Detour to Donegal

We asked five different people on our travels thus far, what one place or thing they’d be sure to see in Ireland. All five said the coastal area of Donegal! It was not on our list but we decided it had better be. So when we left Derry, we turned west and went to Letterkenny where we stopped at the TI for maps and suggestions then started on the most beautiful drive out to the Atlantic coast through Irish countryside. We had crossed the border again and were back in the Republic (so road signs are now bilingual, speed limit signs are in kilometers and payment in Euro’s). 

The whole trip was on narrow, heart-racing roads at laughable speeds! Cars come over the hill partly on your side and at the last minute (if you haven’t climbed up the nearest stone wall) pull over. To add to the fun, sheep lie on the side, and in two cases, on the road. But the countryside was breath-taking. 

We used the map with place names circled by the TI and tried to match them to the Gaelic signs on the road. Generally you could see a phonetic connection. 

Our goal was Slieve League, a mountain with cliffs dropping almost 2000’ into the ocean. We travelled through a valley and then started to climb.The last few kilometres winding up the steep sides almost had me sitting on Bill’s lap after I looked down. But the dramatic result was well worth it. 

We are now sitting in a comfortable B&B looking out over Donegal Bay and happy we made the choice.