Officially known as An Clochán Liath (which translates as “the grey stepping stone”), Dungloe is a small coastal town in The Rosses region of County Donegal. It’s famed for its annual Mary From Dungloe International Festival, which has been taking place since the 1960s and celebrates traditional Irish music.
Things to do in Dungloe
On the edge of the town centre is Dungloe Lough, a freshwater lake inhabited by brown trout, salmon and endangered European eels. You can soak up the views while enjoying a stroll around the lake or settle in for a hot drink at Quiet Man Coffee. If you continue heading east, you’ll end up at Crolly Waterfall, which tumbles down a rugged hillside.
Dungloe is surrounded by beautiful beaches where you can swim, kayak and paddle board in the summer months or enjoy long walks in the wintertime. Head to the golden sands of Maghery Beach west of town before visiting the impressive Crohy Head Sea Arch. North of Dungloe is the Blue Flag-awarded Carrickfinn Beach with its towering sand dunes and machair grasslands.
A short ferry ride will whisk you away to the largest island on County Donegal’s coast, Arranmore, which is dotted with megalithic monuments and ruins. A 14-kilometre-long walking and cycling trail rings the island and takes in many of its most famous sights, including the whitewashed Arranmore Lighthouse and picture-perfect Clouhhcorr Beach.
Getting around Dungloe
Donegal Airport is a 15-minute drive from Dungloe and has regular flights to Dublin, while the much larger Dublin Airport is just over three hours away. Buses connect to Dungloe and the town is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the best way of getting around the area.