Holidays Travel

‘A rising tide lifts all boats’ - find your Wild Atlantic Way at Dillons Hotel, Letterkenny

Donegal was named &quot;coolest place on earth&quot; by <em>National Geographic Traveller</em> magazine
Donegal was named "coolest place on earth" by National Geographic Traveller magazine Donegal was named "coolest place on earth" by National Geographic Traveller magazine

Beulah-Anne Sinton visited Dillons Hotel in Letterkenny recently to hear more about Donegal’s ambitions to attract even more visitors to its beautiful shores; scratch the surface of its wealth of natural attractions; savour the local produce that has firmly cemented the county’s place on the “food trail” and of course, absorb the hospitality famed at home and abroad. 

“Up here, it’s different” is the famous saying - our tour guide Joseph Mangan reminded us. And while I have heard this before - indeed scribbled it down monotonously when writing about Donegal - I never really understood what it meant and why one place could lay such an ambitious claim. However now, after experiencing in-depth both the unadulterated beauty of this county alongside the sheer warmth and determination of its people, I understand. 

The old and famously Donegal things like its ruggedness, sublime coastlines, culture and agricultural heritage remain intact and continue to draw visitors in their thousands. However these beloved charms have merged with new thinking and new methods to ensure their appeal for generations to come. 

In a largely stressed out and cosmopolitan world, Co Donegal is the perfect antidote. The Wild Atlantic Way, which has done wonders for the West of Ireland, is the world’s longest coastal driving route and Co Donegal is where it all begins. The county was meanwhile named as the “coolest place” in the world by National Geographic Traveller magazine and is set to feature in Star Wars: The Last Jedi hitting the silver screen in December. Now that really is cool and I’m not ashamed to admit how excited I am. 

Key hospitality providers - like the family-run Dillons Hotel - along with visitor attractions, businesses and local food suppliers are gearing up for a bumper crop and are uniting to show off their county to its stunning potential. “A rising tide lifts all boats” is the new motto of a group of individuals committed to ensuring that visits to Donegal are unforgettable and come highly recommended. 

And if you decide to revisit Donegal in the near future, I would thoroughly recommend Letterkenny - its biggest town - as a great place to start. At Dillons Hotel, its family ethos alongside first class accommodation, food and hospitality are what makes it stand out. It’s a great place to begin your adventure along The Wild Atlantic Way, and staff here will guide you along every step as well as providing a taste of Donegal, literally, with their Wild Atlantic Way cocktails, turf smoked Irish organic salmon from Carrigart and Football Special cheescake - now there’s a blast from the past for anyone who has spent happy childhood holidays here. 

A TASTE OF DONEGAL IN A DAY 

It’s well known that the county is a pretty big one that would take several days to explore in its glorious entirety. However heading south from Letterkenny and outwards to the coast will give you a pretty nice taste of the rugged beauty and history for which Donegal is famed. 

SLIEVE LEAGUE 

My first stop was Killybegs which, despite EU fishing restrictions, is still a bustling town at the forefront of Donegal’s astounding seafood produce. The perfect stop to smell the sea before travelling onwards, and through some awe-inspiring scenery, to the Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) cliffs. 

Some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, I’m ashamed to say that this was my first visit and I simply don’t know how I overlooked this attraction which is now a signature point along The Wild Atlantic Way. And like all the best things in life, they are free. 

I would suggest leaving your car in the car park and hiking the few kilometres to the top to make the most of the views. However it is worth pointing out that you can drive further making these views, including the famous Giant’s Desk and Chair, perfectly accessible for anyone with limited mobility. The rugged views are almost other-worldly and I implore you to visit this summer if, like me, you never have before. 

GLENCOLMCILLE FOLK VILLAGE 

A short journey around the coast will bring you to Glencolmcille Folk Village - an isolated settlement where time has almost stood still. This clachan, or village, comprises eight thatched cottages showcasing three specific years of Irish culture: 1720, 1820 and 1920. Meanwhile 2017 is also a significant year for the village as it celebrates 50 years. And given the warm welcome and knowledgeable insight we received into what life was really like here, it’s easy to see why their legacy here is such an enduring one. Here are three facts about Glencolmcille that you might not know: 

The village houses a sweat house (an early Irish sauna), replica lime kilns and mass rocks 

At the entrance to the centre there is a unique map of Ireland carved from stone native to each county. 

Welsh poet Dylan Thomas holidayed in the area in 1935 

GLENGESH PASS AND ARDARA 

Buoyed by tales of enterprise and kindness, it was onwards to Ardara where we stumbled upon the Glengesh Pass which would easily rival the beauty of the Welsh valleys - there’s also some hairpins which make for exciting driving and plenty of climbs for keen cyclists. Here local men without work built stone walls to give themselves a sense of duty and purpose, and again that left us humbled. Ardara, a heritage town, is of course renowned for its hand-woven tweed, food and festivals. 

AND FINALLY…. THE FOOD 

Again Donegal enjoys a network of first class food producers and restaurants making waves in the food scene here and abroad. Food tourism is now a big thing and the standards demanded grow year on year. Thankfully tourism providers in this county are well ahead of the game, something the staff at Dillions Hotel were keen to showcase at a special culinary evening. 

Everything, except the wine of course, had a local flavour to it from mojitos with turf infused limes and tastes of the sea to smoked Irish organic salmon from nearby Carrigart. 

Given Donegal’s unique position along the Wild Atlantic Way, it’s no surprise that seafood is bountiful at Dillons Hotel but there’s also local beef and pork to tempt the tastebuds. 

All of course complemented by Gunpowder Irish Gin, Silkie whiskey from nearby Sliabh Liag and of course, Kinnegar farmhouse beers. The local food chain is easy to follow and I’m sure if Co Donegal was warm enough to grow grapes, they’d be serving up a nice red from Ardara as well. 

The above is just a small piece of Donegal. I haven’t even mentioned the Inishowen Peninsula, its stunning golf courses, any one of its breathtaking beaches or festivals and of course, the ever popular Daniel O’Donnell Country at Dungloe. But this vastness along with a genuinely warm welcome, is what makes Donegal so appealing. It’s the perfect place to get away from it all and to savour nature on a grand scale. So vast, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have to jostle for unforgettable views or that perfect picture. Donegal is now officially cool, but hasn’t it always been?

For more information on Dillons Hotel and details of themed Wild Atlantic Way breaks, go online at www.dillons-hotel.ie