"Ireland's best kept secret.."

Anchoress · Guru

"Ireland's best kept secret.."

youngka · Guru

Thank you Anchoress. Will be good to be in your area for a week 5-23 until 5-30. Be nice to see you and get many suggestions/directions. We look forward to see all we can of what you mentioned. youngka

Andi · Senior Member

I'm a big fan of Donegal. One of my bike trips was spent exclusively in Donegal (2 weeks). It's a big landscape for Ireland. You notice that on a bike! Highlights I remember:

Glencolmcille and the nearby Slieve League cliffs--spectacular
Ardara and the Glengesh Pass leading up to it -- breathtaking, at least on a bike
The landscape around Fin Lake and Fintown
Glenveagh National Park, the castle and gardens
Doe Castle
St. Columba House and garden with Glebe Gallery

The coastline is beautiful. On the eastern side, the towns begin to look more like England and Scotland. I remember Ramelton with it's redpainted warehouse doors. Also I had a chance to go to Derry, which was interesting.

Donegal is quiet, and the roads are comparatively empty. It's beautiful.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Anchoress,

Donegal is a wonderful county. It really is a pity that most American tourists just don't have the time for it. Unless there is a family connection or something special they must see there, they don't get up to the NW.

The scenery is spectacular and the people so friendly. And what a fabulous coastline.

I just heard from a friend in Donegal town. She is opening a cookery school. As she said to: "offer a holistic approach to cooking which includes not only cooking but tips on home
management, meal planning and nutrition etc,." She will be offering courses in traditional Irish cooking in June, July & August.

If you are in Ireland on May 5 you can see her on the TV program Master's Apprentice on RTE 1. I have marked my calendar so I won't miss it. Her name is Sian Breslin from Donegal Manor. A lovely person.

I often think that things like that, festivals and other events will draw the tourists to out of the way places.

Michele

Anchoress · Guru

Hi Youngka.

Looking forward to meeting you.

One place to go in May is Glenveagh Castle. There is a long rhododendron drive that will be an utter glory at that time.

ask google re opening times etc.

Quite near Letterkenny too.

Working now on a folder on Celtic and Monastic Donegal. Many places that the guide books do not know of. And many details also that they miss.

We have of course a specialist knowledge of this.

This will be for sale soon.

Also our third book, "More Tales from an Irish Hermitage" is about to hit the presses. Signed copies from us ....

email at anchoresscj at yahoo dot com

youngka wrote:

Thank you Anchoress. Will be good to be in your area for a week 5-23 until 5-30. Be nice to see you and get many suggestions/directions. We look forward to see all we can of what you mentioned. youngka

-- Edited by Anchoress on Tuesday 17th of March 2009 01:43:11 AM

Anchoress · Guru

Anchoress wrote:

Hi Youngka.

Looking forward to meeting you.

One place to go in May is Glenveagh Castle. There is a long rhododendron drive that will be an utter glory at that time.

ask google re opening times etc.

Quite near Letterkenny too.

Working now on a folder on Celtic and Monastic Donegal. Many places that the guide books do not know of. And many details also that they miss.

We have of course a specialist knowledge of this.

This will be for sale soon.

Blame Dude; she suggested I earn for our babies by guided tours! Nice idea....

Also our third book, "More Tales from an Irish Hermitage" is about to hit the presses. Signed copies from us ....

email at anchoresscj at yahoo dot com

youngka wrote:

Thank you Anchoress. Will be good to be in your area for a week 5-23 until 5-30. Be nice to see you and get many suggestions/directions. We look forward to see all we can of what you mentioned. youngka

-- Edited by Anchoress on Tuesday 17th of March 2009 01:43:11 AM

Anchoress · Guru

We know; how many miss it I mean.

We were disappointed in the areas beyond Buncrana; it has become very touristy and.... tamed.... in places. Still one part not seen, but that will be the same.

Around here, so many truly wild and unspoilt places still.

It is this folk come for once they have been once, rather than courses or events, when they see little.

We still find new "corners" after so many years. Still very Irish and unspoiled.

Dude suggests specialist route planning as a career!!

Michele Erdvig wrote:

Anchoress,

Donegal is a wonderful county. It really is a pity that most American tourists just don't have the time for it. Unless there is a family connection or something special they must see there, they don't get up to the NW.
The scenery is spectacular and the people so friendly. And what a fabulous coastline.
I just heard from a friend in Donegal town. She is opening a cookery school. As she said to: "offer a holistic approach to cooking which includes not only cooking but tips on home
management, meal planning and nutrition etc,." She will be offering courses in traditional Irish cooking in June, July & August.

If you are in Ireland on May 5 you can see her on the TV program Master's Apprentice on RTE 1. I have marked my calendar so I won't miss it. Her name is Sian Breslin from Donegal Manor. A lovely person.

I often think that things like that, festivals and other events will draw the tourists to out of the way places.

Michele