ardara to the blue stacks

To reach it take the main Ardara road from Narin, turn right, signposted Rosbeg, and right again, just past the school onto a narrow road. Follow this road to a sign, left, with the legend, Doon Lake - Boats for Hire. Turn through the gates and proceed to the lake. Turn left at exit and right at T-junction to return to Narin. Follow the Dungloe/Glenties road from Narin. The wonderfully scenic 18-hole golf club is to your left. Kilclooney, a few km southeasts of the golf links, has a court cairn and twin portal dolmen. A forest sign, indicated on the road, signals the approach of Clooney Wood which has picnic sites as well as forest and lakeside walks. Turn right after the post office where there is a very pretty thatched cottage on the corner, to reach the wood some 2km down this road. Return to the main road and continue, right, on the Glenties road where before you head inland, you get a glimpse of Gweebarra Bay to the left and the distant lofty peaks of the north Donegal highlands. The rolling hills, punctuated by lakes, streams and occasional peaks accompany the road all the way to the neat village of Glenties. Two very scenic routes link Ballybofey and Glenties. Our drive will take the R250 (Fintown) road, simply because Fintown Lake on this route has a marvellous setting in the Finn River valley. This drive is delightful and the river - often seen below - rushes down the glen where it forms the lake, beautifully framed by heather-covered hills. Glenmore roadside picnic area is on your left as you near Ballybofey. Ballybofey/Stranorlar, twin market towns divided by the Finn River, are excellent angling centres. The 18-hole golf course is fashioned around some pleasant valleys, a lake and a backdrop of mountains. A memorial to the Drumboe Martyrs, signposted on the main street, is situated a few km west of town. You pass lovely Drumboe Wood, left, on the way to the memorial. Follow the main N15 road to Donegal Town, which will take you through the impressive Barnesmore Gap where you pass Lough Mourne, left. Above the east bank of the lough is a large ring fort called Cashelnabean, associated with the mythological Fianna, a heroic warrior band of Celts who performed extraordinary feats. The mountains of Barnesmore and Croaghconnellagh stand like lofty seninels each side of the Gap after which you take a turn right, signposted Lough Eske. Once you turn off the N15 for Lough Eske the road narrows considerable and should be driven with caution. The views of this beautiful lake, contained in a narrow valley of the Blue Stack Mountains, more than compensate for the poor road. The road first runs northwest above the Eastern Shore offering unimpeded views of the water and its tiny peninsulas. Across on the western shore you can see the lovely oak wood of Ardnamona. Trees then obscure the view for a short time and as the road turns southwest a narrow road right offers access to a beautiful walk. A small arrow on a wooden pole, left, will ensure you are on the right road. Follow the familiar walking man sign on the easily defined track, where you have to ford the river which crosses it. As you climb, the views back over Lough Eske are magnificent, while all around you are tumbling streams, waterfalls and rugged, exhilarating scenery. The dirt track swings around a bluff, which is easily negotiated if you want to take a short cut. It is, however very soggy. As you reach the crest and rejoin the main track you will see evidence of some engineering where the river is harnessed to provide electric power. Continuing north, the track peters out and you follow the cut through more bogland to Lough Belshade. Should you retrace your steps here, the round trip to your car will take about 90 minutes. Ensure you are well shod and have good weatherproof clothes, for the terrain is very boggy once you leave the dirt track. Return to your car and continue the drive. Continue west and south following the lake, keeping to the high road. Harvey's point is signposted left. The lake has good stocks of charr and also contains brown trout. The lower road around the lake passes Ardnamona. Stop for a while to enjoy the wood, canopied mainly by oak and including birch, holly, rowan and hazel as well as a great variety of plants and shrubs. Take the Donegal Town road from Harvey's Point, turning left, left again and then right, form the hotel. After the second turn left, there is a farmhouse to the left after which you will see some tall gateposts. The much overgrown avenue behind the gates leads to Lough Eske castle. The estate was developed by the Brooke family in the 18th century. Continue towards Donegal. When you reach the N56, just west of Donegal Town, turn right, passing through Mountcharles. Take a right turn after St. Peter's Lough, (R262 Signposted Frosses). The houses are very colourful here and the graveyard contains the grave of the writer and storyteller, Seamus MacManus and his first wife, Ethna Carberry, poet and writer, who predeceased him. Open bog, tiny lakes and an occasional picturesque thatched cottage where the craft of the weaver is still practised, constitute the landscape in this pass. Eventually you catch glimpses of the sea and the towering mass of Slievetooey, left, as you follow the course of the Owentocker River all the way to Ardara and journey's end.

A Small, but exquisitely beautiful coastal peninsula with twin resorts is included on this drive which otherwise features the Blue Stack Mountains and the glens and passes which cross the county east and west.

This Scenic Drive incorporates the following areas of Donegal. Ardara, Rosbeg, Portnoo, Narin, Glenties, Fintown, Ballybofey/Stranorlar, Barnesmore Gap, Lough Eske, Donegal Town, Mountcharles, Frosses, Ardara.