A walking holiday in Donegal offers a unique hiking experience unlike other locations in Ireland. Tucked away on the far northern shore along the Wild Atlantic Way and bordering Northern Ireland, this remote county offers challenging terrain with wild barren landscapes, hag bogs, gorgeous sandy beaches, heathered mountains and ancient forests. Gaelic culture thrives here and repeat visitors keep this secret delight to themselves, lest the world discover their hidden gem. If you think you’ve already hiked Ireland, think again – you haven’t truly hiked it all until you’ve walked in Donegal.
Whether you’re a seasoned long-distance enthusiast or a casual walker seeking scenic day trips, Donegal caters to all. We recently spent 12 days in Donegal and this post will be your guide to exploring Donegal’s walking paths.
Table of Contents
Long-Distance Trails of Donegal
For those seeking a challenge, Donegal boasts several long-distance trails that can be misleadingly difficult. Distances and ascents aren’t enough to determine a trail’s difficulty level here, you must consider terrain. Some of the most difficult sections of the following trails involve boggy areas on steep hills which can become treacherous in poor weather conditions. But these tricky sections offer some of the most hauntingly beautiful landscapes. These trails give you the chance for free roaming with wide open spaces and few people.
If planning your own hiking trip, start with Donegal’s Rural Recreation Programme and Sport Ireland which offer maps and walking notes. Use “List View” on Sport Ireland if map doesn’t work.
BLUESTACK WAY
40mi (63km)
A fantastic option is The Bluestack Way, nestled in the foothills of the Bluestack Mountains. This moderate route offers a taste of Donegal’s diverse landscapes, from rugged moorland to tranquil riverbanks and lakes. It has 3 stages, beginning in Donegal Town and ending in Ardara (pronounced Ardra). You’ll need a transfer for the 2nd stage as there are no good lodging options near the trail at the end of your first day, but otherwise this makes a great inn to inn hike.
We hiked the Bluestack Way in 2024 with Tailor-Made Tours, find our stories here.
GAELTACHT WAYS (DONEGAL WAY)
The next 4 trails are part of the Bealach na Gaeltachta, a series of trails in the Gaeltacht areas of County Donegal. They are also collectively known as the Slí Dhun na nGall (Donegal Way). All are circular and while not meant to be a thru-hike, 3 of the 4 circles can be connected via short trails. Tough Soles hiked these routes and their site offers good details and maps.
SLI AN EARAGAIL
47.3mi (76.2km)
The longest and most northern of these routes, the Slí an Earagail takes 4-5 days to complete and offers stunning coastal hiking and views of its namesake — Mt. Errigal.
SLI NA ROSANN
40mi (64.6km)
Just south of Earagail, The Slí na Rosann takes walkers through an area known as the “Rosses” situated between the Derryveagh Mountains and coastal town of Dungloe (where the walk begins and ends).
SLI NA FINNE
30mi (48km)
This is the only Gaeltacht Way that doesn’t include coastal hiking. The Slí na Finne begins and ends in Fintown, following a lake and river to loop around the mountains of central Donegal (just north of the Bluestack Way).
SLI CHOLMCILLE
40mi (65km)
Now this trail has an interesting story. The original route is a circular walk beginning and ending in Ardara, but the Slí Cholmcille is now being developed into a much longer pilgrimage route that begins at the Slieve League Cliffs and ends in Shroove. The route will eventually follow the path of St. Columba (Colmcille) into Scotland.
We hiked the first 2 sections of the Slí Cholmcille in 2024.
INTERNATIONAL APPALACHIAN TRAIL
For experienced thru-hikers, a section of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) traverses Donegal. This prestigious trail connects to the IAT from Newfoundland and continues on into Northern Ireland and beyond, allowing you to connect with a global network of hikers while exploring Donegal’s remote beauty.
Donegal Parks & Nature Reserves
Without a doubt, Glenveagh National Park reigns supreme when it comes to hiking trails in Donegal, but there are other natural areas worth exploring that offer equally beautiful paths. Ards Forest Park is a good choice for easy walks and wildlife while Glebe House is nice for art and gardens. If you fancy formal gardens, visit Oakfield Park.
Day Hikes & Walking Holidays
Not everyone has the time or inclination for a multi-day trek. Thankfully, Donegal caters to casual walkers as well. There are numerous day hikes available, ranging from easy strolls to moderate climbs, depending on what you want from the hike. Here are our favorites:
Best Day Hikes for Coastal Views
Walking the Slieve League Cliffs is a must-do, offering panoramic vistas of the towering cliffs and the vast Atlantic Ocean below. Parking at An Port offers a beautiful uphill walk along the Slí Cholmcille with expansive views of the coastline. In the far north near Shroove, the Inishowen Head Loop follows the coast to a lighthouse. Buncrana to Stragill Strand is an easy beach walk.
Best Town Walks
Several Donegal towns offer relaxing strolls, including Ballyshannon’s 3 Bridges Loop and Donegal Town’s River Bank Walk. Dungloe also has a nice River Walk.
Best Easy Donegal Day Hikes
For gentle options away from town, the Famine Pot Walk and Ard na Mona Loop near Lough Eske provide peaceful rambles through serene forests. Beach walks along Rathmullan, Tramore or Maghera Strand always make for a lovely stroll. There’s also a wonderful hidden gem of a trail in the Sheskinmore Lough Nature Reserve. For a family-friendly walk, Fort Dunree offers coastal walks, a museum and activities.
Best Mountain Hikes in Donegal
Donegal has two mountain ranges, the Bluestacks and Derryveagh, and if you only have time to hike one then we suggest Derryveagh because it has 3 peaks that everyone wants to climb – Errigal, Muckish and Sliabh Sneaghta. If you need to stretch, there are nice loop walks around the base of Muckish. In the Bluestacks, Croaghgorm is the big one — you’ll see it in the distance when hiking the Bluestack Way.
Best Loop Trails in Donegal
Butler’s Glen Loop offers beautiful coastal views but you’ll work for it. Leghowney Loop is a full day of hiking in the Bluestacks. An easier option is the Lurgabrack Nature Walk or the Lenan Loop beach walk. Near Crolly in the Gweedore township, there are 2 nice loops that begin at the Ionad Naomh Padraig (St. Patrick’s Center).
Best Island Walks in Donegal
For those who love wandering around an island, consider Arranmore Island Loop Walk or the smaller Gola Island or Tory Island. All 3 of these island walks are part of the Gaeltacht Ways. Or follow the Bluestack Ramblers Club who know secret gems like Inishbofen.
Best Pilgrimage Walks in Donegal
Most tourists in Donegal visit the Slieve League Cliffs but many may not realize there’s a Sliabh Liag Pilgrims Path leading from the town of Teelin up to the top of the cliffs to the ruins of a 6th century church. Our favorite, however, is the Lough Derg Pilgrim Path which takes you to the shores of Saints Island with several sacred sites along the way.
Hiking Tours in Donegal
While you can easily plan your own hiking vacation in Donegal, there are significant advantages to using a hiking tour operator. Local tour companies possess a wealth of knowledge about the region, its history, and the unique terrain challenges that hikers will face. They can lead you to hidden gems you might miss on your own and handle logistics like accommodation bookings, luggage transfers and pre-ordering packed lunches. Here are the Donegal hiking tour operators that we recommend, catering to different preferences and budgets.
Awaken Adventures
An excellent choice for guided day hikes and multi-sport adventures, this local company is based in Donegal and run by certified mountaineering guides with multiple NGB qualifications.
Donegal Heritage Trails
If you’re visiting Northwest Donegal, consider a 2-hr walking tour with Deirdra Friel, who focuses on the heritage towns of Ramelton and Rathmullan.
Ireland Walk Hike Bike
Offers multi-day self-guided hiking tours that cover the Bluestack Way and Sli Cholmcille routes, similar to Tailor-Made Tours. We hiked Dingle Way in 2016 with Ireland Walk Hike Bike and can vouch for their quality. Also a good option for self-drive itineraries that combine Northern Ireland and Donegal.
Jason Black Mountaineering
For the climbers and mountaineers, look at what this Donegal-based company offers for climbing expeditions both within Ireland and beyond. Great choice for challenging day hikes in the Glenveagh Mountains and “peak-bagging” throughout Ireland. They also own hiker-friendly accommodations in Donegal.
WAIT, DON'T BOOK YET!
PLUS, I design the rest of your trip, including flights, extra travel day accommodations, activities, & more!
Solas Ireland
Led by an experienced local guide, this Donegal-based tour company offers guided day hikes near their base in Linsfort. Great choice for 1 to 4 hour coastal hikes near Derry and they can design bespoke tours for groups.
Tailor-Made Tours Ireland
We can personally vouch for this Irish-owned company, having hiked their 10-day Donegal Way in April 2024. Excellent choice for traditional inn to inn hiking or if you want a completely customized experience. They can combine Donegal with other locations within Ireland and beyond, including itineraries that combine multiple long-distance routes.
Walking Donegal
Based in Falcarragh, this local tour company offers guided day hikes and customized tours of all the popular hiking trails in Donegal. Excellent choice for day hikes, especially if you want to learn about the Irish language and archaeology.
Planning Your Donegal Walking Holiday
Now that you’re ready to lace up your boots and explore Donegal’s trails, here’s what you need to consider for a successful walking holiday:
When to Go
The best time to visit Donegal for hiking is generally between April and October. During these months, you’ll experience milder weather and longer daylight hours. Be prepared for rain – Donegal’s reputation as the “rainy county” is well-deserved, but don’t let this scare you off. We spent 12 days hiking in Donegal and only experienced one day of heavy rainfall (including hail), but we were still able to hike our entire route that day.
Getting around Donegal
A car is your best option if you want a flexible itinerary, more lodging and food options, and you want to explore more than the national trails. However, it is certainly possible to visit without a car and we did so on our 2024 trip. The Transport For Ireland (TFI) website makes traveling in Ireland via public transport easy, giving live updated bus times and fares. Donegal Town and Derry (N. Ireland) serve as the primary arrival points and then connect via local buses throughout the county. Sadly, there is no train to reach Donegal but there are direct bus routes connecting Dublin Airport and Knock Airport and a direct bus from Belfast Airport to Derry.
Discover Ireland has a collection of places to visit car-free, including Glenveagh National Park and the Rathmullan coast.
Pack for Rain & Mud
Pack a high-quality rain jacket, quick-dry or waterproof pants, hat, waterproof hiking boots and extra socks. You’ll also want to prepare for open hillwalking through challenging bogs, which means good quality hiking pants that won’t easily tear, hiking boots that can handle thick mud and hiking poles to assist with steep ascents/descents. We also suggest cycling gloves to protect your hands from the rough heather and when using trekking poles.
Where to Stay
Accommodation options in Donegal range from cozy B&Bs and guesthouses to hotels and self-catering cottages, all of which you’ll find on Booking.com or Airbnb (although we suggest booking directly with owner whenever possible). Consider your preferences and desired level of comfort. Our personal preference is a B&B because Irish hospitality is something everyone should experience and you won’t get that personal Irish charm at a hotel. Plus, we like staying with hosts who understand the unique needs of hikers and people traveling without a car – they often provide extra services such as packed lunches and transfers.
When deciding on which towns to base yourself, you can stay wherever you like if you have a car. If relying on buses, then we suggest the following:
- Donegal Town
- Ardara
- Dungloe
- Dunfanaghy
- Falcarragh
- Letterkenny
- Buncrana
- Ramelton
Finding Food
One thing to keep in mind, especially when venturing into remote areas of Ireland, is the limited availability of food options in some villages. Here are a few tips to avoid getting caught hungry on the trail:
- Pack plenty of snacks and a packed lunch for long day hikes.
- Research your route beforehand to identify towns with pubs, cafes or grocery stores where you can restock your supplies. If you book with a tour operator, they’ve already done this work and will provide you with all your food options for each day.
- If basing yourself in one location for several days, consider staying in a town with a supermarket such as SuperValu or Lidl. Smaller villages will typically rely on a SPAR or similar convenience store, but these offer very limited options.
- Some guesthouses and B&Bs offer pre-ordered packed lunches – a convenient option for longer hikes and anyone traveling without a car.
Recommended Resources
For further trip planning, consider visiting the Donegal Tourism site and their walking page for specific hiking trails. Guidebook Donegal, Sligo & Leitrim Mountain & Coastal Hikes by Adrian Hendroff is a bit old but it’s still useful. And finally, prepare yourself for bog walking. We found Tough Soles to be very helpful in preparing us for hiking in Donegal.
