scenic drives donegal

Letterkenny and Convoy Follow the N13 (Derry road) from Letterkenny and then turn right onto the N56 for Ballybofey/Stranorlar. Some 17km south, take the R236 left, signposted Convoy and Raphoe. Mullaghagarry Forest Park is on the right and a stop is worthwhile as the park has some lovely walks and scenic viewpoints. Continue north-east through the neat village of Convoy. Raphoe Raphoe is a busy market town in a fertile heartland. Next to the Diamond is the much renovated Church of...

Glenties to Ballybofey via the Donegal Highlands.
This route cuts across the central mountainous section of County Donegal. Mountains that will come into view on the way include, Gouguin and Aghla Mountains. To the south the Bluestack mountains offer an ideal environment for the nature lover....

Leaving Donegal Town in a southerly direction the the N15 leads into Laghey, from there turn in an easterly direction on the R232 and make for Pettigo, a picturesque village on the Fermanagh / Donegal border....

Gweedore to Letterkenny and the Poisoned Glen.
Just outside Gweedore is the famous Mount Errigal, the Ulster Way path passes by the mountain and leads into the Derryveagh Mountain range. At the eastern edge of the range Glenveagh National Park, Donegal’s National Park and a protected environment for the deer that roam the isolated hillsides that descend to Glenveagh Castle, now an exhibition centre for the park....

Travelling west from the village of Killybegs you have wonderful sea-scapes to the left and the great bulks of Crownarad and Mulnanaff mountains looming before you. Leave the main road, turn left for the signposted coast road, and take this very scenic, if narrow , road to Kilcar. As you switch back and forward and plunge and climb over this roller coaster of a road you will be delighted by the views and different landscape perspectives offered by your journey....

One of Donegal's most popular peninsular drives where the road runs around the glorious Rosguill Peninsula with Downings at its base. Signposted circuit of the Rosguill Peninsula past much photographed Tra na Rosann....

Deep bays and spectacular peninsular scenery, an ancient Celtic castle, a rock where the O'Donnell Chieftains were inaugurated, and a most varied and interesting forest park, are some of the fascinating attractions of this drive presided over by massive Muckish Mountain....

Buncrana to Carndonagh via Slieve Snacht.
Buncrana is a fast growing town on the eastern shore of Lough Swilly. A traditional holiday centre for neaighbouring Derry, Buncrana has seen large amounts of foreign investment arriving in recent years. To the north of the town on the R238 is Slieve Snacht mountain, measuring 615 metres at its highest point. To the north lies the market town of Carndonagh, by continuing on this route the road eventually leads to Malin Head, the most northerly po...

'Past ancient sites and sensuous scenery to the Republic of Ireland's northernmost point.'...

So complex is north Donegal's coast line that any tour can take many variations depending how much time you have. Best views are from minor roads rather than the N56, but skirting the peninsulas is time-consuming, and roads may be poorly surfaced. The highlights of the journey are the sculpted rocks at Crohy Head near Dungloe, the fiery headland known as Bloody Foreland and the panoramic seascapes around Horn Head and Rosguill. If you still have time and a taste for this gorgeous scenery, F...