the rosses and gweedore

It is an ideal base to explore the Gaelic speaking Rosses and Gweedore, where, for much of the drive, you will see shop signs in the Irish Language. The signpositng may be bilingual or just in Irish. A short detour on the main N56 road will take you to Lough Anure, scenically situated north-east of Dungloe. This is a very popular boating and angling centre. The village also has an Irish language school. To follow the tour take the Burtonport (R259) road from Dungloe. Lough Meela soon appears on the right and the rock-strewn blanket bog setting of the lake gives you a taste of thecharacter of this drive. At a Y junction, taken the R260 road, signposted Ailt An Chorrain (Burtonport).

Follow the road, swinging left to bring you to the harbour and embarkation point for Arranmore Island. The village is  The island's annual festival occurs in August.

Leave Burtonport via the R 259, turning left, signposted Anagaire (Annagry). Passing Lough Waskel, right, the road rises and the distinctive conical shapes of the higher peaks in the beautiful Derryveagh Mountains come into view. Winding around a small inlet you will soon see a signpost left for Cruit Island 9-hole Golf Club. This road leads onto Cruit Island via a small bridge.

Retrace your steps, turnign left for Anagaire (Annagry). After you pass the tiny village of Ceann Caslack (Kincasslagh), Mullaghderg Lough attracts the eye (right), with the sapphire waters contrasting with rust-red reeds, tiny grey -green peninsulas and chocolate-brown peat. 

West of the road between Anagaire and Croithli (Crolly) is the district of Rannafast (Ranna Feirste. Continue to a T-junction and follow the Letterkenny (N56) road to Croithli (Crolly), which is set on a lovely stretch of the Crolly River. This marks the boundary between The Rosses and the vast parish of Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore). Leo's in the village is the family pub of the famous singing group Clannad and the singer Enya. Follow the R257, Bun Beag (BunBeg), road from here and as you approach the village, Udaras Na Gaeltachta is signposted right. Turn right at the crossroads in the village. 

As you continue north a steep dip in the road signals your exit from Bunbeg and your entrance into Derrybeg. Follow the R257 (coast road) to Bloody Foreland. A signpost for Carrick An Aifrinn (Mass Rock), left, leads onto a very narrow and uneven road. Many Mass rocks exist in Ireland and were used as altars by fugitive priests to celebrate Mass for the people during the times of the repressive Penal Laws. Return to your car and drive to the car park and viewing point at Bloody Foreland. Bloody Foreland Hill towers over the road, right, as you continue your journey on the R 257. The island of Inishbofin, Inishdooey, Inishbeg and the distant Tory Island soon come into view to the north, while the massive Horn Head Cliffs can be seen to the east. At Meenlaragh the lay-by opposite the second pub, left, overlooks the little harbour of Magheraroarty where you embark for Tory Island. 
Turn left onto the R251, signposted Ionad Cois Locha (Lakeside Centre).

Return to the village, turning right and right again at the next fork, signposted Poisoned Glen. The glens sounds forbidding, but gets its name from the spurge whih grows in the valley producing a milky sap.
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Continue your drive east and in the first lay-by, right, there is a very helpful map which will pinpoint the main attractions and walks in the valley. This lay-by overlooks the lake and Cronany Burn, which runs from Poisoned Glen. As you continue east and clear the flank of errigal you will see lovely Altan Lough, left, separating Errigal from the twin peaks of Aghla Mor and Aghla Beg.

Muckish, for the moment concealed behind Crocknalaragagh, soon appears, left. It is a mountain which dominates the norht-west of the county. As Muckish appears, the landscape in front of you,produces glorious views of lakes and distant hills, while the Calabber River accompanies you almost to the formal entrance to Glenveagh National Park. The extent of the park incorporates the two highest mountains in Donegal, Errigal and Slieve Snacht, and an extensive deer reserve. The part most frequented by visitors, however, includes Lough Beagh, Glenveagh Castle and Gardens and the nearby Visitor Centre. The largest red deer population in Ireland is contained within this estate, which was created by George Adair in 1857.
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Resume your tour. Turn right at the park gate and follow the signs on the R251 for Glebe Gallery and Colmcille Heritage Centre. As you pass Lough Akibbon on the right, Glebe Gallery, your next port of call, is signposted right. Turn right as you leave the gallery and follow the signs to Colmcille Heritage Centre. When you leave the estate, turn right. This mountain road between Churchill and Doocharry is one of those remarkable rods in a remarkable county..

As you round Meenbeg Hill, where the Ulster Way walk meets the road, an incredible panorama opens up before you to Lough Barra and beyond. There is a lay-by and picnic tables by the lake, where you can drink in the peace of this virgin valley among the hills of Donegal. Join the R252 from Doocharry where the lakes become more numerous and the road runs through the foothills, back to Dungloe and the end of your drive. Rest up in Dungloe, enjoy the flavour of the colourful town and listen awhile to the music and lilt of the voices in the pubs and restaurants.

The heart of Gaelic speaking Donegal, the county's two highest peaks and the glorious Glenveagh National Park in the Derryveagh Mountains are the major features on this drive.

The Rosses and Gweedore Tour incorporate the following areas of Donegal. Dungloe, Burtonport, Cruit Island, Annagry, Crolly, Bunbeg, Derrybet, Bloody Foreland, Gortahork, Dunlewy, Glenveagh, Churchill, Gartan, Doocharry, Dungloe.