Day 1: Morning departure and travel to Holyhead for the 9.00am ferry crossing to Dublin. Upon arrival we continue our journey through Ireland to the Central Hotel, Donegal for a 4-night stay.
Day 2: Optional excursion to Letterkenny, Portsalon and Fanad Lighthouse – cost £20 (minimum 15 people required)
Our first stop today is the lively market town of Letterkenny, which is known for its gothic style St Eunan’s Cathedral. Its County Museum is housed in an old stone building that was once part of Letterkenny Workhouse and is home to a collection of artefacts relating to local history. Elsewhere, you’ll find craft shops and pretty parks.
We continue to the coastal town of Portsalon, gloriously situated on the shores of scenic Lough Swilly on the extreme north coast of County Donegal. What put Portsalon on the map after centuries of obscurity was its spectacular sandy beach, commonly known as Ballymastocker Beach. With its clean Blue Flag waters, this crescent shaped golden sandy beach was listed by the Observer newspaper as the “second most beautiful beach in the world”.
We conclude the day with a visit to Fanad Lighthouse. Fanad Lighthouse is an iconic working lighthouse at the mouth of Lough Swilly. Located on the windswept Fanad Peninsula, it has been voted one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.
Day 3: A free day in delightful Donegal. In the centre of town is the Diamond, an open pedestrian area surrounded by shops, cosy pubs, wonderful restaurants and delightful coffee shops. Donegal town centre is also known for a monument dedicated to the four authors of ‘The Annuals of the Four Masters’.
There is plenty to keep you interested on a coach tour to this bustling small town. Donegal Castle, the 15th century seat of the O’Donnell Chieftans and the remains of a Fransciscan Abbey sit in its delightful bay. Alternatively, why not take the waterbus from the harbour and let the captain regale you with exciting stories of times gone by? There is plenty to see and do but above all Donegal has splendid scenery that will delight any visitor!
Day 4: Optional excursion to Killybegs, Ardara and Dungloe – cost £20 (minimum 15 people required)
We start the day with a visit to the coastal town of Killybegs, with its shimmering waters and glorious coastline, this area is famous for its maritime culture. It is the largest fishing port on the island of Ireland. St. Catherine's Well, with its rich historical significance, is a stunning spot in town.
Our next stop is the beautiful heritage village of Ardara, it has been long associated with the tweed and knitwear industries. The Ardara Heritage Centre, formally the town Courthouse, profiles the development of the tweed industry. To this day several shops in the town still sell high quality tweed and knitwear. It also boasts an unspoiled beach, featuring stunning rock formations and caves.
Our final stop is the charming town of Dungloe, there’s no shortage of great places to get a refreshing pint, while an array of craft shops provides plenty of interesting keepsakes. Irish is the predominant language in Dungloe, as such, you can expect to hear a lot of locals speaking Irish rather than English.
Day 5: We make the journey back to Dublin, there will be time for coffee in the town of Virginia en-route, then to the port for the 2.45pm sailing to Holyhead.