Donegal
We went for a wee week before the kids went back to school. I'd been in my youth to other places in Donegal but not really since. We booked a nice if basic chalet type house in Downings. Here follows a brief summation.
In short Donegal is seriously overrated. The drive is pretty awful, with not a good road to be had. The scenery is spoilt by un-kept hedgerows and awful buildings. Indeed nothing seems to ever have been finished off properly. It's like they were nearly done and then said we'll finish that tomorrow, but they never came back.
The planning committee for Donegal Co. Council or whoever makes such decisions is doing a very bad job. An awful lot of poorly thought out planning decisions seems to have been made. Where we stayed for example, was a little cull de sac of 5 or 6 houses, the road wasn't finished even with a base coat of tar just hardcore and likely won't ever be by the looks of it and there was no footpath to walk to wee town. There was barely a footpath in the town. Surely footpaths should be mandatory?
There's chalet type houses EVERYWHERE. You can't see anything for houses. Awful.
Some of the building that built are truly awful. They look awful and they all seem to be finished with a grey render that bleeds red. It's absolutely awful looking.
There's nothing much in the town. The two shops just about have the essentials, one didn't have bottled water. They' were pretty awful to be honest. We went for Breakfast to a cafe one morning. It didn't accept card. It was just hassely. Who doesn't accept card in 2019?? The food was good.
There's two pubs. One isn't really accessible unless your driving. We had the kids so weren't on that sort of holiday but certainly they seemed nice places if as I say a little inaccessible.
The beach was fine. You could drive onto it which is handy, but it's a beach and certainly not worth going to as one off.
It rained a lot. Indeed Downings appears to get more rain that the other town beside it. We were out for a drive and it wasn't raining in Ramelton (I think that's the other town) but it was in Downings. Quite heavily.
So it was great to be away for a few days etc but I don't think I'd ever go back because there are other places that are far more beautiful and picturesque.
The people are nice enough though.
Has anyone else been and what are your thoughts?
And what did your therapist say, Mariah?
Donegal is what it is. Maybe you’re used to Sun kissed Tenerife with everything laid on for you.
Been in Downings loads of times. Great for relaxing, golf, nice drives, beach, walks, eating out etc.
I’m surprised you didn’t take a few euros cash with you. Not everyone takes card, thankfully. Burger vans, pitch and putt, corner shops, ice cream vans, those are things kids usually want and few of those wouldn’t have cards. Plan ahead, man.
By the way, isn’t it protocol now that hedges aren’t cut while birds are nesting in summer?
