Letterkenny - your base in Donegal

During the summer months, many of the visitors to the Yellow Pepper speak of visiting the Giant’s Causeway, a world heritage site on the north coast of Antrim, about an hour-and-a-half’s drive.

On that journey there’s also the opportunity to visit the beautiful Church of St Aengus at Burt, designed by the architect Liam McCormick and widely regarded as one of Ireland’s finest buildings. The church is modelled on the ancient fort a short distance away, the Grianan of Aileach, one of Ireland’s most important monuments, which enjoys stunning views across counties Donegal, Derry and Tyrone. The walled city of Derry is also en route.

Letterkenny is a short drive from one of Ireland’s great national parks, Glenveagh. The park attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world, and its gardens are among the most important in Ireland. The castle on the shore of Lough Veagh overlooks thousands of acres of mountain wilderness. You may see a Golden Eagle high above it all - the park is home to a breeding programme which is attempting to re-introduce this magnificent bird to Ireland.

Not far away from Glenveagh is the Glebe Gallery and house, formerly the home of the well-known English portrait and landscape painter Derek Hill. He left the house, grounds and a highly-rated art collection – including works by Picasso and Kokoshka – to the people of Ireland.

Donegal has superb natural scenery, and driving along the coast is sheer pleasure on a good day – and maybe even on a bad one. Head off on a tour of the Inishowen peninsula, including Ireland’s most northerly point at Malin Head. A trip down Fanad way can take you through the beautiful village of Ramelton, the small but significant harbour of Rathmullan – scene of the Flight of the Earls – and across the mountain to the majestic view of Ballymastocker Bay, its beach once voted one of the world’s finest. And that’s the start of just one trip – there’s also Atlantic Drive, Horn Head drive, the Irish-speaking area of Gweedore and much more to discover in north Donegal alone.

If you’ve time to take a trip to Tory Island off the coast, you’ll never forget it – it’s a world apart, a step into another time, with pagan and Christian worlds cheek by jowl, magnificent cliffs, the call of the corncrake and of course the Tory Island artists.

In the south-west of Donegal, you’ll find the dramatic scenery of Slieve League, thought (by some) to be Europe’s highest seacliffs, and the ancient monuments and beautiful setting of Glencolumbkille.

A little gem which is often overlooked is the Beltony Stone Circle, which is older than Stonehenge. It’s only a twenty minute drive from Letterkenny, and its hilltop location outside Raphoe means it also has fine views.

Letterkenny itself has St Eunan’s Cathedral, a fine building in French Gothic style graced by some excellent craftsmanship; the County Museum, with its exhibition telling the story of Donegal through the centuries; a fine collection of books on Donegal at the County Library, and also usually an art exhibition; and lots of pubs, restaurants and coffee shops to visit. At night in the summer months, there’s usually a traditional Irish music session in one of the pubs.

The golfer is spoiled for choice. As well as the parkland course in Letterkenny, there are fine courses at Rosapenna, Ballyliffen, Portsalon and Murvagh, to name only four. Donegal is also popular with bird-watchers – with Killybegs a mecca for gull specialists – as well as hill walkers, divers, surfers, nature lovers, landscape lovers and people who just love life!