This 10-day tour begins in historic Donegal Town and winds through the Bluestack Mountains to the wild Atlantic Coast ending with the historic settlement at Glencolumbkille and the towering Slieve League sea-cliffs.
Tour Highlights
- The corner that many miss- dramatic mountains and rivers in the far north western corner. The Blue Stack Mountains are really blue!
- Ard na Breatha Guesthouse in Donegal…magical cuisine!
- Lough Nacroaghy, a hidden gem followed by the coast at Port. As far from real life as you could imagine.
- Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Europe and spectacular beyond compare.
Itinerary
On the north eastern shore of Donegal Bay, the town is a lovely traditional town, and the county capital. Your guesthouse is situated 2km from the town at the start of the Bluestack Way. Dinner is available in your guesthouse or in Donegal town.
Day 2 – Donegal to Lough Eske
The Way follows the western shore of the lake and woodlands before climbing the foothills of the Bluestack Mountains. There are beautiful views from the Banagher saddle of Lough Eske and the mountains ahead. Follow the Eglish river valley through the drumlins of south Donegal to the deserted townlands. Your hosts will transfer you from the end of the walk back to your guesthouse.
Distance 20km. Ascents 440m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation Donegal town.
Day 3 – Bluestack Mountians to Glenties
Your hosts will transfer you to where the walk finished yesterday. Hike to Glenties over the pass at Cloghmeen Hill through blanket bogland. Today’s walk is through more of the lowland settlements, past the pre Christian graveyard of Disert. Traverse the mountain of Luaghnabrogue to follow through the solitude of the Owenroe River to the sheep farming country south of Glenties.
Distance 13km. Ascents 370m. Approximate walking time 4 hours. Optional extra route to Lough Anna (5km).
Overnight accommodation in Glenties village.
Day 4 – Free Day in Glenties
Free day to walk in the Glenties area. Walk through lanes and boglands to the beautiful Lough Naeroaghy on the little drumlin of Derkbeg 330m. Enjoy fabulous views of the Gweebarra Bay and west to the Atlantic.
Distance 14km. Ascents 130m. Approximate walking time 4 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Glenties village.
Day 5 – Glenties to Ardara
Follow The Bluestack Way and the Owenea River to Ardara. Today’s walk follows the fishing access route to the Owrnea River on gorse lined paths with the Atlantic ahead and the mountains behind. It’s a relatively easy day’s walking and allows plenty of time to enjoy the lovely town of Ardara.
Distance 12km. Ascents 80m. Approximate walking time 4 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Ardara village.
Day 6 – Ardara to Glencolumbkille
Transfer by taxi to Maghera Strand. Follow the Slí Cholmcille along the foothills of the Slieve Tooey and Crockuna mountains to Glencolmkille. Climb by road to the top of the Owenree River valley to look down on Loughros Beg Bay, Maghera Strand and east to Ardara. The Way crosses a mountain pass at 350m to descend by road through sheep farming foothills to the gloriously remote cove of Port. What a place for lunch! (Packed…there’s nothing here but boats and gulls!) Your final climb of the day takes you up Faugher Mountain to descend to the village of Glencolumbkille. This remote and beautiful corner of Donegal is also a Gaelic speaking area and has many interesting megalithic and early Christian monuments.
Distance 20km. Ascents 630m. Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Glencolumbkille village.
Day 7 – Free Day Glencolumbkille
Rest day in Glencolmbcille to enjoy this fascinating corner of Ireland with its many cultural and historical aspects. There have been inhabitants here since 3000BC. It has always been an Atlantic laden outpost and seat of steely determination; every culture has left their evidence. The optional walk allows breathtaking views of the Atlantic cliffs at Glen Head and Mullaghtan before the knife edge ridge of Sturrall promontory.
Distance 12km. Ascents 320m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Glencolumbkille village.
Day 8 – Glencolumbkille to Cashel
Follow the Slí Colmcille to Cashel via Cornadreeshark and Crockunna hills (200m). The route to Carrick follows blanket bogland and the traditional cart tracks between the settlements. Teelin Bay is a lovely enclosed fishing harbour, a gentle introduction because over the top are the stunning, exhilarating Slieve League cliffs.
Distance 14km. Ascents 310m. Approximate walking time 4 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Cashel, near Kilcar.
Day 9 – Slieve League Cliffs
The Belfast naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger wrote in 1939:
“A tall mountain of nearly 2000 feet, precipitous on its northern side, has been devoured by the sea till the southern face forms a precipice likewise, descending on this side right into the Atlantic from the long knife-edge which forms the summit. The traverse of this ridge, the “One Man’s Path”, is one of the most remarkable walks to be found in Ireland – not actually dangerous, but needing a good head and careful progress on a stormy day…. The northern precipice, which drops 1500 feet into the coomb surrounding the Little Lough Agh, harbours the majority of the alpine plants of Slieve League, the most varied group of alpines to be found anywhere in Donegal.”
The cliffs are exhilarating, hair-raising and not for the faint hearted! Rising 600m from the Atlantic, they have an amazing diversity of colour and shape, as they are composed of numerous different geological types; conglomerates, schists, quartzite and some slate.
Your host will assist you with a transfer to and from Teelin.
Distance 17km. Ascents 550m. Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Cashel, near Kilcar.
Day 10 – Departure from Kilcar
Scheduled bus services from Kilcar to Donegal for onward connections.
Prices & Booking
€270 single supplement.
What’s Included
* Nine nights Bed & Breakfast guesthouse accommodation;
* Luggage transfers each day;
* Detailed route descriptions;
* Relevant 1:50000 maps.
What’s not included:
* Other meals;
* Entries or excursions;
* Transfers to Donegal or from Kilcar.
Guest Reviews
August 2019 – Anje, Cologne Germany
It is going great…. I really enjoy my holiday, the B&Bs have all been good, I always felt very welcomed by the owners. Now the rain has stopped and the view is great over the bay and all the way to Sligo!
Thanks a lot for organizing this tour!
August 2019 – Frank & 3 friends, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The whole tour was wonderful and that we enjoyed it very much. The weather was nice, we had some rain every day, but also a lot of sunshine! We had an excellent holiday. As indicated in the description the route is marked very well, so that didn’t give us any difficulties. The information you provided us with was (as always) very good. Thank you.
Location & Grade
