The area is a walker’s paradise, a haven for nature lovers and those who enjoy being active in the great outdoors but please note that the hostel is in a rural location so prepare suitably before you arrive!

BEACH NEARBY – Tra na Rossan a mile long – surfing – bring your own board – beautiful for walks, secluded and peaceful

ATTRACTIONS – cultural and historic

Use your Hostelling International Membership card to receive discounts in the following attractions in the area:

•    Glebe House & Gallery – Built in 1828, Regency House is set in woodland gardens. An art-lover’s delight, it is decorated with William Morris textiles, Islamic and Japanese art. The collection includes 300 works by leading 20th century artists including Picasso and Kokoshka. All members are entitled to group rates.

•    Dunlewey Centre  - Located on the shores of Dunlewey Lough in the shadow of the mysterious Poison Glen (complete with its own ghost!). There is a vertitable 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.

•    Go back in time with a visit to Glenveagh Castle surrounded by one of the finest gardens in Ireland

ACTIVITIES

Walking: If you want something a little less strenuous, head to Glenveagh National Park for some beautiful walks and while you’re there, get some great photos of the red deer and golden eagles that can be seen there.

The hostel is just off Trá na Rossan strand at the foot of a wild hill but beware of the cliffs at the back of the hostel which can be dangerous.  There are walks up the hill but there is no signage however there are maps of walks in the area that you can use. Have a word with reception who provide these maps for you, as well as recommend your level and give you some advice.

Bike Hire: The manager of the hostel can organise these for you and bikes are delivered directly to the hostel.

Fishing: The Trá na Rossan beach is a popular place for fishing but make sure to bring your own rods!

Nightlife and Eating out:

The Thatch Pub

This pub is approximately 3km (2 miles) from the hostel and serves food until 8pm. There is live music at weekends and sometimes mid-week too.

The Wheelhouse Bar and Sands Nightclub, Downings

This is a popular bar, which also serves bar food and has entertainment nightly in the nightclub - great for night owls who fancy a bit of a boogie!

Carrigart Hotel

Fresh fish is an outstanding feature of the Carrigart cuisine. The menu in the hotel combines local produce with modern preparations and cooking. Enjoy musical evenings with sing-songs and dancing in their comfortable lounge bar. The drink is good and the craic is mighty! (“Craic”, pronounced “crack” is Gaelige for “fun” – an important word to know if you’re new to visiting Ireland!!)

Ask at the Reception for some ideas on where to go during your time in Donegal!