Page 234 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

232  IRELAND REGION B Y REGION

hand­loom weaving. Ardara
is also worth a stop for its
pubs, much loved for their
fiddle sessions.
Environs
A drive along the narrow
peninsula to Loughros Point,
10 km (6 miles) west of town,
provides dramatic coastal
views. Another picturesque
route runs southwest from
Ardara to Glencolmcille, going
over Glengesh Pass, a series
of bends through a wild,
Isolated cottage near Burtonport in the Rosses deserted landscape.
0 The Rosses unusual cliff formations. From
the small fishing village of
Road map C1. Co Donegal. @ to
Dungloe or Burtonport from Letter­ Burtonport, 8 km (5 miles)
kenny. n seasonal: Dungloe (074 952 north of Dungloe, car ferries
1297). g to Arranmore from sail daily to Donegal’s largest
Burtonport (074 952 0532). island, Arranmore. The rugged
northwest coast here is ideal
A rocky headland dotted for cliff top walks, and from the
with more than 100 lakes, south coast you can enjoy fine
the Rosses is one of the most views across to the Rosses. Most
pic turesque and unspoilt of Arranmore’s population of
corners of Donegal. It is also 500 lives in Leabgarrow, where
a strong Gaeltacht area, with the harbour is located.
many people speaking Gaelic.
The hub of the Rosses, at the
southern end of the headland, q Ardara Hand-loom worker in Ardara
is Dungloe, a bustling market Road map C2. Co Donegal. * 700.
town and major angling centre. @ from Killybegs or Donegal.
n Donegal (074 972 1148). w Glencolmcille
Environs ∑ ardara.ie Road map B2. Co Donegal.
There is a glorious sheltered * 260. @ from Killybegs.
beach 8 km (5 miles) west of Ardara, the weaving capital of n Donegal (074 972 1148).
Dungloe at Maghery Bay. Donegal, abounds shops selling ∑ glencolmcille.ie
From here you can also walk locally made tweeds and
to nearby Crohy Head, an area hand­knitted sweaters. Some Glencolmcille, a quiet, grassy
known for its caves, arches and larger stores put on dis plays of valley scattered with brightly
coloured cottages, feels very
much like a backwater, in spite
of the sizeable number of
visitors who come here.
The “Glen of St Colmcille” is a
popular place of pilgrimage due
to its associations with the saint
more commonly known as St
Columba. Just north of the
village of Cashel, on the way to
Glen Head, is the church where
St Columba worshipped: it is
said that between prayers the
saint slept on the two stone
slabs still visible in one corner.
Another attraction here is the
Folk Village Museum, which
depicts rural Donegal lifestyles
through the ages. It was started
in the 1950s by a local priest
Old irons at the Folk Village Museum in Glencolmcille called Father James McDyer.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp301–2 and pp320–21

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.1)
Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm