20 Attractions to Explore Near Fort Dunree

A beautiful militory museum which was opened to the public in 1986 and attracts visitors and scholars from all over the world. Using the latest DVD and interactive technology the unique history and present role of Fort Dunree is fully explained and recreated in vibrant and colourful displays. Today however, its stunning natural beauty and abundant wildlife are drawing increasing numbers of visitors to one of Inishowen’s most beautiful and peaceful locations.

A beautiful sandy beach on the western shore of Lough Swilly. It stretches from Portsalon to the Knockalla Hills. It is certainly one of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland and was once voted as the second most beautiful in the world – beaten to the top spot by a beach in the Seychelles.

This beautiful golf park is Situated on the beautiful north coast of County Donegal. With its par 72, 18-hole links course hugging the coast and Ballymastoker’s sandy beaches, Portsalon Golf Club must rank as one of Ireland’s most spectacular and bracing golfing locations. Golf Digest has voted it one of the top 25 courses in Ireland.

The Gap of Mamore is a pass in the Urris Hills and for a long time the narrow road has been the only connection between Urris and Buncrana. Right after passing the very top of the pass a incredible panorama presents itself, best enjoyed from a small parking bay opposite a holy well and a statue of holy Mary. There are panoramic views of the hills on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

Rapidly becoming known as 'Swan City', Monticello is host to over 1500, once endangered Trumpeter Swans from December thru the end of February. A protected viewing park for the public is located on Mississippi Drive, on

Fanad Head Lighthouse, one of the world's most beautiful lighthouses, is located within the Donegal Gaeltacht on the wild and windswept Fanad peninsula. It is also one of twelve lighthouses which make up Great Lighthouses of Ireland, a new all-island tourism initiative. Visitors from home and abroad now have the chance to visit or stay in a lighthouse and to find out about our history and heritage, to appreciate the spectacular natural world around us.

Fanad Head with its wonderful view on the rough coast of the Atlantic ocean. Right here in this unique surroundings thrones one of Ireland’s most beautiful lighthouses above the crashing waves. Fanad Lighthouse is classified as a sea light, not a harbour light, despite it marking the entrance into Lough Swilly which is a natural harbour of refuge.

Buncrana Beach is on the shorefront of the town and is a lovely clean and well-used beach. There is a large kids play park, two tennis all-weather tennis courts, a small football/basketball pitch and an outdoor free gym is approximately 100m down the path.

Slieve Snaght is a mountain in the middle of the Inishowen peninsula of County Donegal, Ireland. It is situated in the middle of Inishowen and is the peninsulas highest mountain at a height of 615 metres. The mountain is said to be so named because snow lies on its summit until late May. There is a tradition of pilgrimage to the top of Slieve Snaght at Lughnasa, and a holy well near the summit, called Tobar na Súl , is said to cure blindness.

A small and beautiful island within Lough Swilly, connected to the mainland by a bridge. Between the island and the mainland lies the Inch Wildfowl Reserve – a birdwatchers paradise. The site includes two car parks, seating, viewpoints and a number of bird hides open to the public. This scenic pathway follows around the lake edge and offers panoramic views of the surrounding agricultural landscape and wetlands.

Melmore Head is a cape in County Donegal. Melmore Head is situated north of Gortnalughoge, west of Ballyhoorisky Point. It’s a “point” of land, which juts out into the sea in magnificent panoramas. The beach promises a nice walk, the surrounding mountains a fabulous show, and a cave called Murder Hole can even be discovered during your exploration!

A beautiful castle situated at the extreme seaward end of Inch Island. It was built in the middle of the fifteenth century but, by 1609, when granted to Sir Arthur Chichester, he stated that it was in a state of disrepair. It came to form part of the defensive network of O'Doherty fortifications designed to protect them from rival clans and to overawe those who accepted their overlordship.

The Isle of Doagh is situated between Trawbreaga and Pollan Bay. The island offers beautiful beaches with dunes and is home to the impressive Carrikabraghy Castle in the far north-east of Doagh. The Doagh Famine Village is located here. This open-air museum contains examples of thatched buildings and traditional lifestyles. Attractions include recreations of an Irish wake, Orange Hall, Presbyterian Meeting House, mass rock, hedge school, eviction scene and Republican Safe House.

A majestic castle built in the 16th century on a rocky promontory with spectacular views of the Donegal hills and headlands, this O’Doherty stronghold stands on the site of a pre-Viking settlement recorded in the Annals. It was strategically positioned atop a rocky outcrop defending the Ó Dochartaighs' remote Isle of Doagh in the far north of Inishowen.

Rosguill is a peninsula situated in north-north-west County Donegal, Ireland. Lying between the peninsulae of Fanad to the east and Horn Head to the west, Rosguill is a dichotomy of heathland and ocean. With the great Sheephaven Bay with its mellow waters and pure-white strands on the one hand, and the treacherous sand banks of Mulroy Bay on the other.

This is an outdoor museum that tells the story of life in the area from the Famine back in the 1840s, through the 1900s to the present day. Different to any other tourist attraction in Ireland the Famine Village depicts life in Ireland as it was, uncommercialised,interdenominational interspersed with humorous anecdotes of Irish life. It contains a wide selection of actual size attractions, including some original dwellings which were still inhabited up to 20 years ago.

The beautiful Five Fingers beach is nestled in impressive dunes. These dunes, up to 30 metres high, are among the highest in Europe. The way to this beautiful beach leads past an idyllic church embedded in the dunes. Swimming is not recommended here due to very dangerous undercurrents and rip tides.

One of Donegal's best known castles due to its prominent location along the Derry-Letterkenny road. It was built around 1560 and was one in a network of castles around Inishowen owned by the O’Dohertys. The structure had three stories, two circular watchtowers, a small vaulted chamber, and openings for muskets. It is now one of the iconic attraction in this area.

Grianán of Aileach is probably the best known monument in Inishowen, County Donegal. Situated on a hilltop 250m above sea level the view from the stone fort of Aileach is breathtaking. The main structure is a stone ringfort, thought to have been built by the Northern Uí Néill, in the sixth or seventh century CE; although there is evidence that the site had been in use before the fort was built. It has been identified as the seat of the Kingdom of Ailech.