Backpacker’s Guide to Donegal

share | tweet | MORE |

 

Ireland is just one of those countries that in many ways are perfect for backpacking. It is small (so no really long distance travel), picturesque ( with its green rolling hills, tiny colorful villages, breath-taking coastline and countless historical attractions), what more could a backpacker want?

Donegal is the northermost county of Ireland, and the locals sometimes call it the forgotten county, because its relatively small number of tourists, and worse economic conditions than the rest of the country. But the non-touristy aspect can be a good thing, especially if you want to see places that others might have overlooked. Here’s a short backpacker’s guide to Donegal.

The first thing you need to know about Donegal is that the locals are not as used to tourists as the inhabitants of County Kerry or County Galway. That doesn’t mean that you will be less welcome, just that you might not find a tourist information office in every town and village, and you’ll have to rely either on your wits or the kindness of the locals.

The county is much less accessible than the other Irish counties, in fact it might be easier to get there from Northern Ireland. County Donegal shares only a 20 km border with the rest of the Republic, and there’s only a one road connecting them (Bundoran to Sligo road).

Buses should be easy to find (check the Bus Éireann website to see the timetables). But the upside of the tricky access is that the scenery in Donegal is among the most unspoiled in the entire country.

Exploring Donegal by car or bus would be a huge mistake, because you’d miss out on much of the scenery. Biking is the best way to explore the county – the quiet backroads are perfect for bikers. However, keep in mind that the geography of the county is very hilly (so sometimes slopes can be challenging), and road signs are often confusing, so take a good map with you.

A budget option for when you’re traveling longer distances is to hitchhike. On major roads you usually don’t have to wait more than 10-15 minutes, although in the countryside it can take longer.

Pretty much all of the county is picturesque, but there are some landmarks that you definitely should see. The preserved railway in Fintown, with its museum, are a must see, and so is the corn and flax mill near Letterkenny.

The two main offshore islands of the county are inhabited, and worth seeing, as are the smaller islands if you can find a way to get there. The lighthouse, hill fort and coastguard station in Arranmore Island should be on your to-see-list. If you are a hiker, there are plenty of trails to occupy your time. Leave your backpack at a hostel, take only the bare necessities, and check out the cliffs at Slieve League, Mount Errigal and Derryveagh mountains.

You might also like

share | tweet | more |

 

Leave a comment on Backpacker’s Guide to Donegal

Enter your comment below, or Trackback from your own blog. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS
 

Leave a comment:

* your name

* your email address (will not be published)

your website

 

*=required