Lynne's Guidebook for Glen and area
Pubs / Food / Music
Most of these are open as of this writing (June 2021), best to ring first to find out if takeaway only or dine-in, live music not allowed yet so these recommendations are pre-pandemic
Traditional bar, good food, serves year-round, dine-in or takeaway. I come here once a week when I'm over. Large marquee/tent outdoor area for dine-in. Breakfast/lunch/dinner. Had live music (ring first). 9.7 km from house (Main Street Creeslough) +353 (74) 9138268 http://www.rosesbarandkitchen.ie
Roses Bar
2 Main StTraditional bar, good food, serves year-round, dine-in or takeaway. I come here once a week when I'm over. Large marquee/tent outdoor area for dine-in. Breakfast/lunch/dinner. Had live music (ring first). 9.7 km from house (Main Street Creeslough) +353 (74) 9138268 http://www.rosesbarandkitchen.ie
One of my favorite places to have a meal, excellent food. "Supper Club" on Thursday's, 3-course meal, very good value. Large marquee/tent for dining and offers takeaway. Beach access is next to hotel. 11 km from house (Main Street Downings) https://www.downingsbayhotel.com/wining-and-dining/jcs-bar
Downings Bay Hotel
One of my favorite places to have a meal, excellent food. "Supper Club" on Thursday's, 3-course meal, very good value. Large marquee/tent for dining and offers takeaway. Beach access is next to hotel. 11 km from house (Main Street Downings) https://www.downingsbayhotel.com/wining-and-dining/jcs-bar
I go here once a week when I'm over, great pizza and other food offerings, takeaway or outdoor dining at the moment. 11 km from house (Main Street Downings) . +353 (74) 9155503 https://goosegander.ie/
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Goose & Gander Pizzeria
Main StreetI go here once a week when I'm over, great pizza and other food offerings, takeaway or outdoor dining at the moment. 11 km from house (Main Street Downings) . +353 (74) 9155503 https://goosegander.ie/
Lovely delicious Seafood Bar next to Harbour Bar. Outdoor eating at the moment. Very small, walk-ins only. 11 km from house (Main Street Downings)
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fisk Seafood Bar Downings
Lovely delicious Seafood Bar next to Harbour Bar. Outdoor eating at the moment. Very small, walk-ins only. 11 km from house (Main Street Downings)
Friendly pub area, good food, takeaway at the moment, not sure if they have outdoor dining. Had music some evenings. 11 km from house.
Beach Hotel Downings
Friendly pub area, good food, takeaway at the moment, not sure if they have outdoor dining. Had music some evenings. 11 km from house.
They are open with outdoor dining. Lovely Trad Pub atmosphere, live music some nights (ring first), highly recommend the restaurant, elegant, delicious meals, and very popular so you must make reservations. Down the road from the house. (2.2 km, Glen) +353 (0)74 91 55130 https://www.oldeglen.ie/
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box
They are open with outdoor dining. Lovely Trad Pub atmosphere, live music some nights (ring first), highly recommend the restaurant, elegant, delicious meals, and very popular so you must make reservations. Down the road from the house. (2.2 km, Glen) +353 (0)74 91 55130 https://www.oldeglen.ie/
Very well-know pub, worth checking out. Doesn't serve food, Traditional music regularly. 12 km from house. (Downings)
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Singing Pub
Very well-know pub, worth checking out. Doesn't serve food, Traditional music regularly. 12 km from house. (Downings)
Outdoor seating. Lovely, friendly pub, Traditional music regularly through the week pre-pandemic. Fisk (Fish) Seafood bar next door. 11 km from house (Main Street Downings) +353 74 915 5490
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Harbour Bar
Outdoor seating. Lovely, friendly pub, Traditional music regularly through the week pre-pandemic. Fisk (Fish) Seafood bar next door. 11 km from house (Main Street Downings) +353 74 915 5490
Caife na Sraide
Main StreetCafe with good food and varied menu, 8 km from house (Main Street, Carrigart)
Not open yet as of June 2021. Lovely little cafe, really good food for breakfast/lunch/brunch on the Main Street in Creeslough. Closes at 4pm
Huckleberry Coffee Shop
Main StreetNot open yet as of June 2021. Lovely little cafe, really good food for breakfast/lunch/brunch on the Main Street in Creeslough. Closes at 4pm
Part of the Throat Lake Art Gallery, great spot, beautiful views of Sheephaven Bay. (14 km in Port na Blah) +353 (0)749 138 791 http://www.buttermilk.ie/
Buttermilk
Part of the Throat Lake Art Gallery, great spot, beautiful views of Sheephaven Bay. (14 km in Port na Blah) +353 (0)749 138 791 http://www.buttermilk.ie/
Golf
I confess I'm not a golfer so just passing along local, recommended links.
Nearby Downings, TraMor Beach is also accessible at the hotel
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort
Nearby Downings, TraMor Beach is also accessible at the hotel
Gorgeous views, golf course overlooks Sheephaven Bay, beautiful Kilahoey Beach Strand is accessible through the golf course
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dunfanaghy Golf Club
Gorgeous views, golf course overlooks Sheephaven Bay, beautiful Kilahoey Beach Strand is accessible through the golf course
About a 30 minute drive, beautiful area. Golf club is currently ranked in top 25 courses in Ireland. Visitors welcome. http://www.portsalongolfclub.ie
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Portsalon Golf Club
7 Fanad WayAbout a 30 minute drive, beautiful area. Golf club is currently ranked in top 25 courses in Ireland. Visitors welcome. http://www.portsalongolfclub.ie
Another good course from what I hear. About 30km from the house .https://www.letterkennygolfclub.net
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Letterkenny Golf Club
Another good course from what I hear. About 30km from the house .https://www.letterkennygolfclub.net
Beaches
Favorite beach walks in the area
When I lived in the area I walked this beach daily, truly one of my favorites. Only about a 20 minute drive from the house (17 km) in Dunfanaghy, go through the golf course to access.
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Killahoey Beach
When I lived in the area I walked this beach daily, truly one of my favorites. Only about a 20 minute drive from the house (17 km) in Dunfanaghy, go through the golf course to access.
Great beach walk in nearby Downings, the strand is a beautiful walk, accessible at Rosapena Gold Club or next to Downings Bay Hotel
Tramore
Great beach walk in nearby Downings, the strand is a beautiful walk, accessible at Rosapena Gold Club or next to Downings Bay Hotel
Beautiful beach walk, a regular stop of mine when I'm in the area, about 18 km from house in Marble Hill
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Marble Hill Strand
Beautiful beach walk, a regular stop of mine when I'm in the area, about 18 km from house in Marble Hill
Walks in the area
Personal favourites that I walk at least once a week
The park has everything from beautiful woodland trails (locals say you can stitch together several trails and walk 15km through 5 different habitats), coastal scenery with tress down to the water's edge, lakes, rivers and megalithic tombs. megalithic tombs. I never get tired of exploring new trails or re-walking favorites. https://www.coillte.ie/site/ards-forest-park
72 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ards Forest Park
The park has everything from beautiful woodland trails (locals say you can stitch together several trails and walk 15km through 5 different habitats), coastal scenery with tress down to the water's edge, lakes, rivers and megalithic tombs. megalithic tombs. I never get tired of exploring new trails or re-walking favorites. https://www.coillte.ie/site/ards-forest-park
Nearby Creeslough, a favorite morning walk of mine, lovely forest with sounds of a stream and nature.
Duntally Wood Nature Reserve
Nearby Creeslough, a favorite morning walk of mine, lovely forest with sounds of a stream and nature.
Highly recommend visiting
Scenic, cultural, great views, a recommendation of places to go to see this area of Donegal at its best!
Even if you're not big on lighthouses, the 30 minute drive is well worth it, the views from the top are spectacular, and the tour is very well done. The area is well worth visiting, I head over there every time I come over.
55 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fanad Head Lighthouse
Even if you're not big on lighthouses, the 30 minute drive is well worth it, the views from the top are spectacular, and the tour is very well done. The area is well worth visiting, I head over there every time I come over.
Worth the drive over, beautiful area, music scene and The Dunlewey Centre has lots of activities. You can hike Errigal Mountain from this area (see Outdoor section).
http://dunleweycentre.com
29 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dunlewey
Worth the drive over, beautiful area, music scene and The Dunlewey Centre has lots of activities. You can hike Errigal Mountain from this area (see Outdoor section).
http://dunleweycentre.com
Historic castle, grounds only open at this time but still fun to look around. About 7km from the house. You can also view it off the Lackagh Bridge on the Creeslough road from Glen. https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/doe-castle/
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Doe Castle
Historic castle, grounds only open at this time but still fun to look around. About 7km from the house. You can also view it off the Lackagh Bridge on the Creeslough road from Glen. https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/doe-castle/
A really fantastic day trip, Tory is the most remote inhabited island of Ireland and is fascinating to visit. http://oileanthorai.com Link to ferry information http://oileanthorai.com/TravelTaisteal.htm
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tory Island
A really fantastic day trip, Tory is the most remote inhabited island of Ireland and is fascinating to visit. http://oileanthorai.com Link to ferry information http://oileanthorai.com/TravelTaisteal.htm
Beautiful scenic drive that offers panoramic unobstructed views out to sea over 3 peninsulas. The Lough Salt Drive is the upper road behind the house, head towards Carrigart and take a sharp right at the first opportunity, (which will take you towards Letterkenny). Driving from Letterkenny the turnoff is between Kilmacrennan and Termon.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lough Salt
Beautiful scenic drive that offers panoramic unobstructed views out to sea over 3 peninsulas. The Lough Salt Drive is the upper road behind the house, head towards Carrigart and take a sharp right at the first opportunity, (which will take you towards Letterkenny). Driving from Letterkenny the turnoff is between Kilmacrennan and Termon.
Outdoor
I have not personally done the hike yet but know a lot of people who have and it's on my list! Here's a link to the Errigal Mountain Hike Guide https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/climbing-mount-errigal/
51 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Errigal Mountain
I have not personally done the hike yet but know a lot of people who have and it's on my list! Here's a link to the Errigal Mountain Hike Guide https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/climbing-mount-errigal/
A fun hike and beautiful views, I love Muckish since I look at it out my window every day. Here's a link for hiking info https://uniqueascent.ie/muckish-guide
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Muckish
A fun hike and beautiful views, I love Muckish since I look at it out my window every day. Here's a link for hiking info https://uniqueascent.ie/muckish-guide
Trail riding and trekking, I haven't tried this myself. tel:+353035374-9153583, http://www.aire.ie/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=49:carrigart-horse-riding-centre&Itemid=210
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Carrigart Horse Riding Centre
Main StreetTrail riding and trekking, I haven't tried this myself. tel:+353035374-9153583, http://www.aire.ie/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=49:carrigart-horse-riding-centre&Itemid=210
City/town information
Town has a few eating places, grocery, post office (in Centra), ATM, (in Centra), credit union, bakery, gift shop and chemist, among other shops along the main road. There's a petrol station at the other end of town, about .5 km.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Carrickart
Town has a few eating places, grocery, post office (in Centra), ATM, (in Centra), credit union, bakery, gift shop and chemist, among other shops along the main road. There's a petrol station at the other end of town, about .5 km.
Lovely to see the town building back up! Besides Roses Pub and Huckleberry Cafe, there's now Scrumptuous Ice Cream shop and the Corner Brew coffee shop. Primo petrol and food shop is right outside the town. About 10km from house
Creeslough
Lovely to see the town building back up! Besides Roses Pub and Huckleberry Cafe, there's now Scrumptuous Ice Cream shop and the Corner Brew coffee shop. Primo petrol and food shop is right outside the town. About 10km from house