Local Attractions:
Ballyboe Cottage is situated within minutes travel of some of Donegal and Ireland's greatest attractions, including:-
Stunning beaches at Killahoey Strand, Marble Hill Strand, and Falcarragh Beach all less than 10 minutes away and Magheraroarty less than 25 minutes.
Glenveagh National Park: About twenty minutes drive away from the cottage this magnificent national park is home to herds of red deer and golden eagles.
Tory Island: Daily ferry trips to Tory, located 9 mile off the Donegal coast, leave from nearby Magheraroarty pier. Although only 4km long and 1 km wide, the island has 2 towns , East Town and West Town.
Dunlewey Lakeside Centre. This centre has lots of different attractions to keep all the family entertained - children's play area, farm yard, boat trips, craft shop, weaving house, audio visuals, etc
Ards Forest Park Located 3km south-east of Dunfanaghy, this wonderful park has marked nature trails and is also a wildfowl sanctuary. Scenic drive at Horn Head nearby
Other attractions:
Gartan Outdoor Pursuits Centre: Situated on the shores of Loch Gartan this is a very popular destination for adventure holiday enthusiasts.
Glebe House and Gallery: This is a Regency house built in 1828 set in woodland and decorated with William Morris textiles, Islamic and Japanese art. The gallery houses the renowned Derek Hill Art Collection.
The nearby Shandon Hotel, 10 minutes away, has a pool, spa and wellness centre overlooking the Atlantic ocean. Arnolds stables in Dunfanaghy offers horse riding and lessons on local beaches and off road terrain. The Dunfanaghy surf school, 5 miles away, offers surf, windsurf and dive.
Letterkenny Leisure Centre: This excellently equipped leisure centre includes a fitness room, steam room, whirlpool, sauna, plunge pool, kids pool & swimming pool.
Donegal County Museum: The Museum houses both permanent and temporary exhibitions including displays from the Stone Age, the late Medieval period & the recent history and folk life of the country
Restaurants and pubs:
We recommend The Cove Dunfanaghy, superb local organic produce. Also good is Denanes Seafood restaurant, serving locally caught seafood, crabs and lobster nightly. Local hotels have superb menus with seasonal produce, these include Arnolds Hotel and the Shandon in Dunfanaghy and The Lough Altan Hotel in Gweedore. Great pub food to be had in Molly's and the Carrig Rua. Something Fishy does the best takeaway fresh fish and chips for miles.
As you may well be cooking we can recommend the names of good local fisherman for catch and cook. The Green Man deli has a great range as do supermarkets in Falcarragh. There is a local farmers market weekly.
Golf:
Nearby Dunfanaghy Golf Club is an 18-hole true links course laid out in 1905 by six times winner of the British Open, Mr Harry Vardon. It offers year-round golfing. Being one of only two hundred links courses world wide, Dunfanaghy is easily walked but also offers a superb golfing challenge. The course has spectacular views of Sheephaven Bay, nearby beaches, headlands, harbours and the dramatic Derryveagh Mountains. The greens are consistently rated among the best in Ireland and the course is sand-based and free-draining, making it playable all year round.
In Falcarragh Cloughaneely Golf Course is a nine hole mature course with rolling fairways and tight greens.
Only 20 minutes away St. Patricks Golf Links is a 36 hole development comprising two 18 hole links courses, Maheramagorgan and Trá Mór. St. Patricks is situated in the North West part of Ireland amidst the splendour and beauty of the rugged coastline of North East Donegal. The two courses lie amongst the sandy hills of Sheephaven Bay, a golfing links wonderland that adjoins the long established Rosapenna Golf Club giving this area four 18 hole classic links courses.
The Old Tom Morris Links has been attracting golfers for over a century and now, with the addition of the magnificent Sandy Hills Links, Rosapenna is set to become one of the top links destinations in the world. Both links courses provide a true seaside challenge for all levels of players.
Other Activities:
Irish Language and Craft Workshops. Locally caught Lobster.
