DONEGAL: A Year Round Gem

The iconic Ballymastocker Bay in spring

We are currently having a run of superb weather in Donegal at the moment.  Our many sandy beaches are being enjoyed and photographed showing Donegal to be almost tropical across the net.  Why would people not want to visit this fantastic county?

Donegal is generally not visited for the weather.  Yes, we can have excellent weather but we take that as a bonus.  Donegal is special for many more reasons, the people, the craic, the food but at the top of the list, the scenery.

We have stunning scenery at every turn.  Wander along any road and there will be many times you want to stop to take in the view.  The views remain the same, spring, summer, autumn and winter.  Yes, of course the seasons lend different colour pallets to the scenery but ultimately the scenery remains the same, beautiful.

If you want to make the absolute best of Donegal why not consider leaving your visit until the end of the year.  A weekend in Donegal later in the year, or a week or longer if you can, means you can travel much more easily without the holiday traffic.  The most popular tourist spots are more easily accessible with little problem with access or parking.

The magnificent cliffs of Sliabh Liag become even more vibrant with an autumnal cloak.  The sandy beaches give bracing walks, breathing in the fresh and salty sea air made all the better without the frustration of having to find a parking space or even maybe a bit of a trek to get the beach.  You have miles of sand in some case where you can sit, perhaps the only person on the beach.  It is heavenly.
The eateries are not so packed and you can take your time to enjoy the special foods of Donegal, perhaps some fresh seafood or maybe homemade bakes.  There is little like a refreshing walk on a beach followed by a rest in a little café with fresh coffee and a homemade bun.  Or perhaps on a colder day, a bowl of homemade soup.

Accommodation will be cheaper out of season and if shopping is vital to you on any trip away, the shops are not as busy and there are maybe even end of season bargains to be had.  

Some attractions may indeed be closed for the winter but you can still view them from outside.  Doe Castle is beautiful just to look at from outside.  Fanad Lighthouse remains an eye-catching monument to our coastal county.  Our woods remain open and some offer beautifully laid out walks through them when later in the year the colours change from vibrant green to the golden colour so autumn.

Speaking of colours, we have amazing sunsets in Donegal and these can be even more spectacular in the skies of the colder months.  Artists and photographers will relish in the cloudscapes and the colours that a sky dark with rainfall colours the landscape.

And at the end of any day, there is always the craic to be had in a small pub where if you are lucky a roaring turf fire welcomes you in from the chilly night.  You may arrive on a night where local musicians gather for a night of traditional music.  A pint of Guinness or a hot whiskey in front of a turf fire would be a special memory to carry home with you.

Sure, come to us in the summer but why not try to make a return, more relaxed journey later in the year?  Or, as above, leave your visit until the autumn or winter.  Your enjoyment will be no less and maybe even much more.

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The small selection of photographs below show how beautiful Donegal skies can be in the autumn, winter and spring months.  Misty hill, the boats sparkling in Killybegs harbour on a winters night, rainbows and double rainbows, and glorious sunsets.