Gaelic is still spoken in some villages in Donegal, here you can discover a little bit of authentic Ireland and visit some wonderful beaches! In the post we recommend 3 unmissable ones.
After my post on the Glenveagh Park, I have decided to stay in my beloved Donegal and take you on his wonderful beaches. I will not tell you about the whole coast of this county but about one area in particular where I am lucky enough to go often and which is can be visited in one day from cities such as Letterkenny, Derry or Donegal Town. I'm talking about the stretch from Falcarragh to Gortahork, along which there are beautiful beaches that are not easy to spot without a bit of a spirit of adventure. And here it takes a little one Gaelic lesson. In fact, in this area the road signs are written in Gaelic, and the signs for the beaches bear the inscription Trà: beach.
3 Donegal beaches
1. Dunfanaghy: the most touristic area
We start from Dunfanaghy. This lovely coastal town is the most touristic of the three. Along the main road on which it develops, there are several pubs and cafes and in the summer you will always find a lively atmosphere. A sea cove reaches up to a few meters from the main square, and at low tide, it will not be difficult to see hikers on horseback trotting on the momentarily dry seabed. If the high tide does not allow you to reach the beach directly from the square, you will have to pass by the main road and follow the deviation at the entrance of the town coming from the east.
For the more daring, near Dunfanaghy there is also the Tramore beach, which can only be reached on foot with a little sense of direction and a desire to walk. Leave the main road following the signs for Horn Head. Park near the woods and follow a path that is not always well marked and that intuitively leads you slightly west towards the white sand of Tramore. Allow at least two hours for the round trip.
Back on the main road, continuing west, you will officially enter one ghaeltacht area, that is, where Gaelic is still commonly used. But don't worry, because at most you may happen to hear some conversation between the locals. Everyone is fluent in English, albeit with a strong local accent that is difficult to hear unless you are used to it, and no one will speak to you in Gaelic. The good news is that by leaving Dunfanaghy you are also exiting the area where tourists usually arrive and are venturing into Truest and most authentic Donegal.
2. Falcarragh: hidden jewel
Falcarragh will certainly not seem like a big metropolis. Here, too, the "center" develops along the 500 meters of the main road. But don't underestimate the local experiences - there are five pubs and three cafes to explore. But let's focus on the beaches! Falcarragh is a hidden jewel that you cannot miss, I would dare to call it a mystical experience. As you have learned by now, you will have to follow the signs for the Trà, which in this case is located just over two kilometers from the center. Be careful because there are two different arrival points: one is at the small pier, where the beach is not much, the other is further east, where there is a car park, near the mouth of the River Ray. From here, access the beach and enjoy the show by walking west.
3. Magheraroarty: a place to discover
If you don't have enough at this point, go for Gortahork. Here the situation becomes even more remote: in Gortahork you will find a hotel, a pub, a church and a supermarket. That's it! If you are around here on a Tuesday night, the Gortahork pub, Teach Bhilly, is the place to go for a genuine musical session. But again I stopped at the pub! For the beach you will have to continue along the coast and follow the R527 towards Meenlaragh. After a few curves it will be easy to locate the parking lot near the ferry departure for Tory Island. From here to your right lies Magheraroarty, another fabulous beach in Donegal.
Practical information
Some practical news. Walking on the beaches of Falcarragh and Magheraroarty, or looking at the map, you may wonder that the two rejoin at some point. Actually no, the only way to enjoy both is to move.
Between Dunfanaghy and Falcarragh there are about 10 kilometers. Between Falcarragh and Meenlaragh there are instead 5 kilometers.
Another important note concerns your arrival in these parts by driving a car. If you are coming from Letterkenny, the navigator indicates the R251 passing through Glenveagh as the shortest route. Indeed it is, but it is also very narrow, with no lighting, and no cell phone coverage. So if you have planned to pass through here at night, my advice is to take the N56, slightly longer but passable without the slightest worry.
