The area surrounding the Centre itself is a haven for the avid hill-walker and there are many impressive landmarks to see such as: the Greymares Tail waterfall, Disert graveyard & Carnaween Mountain which is also the scene of a World War One crash site are among a few. Be sure ask about the tradition of walking under the arch three times saying a particular prayer to bring you good luck! The nearby town of Mountcharles has bars and local shops to visit, meanwhile Donegal Town is situated 8km (5 miles) away has plenty of restaurants, pubs and shops to satisfy all tastes.
ATTRACTIONS – cultural and historic
Use your Hostelling International Membership card to receive discounts in the following attractions in the area:
Dunlewey Centre - Near Letterkenny, located on the shores of Dunlewey Lough in the shadow of the mysterious Poison Glen (complete with its own ghost!). There is a veritable list of things to do at the centre including a Restaurant & Tea Room, Craft Shop, Adventure play area, Historic homestead guided visit, Tweed weaving demonstration and enjoy some Ceol Traidisiunta (Traditional Music) too! There’s also an Audio-Visual show on Dunlewey, Lakeside walks, Boat cruise on Dunlewey Lake (with story-telling), Farmyard Animals to feed, Pony & Trap to rent or if you prefer to take the reins yourself, there’s also Pony riding. The Dunlewey Centre offers 20% off all tours for all members of An Óige/HI.
Donegal Castle - Built by the O'Donnell chieftain, known in the history books as Red Hugh O'Donnell in the 15th century, beside the River Eske and located in Donegal town, this is a smaller castle which has been lovingly restored. If you’ve any interest in history or how people lived in the past, this is a must-see attraction. All members are entitled to group rates.
Popular attractions also include:
Slieve League cliffs In the other direction, towards Killybegs, are the Slieve League cliffs, said to be the highest and finest marine cliffs in Europe. With a 300 metre drop straight in the wild Atlantic ocean below – this is a trip best kept for a more temperate weather day! It’s advised to leave your car in the car park and walk the 2-3 km to the cliffs where you can also walk along One Man’s Pass (also called Dead Man’s Pass by locals) and enjoy the spectacular views. This part of the walk is best avoided on a stormy or windy day for obvious reasons! You’ll also find the ruins of a church to investigate as well as a watchtower constructed in the early 19th century to defend against any Napoleonic attacks. Most impressive attraction to visit – well recommended for anyone in the area.
Water Bus Tours – these boat tours are one of the top tourist attractions in the North West of Ireland and are very popular for a good reason! The boat tour goes out into Donegal Bay and with story-telling and seal-spotting and occasionally they have live music on the boat too! The large seal colony in Donegal Bay is one of the most popular attractions seen from the Waterbus and you can opt for a sea safari or a trip on a high speed RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) which offers a different type of journey for the person who enjoys a bit more high speed action!
ACTIVITIES
Hiking/Walking: Some of the best walking and hiking in Ireland - The Bluestack Centre is very involved with walking and hiking trails in the Donegal area. The Centre works in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland Walking Hub and, Inga Bock, who resides at the centre, is the Rural Development Officer who co-ordinates the Waymarked Way.
The Bluestack Mountains are found in South Donegal, beginning at the village of Pettigo on the Donegal and Fermanagh border. The mountains then head northwards to Barnes Mór Gap and then westwards to Killybegs.
The Bluestack Mountains contain several lofty peaks but you don’t need to get to the top to see the magnificent scenery – it’s all around! There’s tumbling streams, waterfalls and rugged exhilarating scenery abound – it’s difficult to take a bad photograph around here!
If you need a little guidance on your walk or feel that your hiking skills could do with a little support, there are plenty of qualified and highly experienced walking/hiking guides most of whom are involved with the Bluestack Ramblers Walking Club – the Centre’s very own keen walking club!
Check out www.donegalwalkerswelcome.com for more details - they can help with route finding and trails while using the art of story telling to enrich your holiday and guide you through the rich history and diverse culture and landscape of this beautiful area.
Fishing: Excellent fly fishing nearby on the Eany River and there’s a fishing tackle shop in Donegal Town - ask at reception for details.
Other activities: Also available at the Centre there’s indoor bowls on Tuesday evenings, bingo on Saturday night, and dance classes on Thursday evening including a bit of everything from jiving to walzing to barndances! These are available with a concession and in some cases are free for guests.
Also every Wednesday night during July and August, the Centre hosts a Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann – traditional Irish Music night including a light supper which is only half price for guests (approximately €3).
Near Donegal Town there’s also Murvath Golf Club and Donegal Equestrian Centre – it’s well recommended to go horse-riding on the surrounding beaches.
Only a couple of miles away are Mountcharles Beach and Inver Beach – both beautiful sandy beaches and blue flag Rosnowlagh Beach is approximately 6km away (3.5 miles).
Nightlife and Eating out: The Bluestack Centre is a 2 minute walk from O'Neills Pub where guests can enjoy the Ceol, Craic & Cainte - Gaelige for Music, Fun & Singing!
Neighbouring towns of Mountcharles offer a range of pubs where guests can enjoy the warm friendly nature of the locals. Village Tavern is a great bar to visit where you can also get meals.
Donegal Town is the main centre for nightlife in the area having a pub or bar to suit every taste as well as the Abbey Hotel disco which is opened every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Be warned – it’s not for the faint hearted so get your dancing shoes on! Donegal Town also has a variety of restaurants and eateries including Italian, Chinese, Thai, and Indian and you’ll also find traditional Irish food of course!
