Page 221 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

DRIVE 21: Dramatic Donegal 219

Dungloe (An Clochán Liath),
the last stop on the peninsula, is
the main town of The Rosses. It has
a seasonal tourist office (in the
converted church at the top of the
village) and is a good place to stock
up on provisions. For 10 days every
yeat at the end of July the Mary From
Dungloe Festival takes place, a busy
programme of music, parades and
children’s activities culminating in a
beauty pageant to elect the new
“Mary from Dungloe” from young
contenders representing the
counties of Ireland.
ª Drive straight through Dungloe
but instead of turning left with the
main road at the top of the hill, keep
straight, leaving the church on your Above Gweebarra Bay, on the scenic coastal
left. The road will become narrower passes through the spectacular road from Dungloe in The Rosses to Ardara
and bumpier, but the drive is worth Glengesh Pass, a steep mountain
it for the scenery. After rejoining road winding between Glengesh
the N56, turn right for a detour to the Hill and Common Mountain, with
beach at Dooey Point, then rejoin viewpoints along the way.
the N56 and travel south to Ardara. ª Leaving Ardara take the N56 to
Donegal and then turn right onto the
R230 for Glencolmcille through the
Glengesh Pass. In Glencolmcille drive SHOPPING IN ARDARA
straight through the village to An
Cláchan, the Folk Village Museum. The factory shop of John Molloy
(07495 41133; www.johnmolloy.com)
There is a car park at the museum. sells hand-knitted Aran fisherman’s
jumpers, contemporary knitwear
e Glencolmcille (Gleann designs and classic Donegal tweeds,
Cholm Cille) including traditional caps. Kennedy
Co Donegal of Ardara (075 41106) has been
making Aran jumpers in the town for
One of the most westerly points of more than 100 years. Trióna Design
Donegal, on a peninsula reaching far (07495 41422; www trionadesign.
into the Atlantic, the quiet village of com), based in the old Mart building,
Glencolmcille has a remote feel. The which used to house one of Donegal’s
original tweed makers, was reopened
Above Hand-loom weaver at work on a area, named after St Columba (Colm by the Mulhern family in the 1980s
traditional loom in Ardara Cille) was hit hard by emigration after and now makes stylish handwoven
the 1950s. The Folk Village Museum tweed coats and suits.
w Ardara (An Cláchan) (open Easter–Sep)
Co Donegal recaptures life in rural Donegal EAT AND DRINK AROUND
Ardara is an attractive, hilly village through the centuries, with three THE ROSSES
and a good place to buy hand- cottages representing the 1700s,
woven tweeds, handknits or crafts, 1800s and 1900s. The village is also Danny Minnie’s moderate
with long-established names such the base of Oideas Gael, a respected This family-run restaurant in Annagry,
The Rosses, serves modern cuisine,
as Kennedy of Ardara, John Molloy, provider of courses in Irish language with seafood a speciality. Log fires,
Campbells and Trióna Design for and culture. tapestries and antiques create a cosy
sale. See the weavers’ looms in ª From Glencolmcille take the L1025 atmosphere. Also has a small number
action in some of the larger shops to Carrick (11 km/7 miles). Follow of en-suite guest rooms.
Annagry, Co Donegal; 074 954 8201;
or visit the Ardara Heritage Centre signs for Bunglas and Slieve League, www.dannyminnies.ie
(open Easter–Sep) on the main street, turning right at Carrick for Teelin. In
to learn about the history of the Teelin, turn right just before the The Lobster Pot moderate
Seafood is a speciality of this pub and
tweed industry in Donegal since school. Proceed to the first car park restaurant near the pier in Burtonport,
the 1900s, from sheep shearing to and then walk the 2 km (1 mile) to the with lobster a particular favourite.
spinning and weaving. cliffs (if feeling brave – the road ahead Open fires and a warm welcome
The drive from Ardara to is rough with no barriers and sheer characterise this friendly spot.
Glencolmcille west of the town drops – drive on to the top car park). Burtonport, Co Donegal; 074 954 2012
Eat and Drink: inexpensive under €25; moderate €25–€50; expensive over €50

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