Walking & Hiking in Donegal

The Abbey Hotel has been dealing with Walkers and Hikers for many years and have put together great value packages to suit every level. There are walks for families, fun, fitness, leisurely walkers or seasoned ramblers - whatever your interest, we’ll have the ideal walk for you. Take a challenging hike or a casual stroll for a breathtaking experience. After a long day walking or hiking guests ha…

Drumboe Multi Access - This trail follows forest tracks looping through the southern part of the forest to the western end, with the return along the river bank. It passes through some of the quieter parts of the forest with many species of trees and shrubs and there are bluebells and wild garlic in spring. There are good views of the river. In winter parts of this trail along the river may be flo…

This walk takes you on minor roads and surfaced track along a scenic stretch of the old Burtonport railway returning on quiet country lanes, passing Alcorns Gatehouse, Sweeneys Gatehouse, Dungloe Road Station, through ash woodland and an abundance of flora and fauna giving a splendid diversity of colour and sound changing with the seasons. Looped Trail Length: 5km Time: 1hr Nearest Town: Burt…

Woodquarter Forest Trail: - Walking Trail and picnic site. This trail is along the western shore of Mulroy Bay. It is over undulating ground which rises steeply at the furthest section of the trail and offers panoramic views of the bay along the way. This site is in a part of Donegal which includes some of the most scenic areas of the county. It is on the western shore of Mulroy bay which is pa…

Glenveagh Derrylahan Nature Trail - Length: 2km (This is a looped walk) Time: 45mins Terrain: Gravel track, both flat and steep in places This attractive way marked walk near the Visitor Centre is an ideal introduction to Glenveagh’s natural environment. It offers visitors of all ages and fitness levels a chance to see some of the plants and animals of Glenveagh National Park. T…

Cosán Colmcille - Although close to the town of Milford, and easily accessed from there, Loch Colmcille is a remote and tranquil location in an area which is rich in history and wildlife. The route to and from Milford is along footpath and quiet roads, whilst the 2.5 km section to the east of the Loch is along a disused road which is not accessible to cars. Distance: Approximately 7 kms Time…

A visit to Ards Forest Park will reward everyone at any time of the year. The park covers approximately 480 hectares (1200 acres) and includes a variety of habitats, among them sand dunes, beaches, salt marshes, salt water lakes, rock face and, of course, coniferous and deciduous woodlands. With such a variety of landscapes, it is possible to spend many hours exploring this wonderful park. The…

The Cliff Walk as you would suspect from its very name is a walk along the cliff top and seashore of Bundoran’s West End. Starting out from the Tourist Information Office (See map) the route takes you westwards over the River Bradog and into the West End. At Bayview Avenue you can enjoy fine views of the Peak, Bundoran’s favourite haunt for surfers and across Donegal Bay. Continue on into the …

The Moville Slí na Sláinte is a 4.4km route which follows a picturesque 2.2km path along the River Foyle before returning back to Moville. The route starts at the Market Square, just off the Main Street and turns onto Jamess Street and down towards The Green (a 10 acre site donated by the Montgomery Family, ancestors of Field Marshal Montgomery the 2nd World War hero), where it follows the bottom …

A full moon hike up Donegal's most iconic peak - Errigal! Come along and experience the magic of watching the sun set from the summit of Errigal, then descending as the full moon rises and the stars come out! Clothing - wear comfortable and warm clothing, no denim, bring an extra warm layer plus waterproofs. Footwear - hiking boots are ideal but any sensible and secure footwear with good …

Come along and experience the magic of watching the sun rise from the summit of Errigal, seeing the amazing Donegal landscape slowly being revealed as the sun rises over the land! Clothing - wear comfortable and warm clothing, no denim, bring an extra warm layer plus waterproofs. Footwear - hiking boots are ideal but any sensible and secure footwear with good grips will suffice (no open toes…

Slí Ghabla (Gola Island) - Slí Dhún na nGall - Although relatively small, Gola Island is the ideal destination for a walker seeking an ‘off the beaten track’ experience. The island covers about 500 acres and is only one mile from the mainland. It is gently undulating, offers superb coastal scenery and supports an extensive range of birdlife. Looped Trail Length 4km Time 1hr 30mins Nearest To…

Slí Cholmcille is a section of the 280km Slí Dhún na nGall that circles around the remote landscapes of south west Donegal. The name of the route is derived from that of St Colmcille, one of Ireland’s early Christian saints, who was born in County Donegal and lived for a while in this region. He is recalled in the name of Glencolmcille, Donegal’s westerlymost village, a place steeped in pre-Christ…

The ancient territory (The Land of the O Doherty’s), of County Donegal is the most northerly part of Ireland. Its northern shore is on the restless Atlantic Ocean with Lough Swilly forming its western boundary and Lough Foyle to the east. Monuments of an earlier age grow from the landscape as castles, towers and ancient churches. The Celtic crosses and the pagan monuments come together in a co…

Walking tour of slieve league and its environs. The walk focuses on the folklore of the famous Sean O Eochaidh. Included in the walking tour is the history, culture and way of life of this spectacular place. The place comes to life with the folklore stories.

Cosán an Oilithrigh or Pilgrims Path at Sliabh Liag is a stunning 4km access route on to the plateau of Sliabh Liag. It follows the ancient path up a U-shape valley nestled between Leargadachtan Mountain and the sea cliffs at Shanbally, overlooking the small fishing village of Teelin in South West Donegal. Following the old green road from the car park at Ballymore you round the corner where t…

A visit to Ards Forest Park will reward everyone at any time of the year. The park covers approximately 480 hectares (1200 acres) and includes a variety of habitats, among them sand dunes, beaches, salt marshes, salt water lakes, rock face and, of course, coniferous and deciduous woodlands. With such a variety of landscapes, it is possible to spend many hours exploring this wonderful park. The…

This walk takes you on minor roads and surfaced track along the old railway corridor returning on quiet country lanes and road, passing the wind turbine, Alcorn’s Gatehouse, Sweeney’s Gatehouse, Dungloe Road Station and Marjorie’s Gatehouse. Including a fabulous woodland of beautiful ash trees, the walk is filled with spectacular views and a vast array of flora and fauna. Looped trail Length: …

this is a walk for fit and experienced walkers only. Starting at the spectacularly located car park on the north side of the Gap of Marmore, this route takes the walker into the heart of Inishowens finest hills. The walk offers an unfolding backdrop of the rugged coastal scenery of north Donegal with Panoramic views in all directions. There is also a linear walk Marmore to Straid incorporating i…

The Lifford Slí is 3km in length and joins the Highway to Health route in Strabane as the first cross-border Slí na Sláinte route. The route begins at the church and continues in the direction of Lifford Bridge, by-passing the Town. At this point there is a Loop walk of 1.4km which takes in the Town if you wish. Crossing Lifford Bridge you will reach the Barnhill Road By-pass joining you to the 4.…