Ask any American––at least your average East Coast person––which European country they feel closest related to and more at home, and there is a big chance most of them will say Ireland:
America’s love for Ireland runs deep, and based on the fact that over 30 million U.S. citizens can trace their origins back to the Northerly island, we’re not exactly surprised it’s yankee accents you hear the loudest in Dublin’s pub-packed Temple Bar district.
As popular as the Irish capital may be for pub-crawling and quirky museums, however, much of Ireland remains largely undiscovered by its biggest fans despite being roughly the size of Indiana and having so much more to offer on the culture and nature fronts.
Think a beautiful Donegal, for instance: very remote, unspoiled, for lack of a better word, and just how you’d imagine the Ireland of Olden to be before globalization started taking its toll.
Discover Ireland’s Wild, Unspoiled North
Ranked as Ireland’s top offer in Lonely Planet‘s latest issue of Best in Travel, this criminally underrated Northerly county is everything you’d expect a cultural getaway to the Emerald Isle to be:
Comprising the northernmost tip of Ireland, County Donegal is somewhere you go for escaping the hustle and bustle of the Irish cities when it gets, well, too intense: it’s mostly rural, dotted with quaint towns and villages, and where rolling hills meet a dramatic, rugged coast.
If you love nature, for instance, Donegal is where you’ll find one of the tallest (and finest) sea cliffs in all of Europe––Sliabh Liag, which looks just as stunning as it sounds––Malin Head, the furthest north you can go in Ireland, and an epic coastal view, and our personal favorite, Glenveagh National Park:
Cutting through the verdant heart of the county, this landmark preserve encompasses serene lakes (or as the Irish call them, loughs), untouched habitats, and even the odd historic castle backed by a winding Lough Swilly Fjord, one of only three fjords in Ireland.
Oh, and speaking of castles, if you’re coming to this part of the world to be mesmerized by these manmade wonders, as much as the breathtaking natural vistas, you’ve come to the right place.
Fairytale Medieval Castles
Castles may look like something out of a fairytale, but here, they tell a much darker story.
Donegal is one of the most culturally rich areas of Ireland, and it’s not called the last Gaelic stronghold for no reason: other than boasting a high concentration of Gaelic speakers, the territory is heavily fortified, having survived centuries upon centuries of war-faring between locals and the English.
Not that we’re complaining as modern-day tourists, mind you. As it has, we have that to thank for the postcard castle-dotted hinterland.
Think an imposing Donegal Castle, the ancestral home of the O’Donnell clan, one of the most prominent Gaelic families in Ireland from the 5th up to the 16th centuries, Doe Castle, overlooking a scenic Sheephaven Bay, or even a ruined Carriackabraghy:
Once claimed by the once-powerful O’Doherty clan––is any American carrying this name here?–– this last one is perched on a rugged outcrop just off the coast, licked by the tall North Atlantic waves, and it’s easily one of the most picturesque spots you can visit in the whole of Ireland.
Looking for a hidden gem? Head off the beaten track towards Grianan of Aileach, near the border with Northern Ireland, to happen upon a 7th-century BC ring-fort built by the Gaelic peoples.
We reiterate, 7th-century BC, over 2,700 years ago, commanding a breathtaking panorama of the landscape around.
Gaelic Towns Frozen In Time
The colorful towns lining the West Coast of Ireland are cool enough, but have you heard of a sleepy Ardara, where you can buy handmade tweed goods for a small fraction of the price elsewhere, as well as explore the many hiking trails leading up to viewpoints in the surrounding hills?
Don’t forget a laid-back Dunfanaghy, straddling Blue Flag sandy beaches and azure waters––we wouldn’t be the first ones to jump in, definitely not in winter, but it makes for a pleasant-enough coastal walk, not to mention Doe Castle is only a short drive from town.
A part of the Gaeltacht––the Gaelic-speaking communities of Ireland––Glencolmcille is just as fascinating, despite its less-than-impressive size: it is a village of only a handful of houses where the natives have retained their Irish traditions and language.
For a livelier environment, Donegal Town is where all the best pubs and bars are concentrated, including a rustic The Forge, where you’ll try meaty, Guinness-infused pies, hearty Irish stew, and comforting pies at reasonable prices.
By the way, in case you needed any further encouragement to take a detour north to Donegal, the average price of a Guinness up here is an acceptable €6, a whole one euro cheaper than in Dublin––it may not sound like much of a difference, until you start piling up pints.
According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Donegal is 24.8% lower than in Dublin, and this is reflected in beer, food and accommodation prices:
On that note, overnights start from a surprisingly-economical $64 this season at The Gateway Lodge, a 6-minute walk from the center of Donegal Town, and within driving distance of all the main landmarks in the magical county.
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