The main shopping town in the area, Dungloe or An Clochán Liath, is three kilometres away, nestling at the end of Dungloe Bay. There are four modern supermarkets and just about every other type of shop you could need, as well as an excellent range of pubs, restaurants and cafes, and take away food outlets.
Festivals:
Dungloe is in the heart of the Gaeltacht and the centre of Na Rosa or the Rosses. It is famous for the ‘Mary from Dungloe’ International Festival held every August – visit maryfromdungloe.com
Also three kilometres away is the small fishing village of Burtonport, with a range of pubs and restaurants as well as direct ferry access to the island of Arranmore lying five kilometres offshore. Burtonport has a summer festival burtonportfestival.com each year, attracting people from far and wide
Restaurants and Fine Dining
The recently established Stepping Stone, Dungloe, thesteppingstone.ie has a strong link to Donegal’s most famous singer with the adjoining Daniel O’Donnell Visitor Centre.
A short drive away is the award winning Danny Minnie’s restaurant dannyminnies.ie
Our favourite pub is Patrick Johnny Sallys, at the top of Main Street in Dungloe, with astounding views across Dungloe Bay. The warmth of the welcome, a pint of Guinness and watching sunsets over Arranmore Island will bring you back time and again.
There are many more pubs with food, music and the craic throughout the area for you to discover and enjoy.
Fishing
The fishing enthusiast will be well catered for in the Rosses with 130 lakes, river, shore and sea fishing to choose from.
Just opposite the entrance to the cottage laneway is Lough Meela. It is a fine lough located between Dungloe and Burtonport, 90 acres in size, and is stocked with brown trout. Meela is best known for its sea trout fishing. From late July on, the fishing can be superb with the sea trout rising freely.
Lough Meela and the others Rosses lakes are managed by the Rosses Angling Association rossesanglers.com and permits, boat hire etc can all be obtained from Charlie Bonner’s Tackle Shop, The Bridge, Dungloe. Tel: (00353) 749521163. fishinginireland.info/salmon/north/rosses.htm
In nearby Burtonport is Lough Waskel, a stocked lake for fly fishing which caters for disabled anglers with specifically designed boat and angler lowering harness available. Contact Charlie Bonner’s Tackle Shop.
Amazing sea fishing is available along the coast and some ideas can be found at Donegal Sea Fishing donegalseafishing.com and for shore fishing fishinginireland.info/sea/north/westdonegal.htm
Golf
A first class golf course is found at nearby Cruit Island Golf Club, cruitislandgolfclub.com overlooking the Atlantic ocean and providing challenging golf, followed by the welcome food and refreshment available in the club house. It is rated as one of the best 9-hole courses in the world top100golfcourses.co.uk
Outdoor Pursuits
There are many wonderful beaches within easy reach of the cottage. We have plotted some of them, and a few other things on this map.
Outdoor pursuits include horse riding available at Dunlewey Stables dunleweystables.com in the shadow of Mount Errigal mountain. The nearby Dunlewey Visitor Centre dunleweycentre.com has many visitor attractions.
Many holidays include climbing the iconic Mount Errigal. It is really worth the effort for the view on a fine day. The mountain is most often climbed from the carpark off the R251 road. After reaching the summit, people usually walk the short but exposed walk along ‘One Man’s Pass’ which leads to the second and lower of the twin summits. No special equipment is needed to climb the mountain, but caution is advised.
Why not visit Aranmore Island or Árainn Mhór and enjoy a place apart. The ferry runs all year from Burtonport making day trips a must and longer visits a well deserved treat. Savour the beautiful and untamed landscape, Gaelic culture, quiet country roads with abundant wildlife, turf fires and lively pubs,arranmoreferry.com or arranmorefastferry.com arranmoreco-op.com
For the more adventurous a look into exploring the coastal waters with Rapid Kayaking rapidkayaking.com could be the answer.
Only a drive away is Glenveagh National Park glenveaghnationalpark.ie and the inspiring castle and amazing walks are well worth the effort. A little further along the road is Lettrkenny, a major centre for commerce and shopping as well as being steeped in history.
Donegal town is an enjoyable day trip from Seal Cottage and in the same area of south Donegal lie the awe inspiring Slieve League or Sliabh Liag Cliffs, discoverireland.ie the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
Dozens of sandy beaches are within a short drive and are the ideal place to get rid of your anxieties before a relaxing evening in front of the open peat fire.