Tour Donegal Southwest by Northeast

10 days - contact us for dates
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For 2010, Rising Road Tours is pleased to renew this tour exploring the wilds of Donegal. Our adventures will take us to both ends of the largest and furthest north of the counties – Donegal. On the Donegal Southwest by Northeast Tour, we will visit traditional venues on the Sliabh Laeg and the Inishowen Peninsulas. Based in the seaside village of Gleanncholmcille, the cultural, historic, and artistic treasures of southwest Donegal will be within our grasp. From the highest seacliffs in Europe to the pilgrimage round of St. Columba, our journeys will attune us to this rural, pristine landscape which has inspired poets, weavers, and painters throughout time. Inishowen provided the setting for the Leon Uris novel, Trinity.

This peninsula, situated between Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle, provides some of the most spectacular vistas to be found in Ireland.

Day 1. Dr. Couch will meet the group at Shannon Airport. Our drive to Donegal will take much of the day, but we will make stops at the holy shrine at Knock, Sligo Town, and the coastal village of Killybegs. Our goal is the southwestern village of Gleanncholmcille.

Day 2. After a restful morning, we will become acquainted with the history of the valley where the Irish have lived continuously for 7000 years. A trip to the Ulster Folk Village; Dun Alt, an Iron Age promontory fort, and the court tombs at Malin Mhor will fill the day. At Oideas Gael, the Irish language college we learn about Irish history, art, and culture.

Day 3. A boat ride from the village of Teelin around Sliabh Laeg, the highest sea cliffs in Europe, is the capstone of this day. Upon returning to the mainland, we will drive up to the cliffs for a short hike.

Day 4. This day we visit Donegal Castle, the local artists craft guild, and travel into Northern Ireland for a visit to the Belleek Parian China factory.

Day 5. Kilclooney Mhor dolmen, a prehistoric portal tomb, is one of the highlights of this day. After visiting the Dolmen Centre, we will travel to the seaside. If the tides are with us, we will walk across the strand to the monastic ruins on Inishkeel.

Day 6. From Gleann we drive northeast for the next portion of our Donegal adventure. A stop in Letterkenny breaks up the day as we head to Buncrana on the Inishowen peninsula.

Day 7. Visits to Glenveigh National Park and Glenveigh Castle are the highlights of this day.

Day 8. Weather permitting, we travel to Irish-speaking Tory Island for the day.

Day 9. Travel to Derry (Londonderry) for visits to the Guildhall, the Tower Museum, St. Columba’s Cathedral, the Museum of Free Derry, and a walk along the mediaeval city wall.

Day 10. Travel to Shannon via Connemara and Mayo.

Note: This tour may also be arranged to begin and end in Belfast.

These itineraries are based on our experiences, but Sam is quite flexible and we try to keep our tours relaxed and stress-free. If group members wish to make reasonable changes to our plans or can suggest more appropriate alternatives for our visits, we will consider all suggestions. Some days (not travel days, of course), participants may wish to stay in the farmhouse B&Bs and relax; anyone who wants or needs to rest is encouraged to do so.

Please remember that tour itineraries may be changed based on weather conditions, accommodation availability, and/or venue opening times. If changes are made based on these factors, Rising Road Tours makes every effort to reschedule events or to replace them with experiences of equal or greater interest.

Our goal is to offer our guests an experience of Ireland that is relaxed and pleasant.
If this looks like the tour for you, contact us today.

Rising Road Tours
828-648-8893 (Tel) ~ 888-648-8893 (Toll-free) ~ 888-371-8895 (fax)
sam@risingroadtours.com

P.O.Box 9322, Moscow, ID 83843 USA

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TOUR DETAILS: A Taste of Ireland | A Taste of Scotland | Celtic Sampler | Ireland North and South | Ireland's Rings | Donegal Southwest by Northeast | Historic Ireland | Saints and Giants | Into the West | Christmas in Ireland | Highland Hill Walking | In The Steps of St. Columba | Birthplaces of Golf | Scotland's Wild North: Shetland and Orkney Isles