Donegal Staycation Tours

Finally, tick County Donegal off your bucket list in 2021

Precious time has been missed with family. Grandparents are watching their grandchildren grow up over video calls. Lockdown birthdays, cancelled weddings and milestone celebrations postponed until further notice are the ‘new normal’.

When travel restrictions are lifted, 2021 is the year for safe staycations in your own private family groups. And whether you’ve never been to Donegal or were a regular visitor before lockdowns, there is something for everyone here in the NorthWest of Ireland.

Inishowen Peninsula

The most Northern point of the Wild Atlantic Way is Malin Head which was also the recent filming location for Star Wars VIII.

The 100 mile drive around the peninsula, (‘Inishowen 100’) offers scenic views of Lough Swilly to the West, including ‘Amazing Grace Country’, Lough Foyle to the East and the majestic Atlantic Ocean to the North, as well as many inland gems along the way.

A picnic style lunch option is advisable for flexibility and convenience on the Donegal day tour. Hampers of Donegal food produce can be arranged by your guide in advance, ensuring you get a real taste of Donegal.

Wee House of Malin, Co. Donegal

Malin Head, Inishowen, Co. Donegal

An Grianan Aileach, Co. Donegal

Wild Ireland, Inishowen, Co. Donegal

Mamore Gap, Inishowen, Co. Donegal

Doagh Famine Village, Inishowen, Co. Donegal

Five Finger Strand, Inishowen, Co. Donegal

Malin Head, Inishowen, Co. Donegal

Fort Dunree, Inishowen, Co. Donegal

Culdaff Beach, Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal

Malin Head, Inishowen, Co. Donegal

Inishowen Guided Tour Suggestions

The following are various combinations of some of the many Inishowen activities and attractions that can be visited in a typical 7-8 hours day tour.
All itineraries are suggestions and intended as inspiration only. I can liaise with you to create a bespoke tour to visit what’s on your bucket list.

Itinerary A

Grianan of Aileach
Wild Ireland *
Fort Dunree
Mamore Gap
Pollan Beach, Ballyliffin
Glendowen Craft Studio

Itinerary B

Fort Dunree
Mamore Gap
Wild Alpaca Way *
Malin Head
Culdaff Beach
Stroove Lighthouse

Itinerary C

Grianan of Aileach
Fort Dunree
Mamore Gap
Doagh Famine Village *
Five Finger Strand
Malin Head

* Optional attraction entry is subject to availability and not included in the tour price.

Explore at your own pace

There are so many amazing activities and attractions in Inishowen for solo travellers, couples and families. Some of my favourites are best explored over a number of hours at your own pace. As such, I don’t typically include them in an Inishowen day tour when trying to visit a number of attractions on a time deadline. However, I highly recommend them on a self drive tour of Inishowen or as a bespoke variation of my itinerary suggestions above.
Go Visit Inishowen is a great resource for inspiration and advice on where to visit in Inishowen, Co. Donegal.

The only way to see Donegal

Our family of four had one of the best experiences we’ve had traveling around Ireland thanks to Henry. We booked Henry for 3 days and each day he gave us a comprehensive and highly enjoyable guide around different regions of Donegal. Henry is funny and extremely knowledgeable and we had such a wonderful time touring the county. We traveled in comfort and got to see views and visit places which simply are not accessible with large coaches or difficult on your own. Simply put, if you want to see Donegal, leave the car at the hotel and get in contact with Henry. Cannot recommend Henry’s private tours highly enough.

Shane C (TripAdvisor)

Henry Doohan, the best driver/tour guide

Henry picked us up at Donegal airport, drove us 1-1/2 hours to Ballyliffin and back 2 days later. He was on-time, responsive, knowledgeable with a good sense of humor and very pleasant to be with for 2 hours. He showed us points of interest along the way and made the ride very pleasant. We would recommend Henry highly and without reservation for any driving in Ireland whether it is to play golf, visit friends, or special occasions.

W960LTrichardc (TripAdvisor)

Inishowen Tour

“Henry is amazing. He was professional and very informative. We will definitely be back to see the places we didn’t manage to see this time. I highly recommend his services.”

Janet (Google)

Wonderful Two Days in County Donegal

Henry was a great tour guide and very easy to work with. He picked us up at our hotel in Donegal town and took us on a variation of the south Donegal tour with the addition of a lovely Assaranca waterfall and Maghera beach and caves. Henry is very knowledgeable and delightful company. This first day finished with a lovely drive across the County by Mount Errigal to our hotel in Derry (Londonderry). He picked us up the next morning and took on the Inishowen tour including a great lunch stop at Nancy’s Barn (must get the seafood chowder). Henry even produced a double rainbow at Malin Head but don’t expect that every time. I am sure wherever he takes you it will be great.

Joel Riklin (TripAdvisor)

Indispensable

Henry is a godsend to people like us who don’t like to drive on holidays. With public transport almost non-existent on Inishowen, his service is much appreciated. We had a lovely day with him. Would recommend to anybody who prefer scenery to the dashboard on their holidays.

Saumava M (TripAdvisor)

Donegal Tour

Henry is an amazing tour guide. My mom and I had a blast. He is extremely knowledgeable about history and the history of Donegal. The tour was also super exciting and fun. He had great restaurant recommendations and all the sites were magical. I highly recommended doing a tour with Henry. My family plans on visiting him again soon!

Meghan McNulty (TripAdvisor)

“The best one!”

“Henry is one of the best guides we ever meet. Everything was fantastic! Top of the top!! very recommendable”

Maria P (TripAdvisor)

Inishowen Tour

“I highly recommend booking with Henry if you want to see Donegal. We went on the Inishowen Tour and it was a full day of sightseeing. He is very knowledgeable and accomodating. We never had the feeling of being rushed or having to get on to the next stop. It was actually the opposite. Henry told us to take our time exploring, taking photos etc. It was a relaxing and very enjoyable day. He asked what we had on our bucket list to see (besides the normal stops on the tour) and he made sure we saw everything on it! There is no other way we could have seen as much without Henry taking us. I mentioned my family enjoyed Golf so he also made a stop for us to see the Ballyliffin Golf Club. Donegal has beautiful scenery and the Inishowen Tour is a great way to see it. Hope to see you again Henry for another tour in the future! Thanks for a great day in Donegal!”

Linda (TripAdvisor)

Three beautiful days in Donegal

“We booked three tours from Henry (Inishowen, Fanad and South Donegal). During these days we saw a lot of beautiful places. Henry is a knowing guide and nice and pleasant person. His car is very comfortable and cozy. Henry adjusts to the client’s tastes. Thanks to him we not only saw a lot of interesting places, but also had a good rest.”

Саша М (TripAdvisor)

Great Experience

We wanted to visit Ireland and see where my Wife’s ancestors came from. She had done some research and had limited information about them, While we wanted to see the highlights, we let Henry know we were most interested in chasing down information about her ancestors and visiting the remote towns in Donegal where they had lived about 100 years ago. We sent him the information and he prepared the perfect itinerary for us. In addition to showing us a few highlights in the area, he worked his way though a couple of cemeteries with us in Clonmany and found her Great Grandfather’s grave site. He also helped us find his old abandoned home along a near impassible dirt road in Shamdrin. He understood us and was completely flexible in making changes in the daily plan on the fly as we learned more about her ancestors along the way. Most importantly he was a pleasant, engaging and knowledgeable companion. At the end of our two days, we felt we were leaving a friend. We will likely go back to Ireland and we will look forward to connecting with Henry again.

FLYFISHER1313 (TripAdvisor)

Fanad Peninsula & Sheephaven Bay

Fanad Lighthouse, the gem in the crown of the Fanad Peninsula, overlooks Mulroy Bay to the West, Lough Swilly to the East and the Atlantic Ocean to the North.

Dominated by Muckish Mountain, Sheephaven Bay boasts ancient castles and a panoramic Atlantic Drive. Have your camera ready on this tour as the photo opportunities are endless!

Learn More

Fanad Head Lighthouse, Co. Donegal

Ballymastocker Bay, Co. Donegal

Harry Blaney Bridge, Co. Donegal

Doe Castle, Co. Donegal

Ramelton, Co. Donegal

Doe Castle, Co. Donegal

Main Attractions:

Fanad Head & Lighthouse
Ballymastocker Bay
Atlantic Drive
Doe Castle
Ramelton Heritage Town

Indispensable

Saumava M (TripAdvisor)

Donegal Tour

Meghan McNulty (TripAdvisor)

Fantastic Tour with Henry

The Tour with Henry has been fantastic. I have seen a lot of the landscape from Donegal. Henry has given me important information of the area from Donegal. I have also Seen the Fanad Light House and this was my highlight on my vacation.Henry is a fantastic Tour Guide with important information and he was very helpful. When I came Back to Donegal i would book again a Tour with Henry.

Klikovits H (TripAdvisor)

Three beautiful days in Donegal

Саша М (TripAdvisor)

“The best one!”

“Henry is one of the best guides we ever meet. Everything was fantastic! Top of the top!! very recommendable”

Maria P (TripAdvisor)

A Memorable Day in Fanad

This was the first leg of our Ireland visit and we hired Donegal Tour Guide to help us get acquainted with the area and find the remote townland where our ancestors once lived. Henry’s friendliness and expertise made him the right choice for both. He picked us up promptly at our hotel in Donegal Town and transported us comfortably in his minivan. Our day was a delightful combination of the highlights of the Fanad Peninsula Tour and a personalized journey to my great-grandmother’s birthplace on that peninsula.
Henry combined a knowledge of the region’s history and geography with the passion only a local could provide, answering our many questions about modern life in Donegal. Every stop was a highlight, including Rathmullan, with views across Lough Swilly as well as the awe-inspiring vistas at Fanad Lighthouse and Ballymastocker Bay. We enjoyed a waterside lunch complete with Henry’s local recommendations of the alcohol (Kinnegar) and non-alcohol (Football Special) varieties. The afternoon was a very thoughtfully researched trek through our family homeland. Thanks to Henry, who showed us the meaning of Céad Míle Fáilte, our day in Fanad was among the most memorable of our trip.

Brian G (TripAdvisor)

The only way to see Donegal

Shane C (TripAdvisor)

South Donegal

Donegal’s rival to the Cliffs of Moher, Sliabh Liag (or Slieve League), is one of the highest and most spectacular marine cliffs in Europe. Enjoy views of views of the Atlantic Ocean, Donegal Bay and the Sligo Mountains from over 600m high.

Immerse yourself in the traditional Irish culture at Glencolmcille Folk Village and visit the heritage town of Ardara.

A tour of South Donegal is a jam packed day rewarded with experiences and memories to last a lifetime.

Learn More

Sliabh Liag, Co. Donegal

Donegal Tweed

Glencolmcille Folk Village, Co Donegal

Killybegs Harbour, Co. Donegal

Glengesh Pass, Co. Donegal

Couple at Sliabh Liag, Co. Donegal

Main Attractions:

Sliabh Liag
Donegal Castle
Glencolmcille Folk Village
Ardara Heritage Town
Glengesh Pass

Donegal Tour

Meghan McNulty (TripAdvisor)

South Donegal Tour

Henry took us on a private tour. We went to Donegal Castle and Slieve League Cliffs. We stopped in a local shop and the employee showed us how they make the Irish Tweed.
We also stopped along the way for photo opportunites and for lunch. I would highly recommend Henry as your tour guide. He went above and beyond to show us a good time. We never felt rushed in any of the places we visited. He is very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the area. Henry even dropped us off at the Shopping Center at the end of the tour as we had time before our bus was departing. I hope our paths cross again Henry. Thank you again! Linda and Kaitlyn

Linda (TripAdvisor)

South Donegal and Inishowen Tours

“We are a group of 7 and spent 2 days with Henry touring us in South Donegal and Inishowen Peninsula. Hands down the best tour and Henry as the best tour guide we ever had! I was reaching out to Henry first about our trip to Donegal and was honestly so torn which tour to do best (all looks very interesting!!) given our limited time. Henry was very kindly recommending the 2 tours and on half day he wasn’t available, he recommend us to other tour with another brilliant tour guide. We really appreciate it!

South Donegal is such a gold especially we’ve visited it on a sunny day. Highly recommend going for it if you only had a day. Both South Donegal and Inishowen Peninsula drives were scenic and just so beautiful. Henry is very knowledgeable sharing histories/stories and was generally just a brilliant guy making us all feel comfortable and spoiling us like VIPs. Not to mention Henry’s car is superb and very clean and comfortable. We were also touring on his birthday giving us a good opportunity to show our gratitude for taking care of us in Donegal. Thanks again, Henry! Highly recommend his tour folks.”

Mikee (TripAdvisor)

Three beautiful days in Donegal

Саша М (TripAdvisor)

Wonderful Two Days in County Donegal

Joel Riklin (TripAdvisor)

Amazing South Donegal Tour

Henry was great about making this tour for US. We saw and did things you wouldn’t do on a group your. We went into a local hand-knitters home, had tea and visited. Went to Maghera Beach, stopped at roadside stops for photos. Spent time at Slieve League and Glendesh Pass. Highly recommend doing a private tour w Henry!

Nancy B (TripAdvisor)

Excellent tour! Recommended.

“What a great experience! Highly recommended. Henry arrived on the minute and collected us at our hotel. His vehicle is clean, super comfortable and cool (it was a very hot day). Setting out on our tour, Henry made sure we were comfortable, asked if we had any requests and off we went. I appreciated him going off the beaten path sometimes to show us beautiful, breathtaking sights like Malin Beg. He has an excellent knowledge of Donegal, the community and the culture, and shared that throughout. Henry had arranged a great picnic lunch for us as well which we enjoyed at Sliabh Liag. We will definitely be booking a future tour with Henry. Thank you!”

Bromero66 (TripAdvisor)

Brilliant day

“We spent our honeymoon in Donegal and rounded off the trip with the South Donegal Private Tour. Couldn’t recommend Henry highly enough. We had a fantastic time.
I booked through the chat feature on his website and was pleasantly surprised with the prompt reply. The South Donegal tour takes in miles of perfect scenery with plenty of pitstops including Killybegs, Slieve League Cliffs, Glencolmcille Folk Village and Ardara.
We opted for the additional picnic made up of local food and drinks which I’d highly recommend particularly during restrictions in dining.
If we had travelled with Henry earlier in our stay we would probably have done another day’s tour. The whole experience is very chilled out while taking in as much as possible at a really nice pace. Highly recommended.”

Shane M (TripAdvisor)

The only way to see Donegal

Shane C (TripAdvisor)

Incredible Experience

“My parents booked this tour with Henry and it was breathtaking. The sights and locations were all so beautiful and filled with history. Henry was such an amazing tour guide. He was extremely accommodating, charismatic and informative! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to spend a day in Donegal.”

lil (TripAdvisor)

Donegal Gaeltacht

Irish (or Gaeilge) is the first language of the people in the Donegal Gaeltacht and the Irish cultural traditions are safeguarded. The Donegal Gaelic is unique with the Northern influence on its accent and dialect.

Learn a cúpla focail (a few words) of Irish on board this Gaeltacht tour and have fun practicing with the locals throughout the day.

Learn More

Glenveagh Castle and National Park, Co. Donegal

Mount Errigal, Co. Donegal

Gaeltacht

Dunlewey, Co. Donegal

Dunlewey Church

Leo's Tavern, Co. Donegal

Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal

Glenveagh Castle and National Park, Co. Donegal

Main Attractions:

Mount Errigal & Dunlewey
Bloody Foreland
Glenveagh National Park
Leo’s Tavern

“The best one!”

“Henry is one of the best guides we ever meet. Everything was fantastic! Top of the top!! very recommendable”

Maria P (TripAdvisor)

The only way to see Donegal

Shane C (TripAdvisor)

Indispensable

Saumava M (TripAdvisor)

Donegal Tour

Meghan McNulty (TripAdvisor)

Get in Touch

Would you like more information? Our Donegal tour itineraries are custom built to suit the interests of the tourist, their location and timeframe available. Contact us to start planning your chauffeured tour of Donegal.

Donegal Staycation Tours

Finally, tick County Donegal off your bucket list in 2021

Precious time has been missed with family. Grandparents are watching their grandchildren grow up over video calls. Lockdown birthdays, cancelled weddings and milestone celebrations postponed until further notice are the ‘new normal’.

Inishowen Peninsula

Inishowen Guided Tour Suggestions

Itinerary A

Itinerary B

Itinerary C

Explore at your own pace

The only way to see Donegal

Henry Doohan, the best driver/tour guide

Inishowen Tour

Wonderful Two Days in County Donegal

Indispensable

Donegal Tour

“The best one!”

Inishowen Tour

Three beautiful days in Donegal

Great Experience

Fanad Peninsula & Sheephaven Bay

Main Attractions:

Indispensable

Donegal Tour

Fantastic Tour with Henry

Three beautiful days in Donegal

“The best one!”

A Memorable Day in Fanad

The only way to see Donegal

South Donegal

Main Attractions:

Donegal Tour

South Donegal Tour

South Donegal and Inishowen Tours

Three beautiful days in Donegal

Wonderful Two Days in County Donegal

Amazing South Donegal Tour

Excellent tour! Recommended.

Brilliant day

The only way to see Donegal

Incredible Experience

Donegal Gaeltacht

Main Attractions:

“The best one!”

The only way to see Donegal

Indispensable

Donegal Tour

Get in Touch

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