Journey through Donegal - East

Dip into Donegal’s rich archaeological heritage with a visit to the Beltany Stone Circle, just 3k south of Raphoe. This impressive Bronze Age monument is one of the oldest recorded stone circles, dating from around 800BC. Its name links to the important Celtic Festival of Beltane (Bealtaine) now widely known as ‘May Day’. The 1^st May marks the beginning of summer in the ancient Celtic calendar. It was associated with the lighting of hilltop fires in a rekindling of the sun.

 Beltany - Courtesy Gareth Wray Photography

Staying in Raphoe, you can visit Oakfield Park & Gardens. It’s a privately owned estate and railway that has won several National awards for the restoration of its gardens and buildings. It’s set in a lush landscape of parklands, lakes, mature woodlands, overlooking the distant Croaghan Mountain. The grounds include a hedge maze, sculpture and miles of walking paths, and a Fairy Wishing Tree. To wind down, enjoy a meal in the Buffers Restaurant located on the grounds.

Oakfield Park
 
Moving on to the Twin Towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar, try a ramble through the Drumboe Loop Trail at Drumboe Woods. This 2k trail loops around the northern part of the forest. It follows old forest roads and tracks and a newly created section of trail through a rich variety of tree species. The forest includes towering beeches, pines, horse chestnuts, larches, limes and silver firs, a giant sequoia, and a Californian redwood. Drumboe also offers a 2k multi-access trail.

Drumboe Woods
 
Salmon and trout fishing on the nearby River Finn is said to be one of the best experiences in Europe. The Finn opens on the 1st March, with a peak time around the middle of April and closes on the 15th September. Permits are required and you can find out more about fishing on the Finn River from the Loughs Agency.
 
Before you leave the Twin Towns, treat yourself to some retail therapy at McElhinneys Department Store, in Ballybofey. It’s an iconic shopping destination in the northwest. It offers an opulent, luxurious setting to find the perfect outfit or gift, catering for every style, size and budget.

New to the Donegal East area are tours of the Emerald Guitars factory in Saint Johnston - while the factory has been there for 20 years, they have now opened up for tours to show how they make their incredible carbon fibre guitars! Imagine the thrill of being in on the behind the scenes creation of Emerald Guitars. There is something uniquely special about having a guided tour in Emerald Guitars NEW Guitar gallery tour. You will have the opportunity to view each guitar in Emerald Guitar’s Collection – hearing each guitar’s story of their unique journey from the dream, their creation, to the musicians playing them.

 
Shake things up a bit next and take a guided tour… with a difference!  Lifford Old Courthouse is a multi-purpose visitor centre offering guided jail tours, escape rooms, musical performances, and an on-site bistro. Their jail tour starts off with a bang: you are charged, sentenced, fingerprinted, and shown your new surroundings. You can try the ‘jailbreak’ – a 1-hour team challenge to escape from the historic dungeon cells deep beneath the courtroom. There’s a family friendly junior 'jailbreak', a 30-minute option. That will get the kids thinking outside the box!

Lifford Old Courthouse - Courtesy Gareth Wray Photography

Note - this blog doesn't claim to be a comprehensive list of everything to do - for more inspiration visit www.govisitdonegal.com/things-to-do

Check out Donegal's other regions:
 
https://www.govisitdonegal.com/blog/april-2025/journey-through-donegal-south
 
https://www.govisitdonegal.com/blog/april-2025/journey-through-donegal-west-and-gaeltacht
 
https://www.govisitdonegal.com/blog/april-2025/journey-through-donegal-north
 
https://www.govisitdonegal.com/blog/april-2025/journey-through-donegal-inishowen

Now is the Time to Visit Donegal
 
It’s no surprise that Donegal was named ‘the coolest place on the planet’ by National Geographic. We’ve given you just a small taste of what we have to offer. So, there’s only one thing left to do – book a trip to Donegal that will give you a lifetime of memories. We’ll be waiting with a warm welcome!