Page 351 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

it fell into English hands
in the 17th century. It’s a NAHLIK/GETTY

low, water-fringed prom-
ontory with a moat hewn
deeply picturesque spot: a IMAGES ©
out of the rock.
The Drive » Near Creeslough,
the bulk of Muckish Mountain
rears up before the N56 to
Dunfanaghy undulates past
homesteads, loughs and sandy
bays. Once in Dunfanaghy, with
its gently kooky vibe, welcoming
pubs and great places to sleep
(see p351), look out for the
signpost pointing right to Horn
Head (25km).

f Horn Head Belfast Titanic Belfast
This headland provides
one of Donegal’s best g Meenaleck TRIP HIGHLIGHT
clifftop drives: along
sheer, heather-clad You never know who’ll h Arranmore Island
quartzite cliffs with drop by for one of the Arranmore (Árainn
legendary singalongs at
views of an island-dotted Mhór) offers a true taste
sea. A circular road bears Leo’s Tavern (%074-954 of Ireland. Framed by
left to the coastguard 8143; www.leostavern.com; dramatic cliff faces,
station – park to take off R259, Crolly; hkitchen cavernous sea caves and
the 20-minute walk due 1-8.45pm Jun-Sep, 5-8.45pm clear sandy beaches, this
north to the signal tower. Thu-Fri, 1-8.45pm Sat, 1-8pm 9km-by-5km island sits
Hop back in the car, Sun Oct-May; Wc) in 5km offshore. Here you’ll
continuing east – around Meenaleck. It’s owned by discover a prehistoric
1km later a viewpoint Bartley Brennan, brother triangular fort and an off-
tops cliffs 180m high. of Enya and her siblings shore bird sanctuary flut-
Máire, Ciaran and Pól
There’s another superb tering with corncrakes,
vantage point 1km fur- (aka the group Clannad). snipes and seabirds. Irish
ther round – on a fine day The pub glitters with is the main language
you’ll see Ireland’s most gold, silver and platinum spoken, pubs put on turf
northerly point, Malin discs and is packed with fires, and trad-music
musical mementos –
Head. sessions run late into
there’s live music nightly the night. To get the full
The Drive » The N56 in the summer. castaway experience, stay
continues west. Settlements overnight (book). The Ar-
thin out, the road climbs and The Drive » Continue west
the pointed peak of Mt Errigal on the R259 as it bobbles ranmore Ferry (%074-952
fills more and more of your and twists besides scattered 0532; www.arranmoreferry.
windshield before the road communities and a boggy, then com; Burtonport; return adult/
swings away. At tiny Crolly, follow sandy, shore. Head on to the child/car & driver €15/7/30;
the R259 towards the airport, pocket-sized port of Burtonport, h4-8 daily sailings year-round)
then turn right, picking up signs following ferry signs right, to takes 20 minutes.
for Leo’s Tavern (35km). embark for Arranmore Island
(25km). 4 p351

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