Self-catering holiday homes: County Donegal

Make a holiday rental home or holiday cottage in County Donegal, Ireland your home away from home

The north western corner of Ireland is County Donegal, Ireland’s most beautiful and windswept county, with towering mountain peaks, wild bog land and serene lakes all open to the battery of the elements coming off the Atlantic Ocean. Famous as a destination for walking, fishing and golf, a holiday cottage in County Donegal is the perfect base to enjoy the majesty of the Irish countryside. County Donegal has retained much of its culture, with Gaelic being the first language in many areas. If you are looking for a relaxing retreat in windswept, wild surroundings, a delightfully cosy holiday home in County Donegal is for you!

Things to do on holiday in County Donegal, Ireland

County Donegal is home to some of Ireland’s oldest and most interesting ancient sites and monuments. The Kilcooney Dolmen and the round fort at An Grianan Aileach are possibly the most attractive places to visit from a holiday cottage in County Donegal, Ireland, but there are a huge number to explore.

The Glenveagh National Park is one of the best places to walk, mountain bike and kayak from a County Donegal cottage or holiday home, offering vast areas of woodland, lakes and peaks of the Eastern Derryveagh Mountains. These mountains are also the ideal location for mountain climbing if you are renting a County Donegal property.

The Atlantic coastline is lined with glorious sandy beaches too, especially around Ardara. Nairn Beach is located in a sheltered cove, and has been awarded the prestigious European Blue Flag for cleanliness and safety. Along the back of the beach you can find a range of shops, restaurants and pubs. Slightly further around the coast is Maghery Beach, which offers visitors the change to explore its huge cave network during periods of low tide. The coastline also offers great surfing, diving and fishing. Fishing in County Donegal is well known in angling circles, offering magnificent sea fishing, both from the shore and from a boat, as well as excellent facilities for coarse and game fishing.

Golf is an extremely popular past-time in County Donegal, and as a result, there are some excellent courses to play from the wide park golf courses to the 12 windswept links courses which surround the Atlantic coast.

In the evenings, after a long day of walking, mountain climbing, golf or fishing, visit the local pub, which is likely to be very close to your County Donegal accommodation. There is always a great atmosphere, and due the very strong traditions in County Donegal, there is likely to be a small band or fiddler playing the evening away.

Places to holiday in County Donegal, Ireland

Letterkenny is County Donegal’s capital town, and is the main commercial and cultural centre in the county. It is also the ideal location to take a Donegal holiday home for those wishing to catch salmon whilst on holiday.

Donegal Town, famous for its traditional tweed industry is a delightfully peaceful town on the shore of Donegal Bay. Most visitors to the country will visit Donegal Town, if only to explore the magnificently impressive Donegal Castle.

Weather in County Donegal, Ireland

Due to its location, County Donegal receives some very mixed weather, which is quite hard to predict. Summer temperatures average around 18˚C, and winters around 5˚C, although exact conditions can change quickly. As long as you take a jumper and a jacket when you pack for your self catering Donegal accommodation, you will be fine!

Flights to County Donegal, Ireland

If County Donegal were less remote, it would undoubtedly be one of the most visited regions of Ireland, but its peaceful, unspoilt nature is well preserved and well worth the effort of reaching a County Donegal cottage. Connecting flights from Dublin (DUB) to Donegal Airport (CFN) take under an hour, and are very reasonably priced. Alternatively, you can take your car on one of the many ferries to Ireland and drive.

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