Donegal Guided Walking Adventures
"Hiking and happiness go hand in hand."
With so many incredible hillwalking and hiking opportunities in County Donegal, there's no better way to experience the majesty and truly awesome beauty of these rugged landscapes than with a private walking tour tailored to your needs. I combine history with mythology, ecology with culture and photography with fun to offer you a hillwalking tour you'll never forget.
The finest mountain in the Northwest of Ireland, Mount Errigal has recently undergone extensive development meaning that hikers now have a firm path to walk on, leaving more headspace to take in the intense vistas it offers. It also means that the surrounding peatland is no longer being eroded by boots and one can clearly see the flora of the terrain recovering after just a couple of years. Another beauty of these development is that Mount Errigal is now more accessible to a wider range of skill and fitness levels.
Including transport to and from your hotel or pick up point of your choosing in Derry, Strabane or county Donegal, you'll travel in style and comfort to the hiking start point where you'll be given high-visibility vests and Nordic sticks if desired. You will receive an orientation briefing prior to commencing the walk. After that, follow my lead and enjoy the incredible sights and sounds of Mount Errigal while hearing about the history, mythology, ecology, culture and 'craic' of the local area.
Although this is a full day tour, the average hiking time is around 3 hours. It can be done in 2 hours if you're in a hurry or 4 hours depending on how many photo stops you'd like to take along the way. Afterwards, I'll drive you to one of several lunch stop options and then show you some hidden gems in the area. If you still have energy for a further stroll, a trip to the castle and grounds of Glenveagh National Park is the perfect way to unwind after an exciting morning's hiking. This day tour is flexible in that you can opt to go sightseeing in the morning and hike Mount Errigal in the afternoon if you'd prefer.
Available Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, and including transport to and from your hotel or pick up point of your choosing in Derry, Strabane or County Donegal, you'll travel in style and comfort to the Glenveagh National Park car park for 10am where you'll be given high-visibility vests and Nordic sticks if desired. We'll then take the park shuttle bus on a pleasant 25 minute drive around the Derryveagh Mountains to the Bridle Path starting point. You will receive an orientation briefing prior to commencing the walk. After that, follow my lead on this 8km trail and enjoy the incredible sights and sounds of the Glenveagh National Park's less frequented side while hearing about the history, mythology, ecology, culture and 'craic' of the local area.
Although this is a full day tour, the average hiking time is around 2-3 hours depending on how many photo stops you'd like to take along the way. On top of this, I highly recommend a walk around the gardens and a tour of the interior of Glenveagh Castle. This could take 1-2 hours depending on how many garden trails you choose to take. The is a great cafeteria at the castle offering fresh food for lunch. From there, you can opt to take the shuttle bus the remaining 4km around Lough Veagh and back to the visitors centre where the exhibition there is well worth a look. Afterwards, I'll drive you to some of the local sites such as the Bridge of Tears, the Poison Glen, Dunlewey Church and the foot of Mount Errigal, Donegal's highest peak. The Derryveagh Mountain scenic drive is the perfect way to unwind after an exciting day's hiking.
Length: 8km. A mostly flat dirt/gravel road rising very gently over last 3km. Although the slope is very gradual, this trail can be carried out in reverse for those more comfortable with a gradual ascent instead. However, this would require an earlier start time to meet the shuttle at the Bridle Path car park at 10:30am. Ideal for early risers.
A visit to Ards Forest Park will reward you at any time of the year. The park covers approximately 480 hectares (1200 acres) and includes a variety of habitats, among them sand dunes, beaches, salt marshes, salt water lakes, rock face and, of course, coniferous and deciduous woodlands. With such a variety of landscapes, it is easily possible to spend the entire day exploring this wonderful park. The sea is one of the real treasures of this forest park and there are several trails, the Binngorm trail, the Salt Marsh Trail and the Sand Dune Trail, which offers you an opportunity to experience it in all its facets. There are a large number of trails in this park giving you the opportunity to explore a variety of habitats from foreshore and sand dunes to semi natural oak woodlands on rock outcrops. By “stitching together” a number of trails, it is possible to hike for 6 or even 7 hours on forest tracks and trails, taking in the full circuit of the park. For those interested in human history, there are a number of historical and archaeological features. There are the remains of four ring forts together with a holy well and a mass rock. I'll be happy to tell you all about the history of these curious features.
Including transport to and from your hotel or pick up point of your choosing in Derry, Strabane or county Donegal, you'll travel in style and comfort to the trail car park where you'll be given high-visibility vests and Nordic sticks if desired. You will receive an orientation briefing prior to commencing the walk. After that, follow my lead and enjoy the incredible sights and sounds of the Ards Forest Park while hearing about the history, mythology, ecology, culture and 'craic' of the local area.
Although this is a full day tour, the average hiking time is around 4-5 hours. It can be done in 3 hours if you're in a hurry or 6 hours depending on how many photo stops you'd like to take along the way and if you decide to pack a lunch. Afterwards, I'll drive you to one of several lunch stop options and then show you some hidden gems in the area. If you still have energy for a further stroll, a trip to the castle and grounds of Glenveagh National Park is the perfect way to unwind after an exciting morning's hiking. This day tour is flexible in that you can opt to go sightseeing in the morning and hike Ards Forest Park in the afternoon if you'd prefer.
If you'd like to see the best of Donegal's walking trails, why not consider a Donegal Way: Multi-Day Private Hillwalking Tour. On this excursion, you can choose the pace, level and number of hours walking that you wish to do. You get to enjoy incredible scenery combining old favorites with lesser known walks which lead you to unique features.
A trip do Donegal would not be the same if it didn't involve putting on a pair of walking boots, grabbing a pair of hiking sticks and heading off along one of the county’s endless trails. Allow me to stitch together the perfect itinerary to suit your interests. Including transport to and from your hotel or pick up point of your choosing in Derry, Strabane or county Donegal, you'll travel in style and comfort to your daily destinations where you'll be given high-visibility vests and Nordic sticks if desired. You will receive an orientation briefing related to each upcoming walk prior to commencing the trek. After that, follow my lead and enjoy the incredible sights and sounds of the each breathtaking location while hearing all about the history, mythology, ecology, culture and 'craic' of each local area.
Here are some of our favorites which can be easily incorporated into your Donegal Way: Multi-Day Private Hillwalking Tour:
