern Donegal and despite the fog and rain there was something magnetic about it. However, I didn’t know about Maghera Strand & Caves and I’m dying to go back in better weather and have a swim there…. Those sea stacks are amazing

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    1. There is so much beauty in this part of Ireland that it would probably take us years and years to thoroughly explore it. We only stumbled upon Maghera Caves recently and would love to go back because upon our arrival the tide was in and we couldn’t reach the biggest cave. Thanks so much for reading and have a good day 😀

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  17. I always marvel how things can be so similar on both sides of the Channel, Brittany or Normandy and the South of England. The same Dol-men you can see at Carnac in Brittany. Did you know that “men” means “stone”?

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    1. I had to google it right away – I just love reading stories and misteries surrounding many dolmens- because I believe that megalithic sites are more than just stones and it’s truly amazing what people were capable of achieving and building back in a day. Thanks for the information, I actually had no idea that ‘men’ means ‘stone’! Have a good day

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    2. Thanks for sharing, for me, dolmens are lasting proof of the genius of our forebears, living in a world where some people don’t even know how to make pancakes, I see dolmens as a testament to their skill and determination to mark the landscape of their land

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      1. Mark the landscape indeed. Very true. Unfortunately that landscape, as is the case for wildlife in Africa and Asia is… more “cornered” everyday. The stone alignments of Carnac, in Brittany used to be open to the nearby fields and woods. That’s how I knew them. I understand they have now been fenced because of excess of tourists and vandalism. Sad really.
        Thanks for your visit and comments.

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        1. That’s really sad to hear. With the wealth of information about the importance of traditions and heritage available to pretty much anyone who can read it’s scary to think – and witness firsthand- what people do while travelling and exploring the world. With the state of tourism these days we are bound to crash one day, this just can’t go on! Have a good day

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    1. Thanks so much! Ever since we moved from Dublin to Sligo, we eagerly grabbed the opportunity to explore nearby sights within bordering counties of Donegal and Mayo and in a process learned to appreciate the beauty we have on our doorstep. I bet Donegal was worlds away from what it is now; I’d say it would be fun to revisit this part of Ireland. Thanks for stopping by and have a good day. Aiva

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    1. Hi, Mitch and thanks for stopping by! It must be exciting to trace your ancestors in Ireland – not knowing what you’ll be able to find out only adds more buzz to it!. Over the last few years, once we moved from Dublin to Ireland’s West coast, we had a chance to meet lots of people from the USA who were in search of their roots. Some of the stories we’ve heard will stick with us forever – hope you get to come over one day and walk on your ancestor’s soil – thanks to Irish genealogical records you can find lots of useful information and sometimes it only takes the name of your great-grandfather and the date of his departure! Have a good day. Aiva

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  21. I love Donegal! I often pop over the border to Donegal when I visit my grandfather who lives in Derry. I’ve not been to a lot of these places and I love the road trip itinerary, I may have to add some of these to my to do list next time I’m in the country!

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    1. Hi, and thanks for stopping by! We love exploring Donegal and were surprised to discover how much beauty this little corner of Ireland is hiding! Two years ago, once we moved from Dublin to Sligo, we made a list of all the places we wanted to see in County Donegal and even after all this time of exploring it we are not even halfway through it. Would love to pop over the border to see what Derry is like, haven’t had a chance to visit yet and I’ve heard there’s plenty to see and do! Have a good day and safe travels. Aiva

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  22. Pingback: How to have a great time visiting delightful Ards Forest Park in Donegal – OUR CROSSINGS

  23. Wow, you have such a beautiful blog!! I’m very excited to start following along. I’m hoping to study abroad next fall in Scotland and will definitely be visiting Ireland, so I’ll have to keep updates with your posts on Ireland!

    Miles of smiles,
    Grace

    gracefulrags.com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! There are regions of Ireland that somehow manage to feel relatively untouched by the rest of the world and Donegal is one of these places. You would love exploring the cliffs of Slieve League and little towns and coastal inlets! Have a good day, Aiva

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