Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Letterkenny, Ireland

Rated as Ireland’s “tidiest town” in 2015, Letterkenny is an attractive market town, situated near where the River Swilly expands into a fjord along the northwest coast.

Lough Swilly and the Fanad Peninsula are located on Ireland’s renowned Wild Atlantic Way, offering scenic drives to mountains, rugged promontories, Neolithic dolmens, medieval hill-forts, and historic martello towers equipped with artillery.

This region is historically significant, having given rise to notable figures such as St. Columba, who introduced Christianity to Scotland in the 6th century.

Letterkenny also serves as a gateway to Glenveagh National Park, which features a picturesque 19th-century castle and exotic gardens.

Let us delve into the noteworthy attractions in Letterkenny:

1. Glenveagh National Park

Ireland’s second-largest national park is a short 15 kilometers west of Letterkenny.

Spanning over 16,500 hectares, the park features heathland, forests, and bare mountain slopes surrounding the stunning Lough Veagh.

Previously part of the Glenveagh Castle estate, it hosts the largest herd of red deer in Ireland, alongside a thriving population of golden eagles, which were reintroduced in 2000 after being locally extinct. A recommended first stop is the Glenveagh Visitor Centre on the northern shore of the lough, designed to blend seamlessly with the landscape thanks to its heather roof.

At the Visitor Centre, you can learn about Glenveagh’s natural and human history, as well as select from six designated walking paths, either point-to-point or looped.

The most accessible option is the one-kilometer View Point Trail, which ascends to the ridge above Glenveagh Castle, offering magnificent views of the lake.

2. Glenveagh Castle

At the heart of the estate lies Glenveagh Castle, constructed in the Scottish Baronial style from granite for Captain John George Adair in the early 1870s.

Adair chose a breathtaking lakeside location for his residence, going so far as to displace 244 tenants to ensure a serene setting.

The gardens surrounding the castle were designed in a naturalistic style, featuring exotic species from Tasmania, Madeira, and Chile, sheltered from the wind by substantial pine groves and rhododendrons.

A shuttle bus services from the national park’s visitor centre to the castle, or you can opt for a brief walk.

Access to the castle is provided through guided tours that last approximately 45 minutes, during which the fascinating history of previous owners will be revealed, including a Harvard professor who mysteriously vanished off the west coast of Ireland in 1933.

3. Mount Errigal

One of the most captivating mountains in Ireland dominates the western perimeter of Glenveagh National Park.

Mount Errigal rises to 751 meters and is both the southernmost and highest peak of the Seven Sisters range.

The distinctive conical shape results from the mountain’s quartzite composition, which has remarkably resisted erosion.

This stone reflects a captivating pinkish hue when illuminated by the setting sun.

While Errigal may appear to be a summit only suited for seasoned climbers, a good pair of hiking shoes and moderate experience are sufficient for the ascent.

Once at the peak, you can confront the winds along the narrow and breathtaking “One Man’s Pass” that leads to Errigal’s lower sister summit.

4. Cathedral of St. Eunan and St. Columba

Positioned at an elevated location overlooking the town, Letterkenny’s cathedral was constructed in the 1890s and consecrated in 1901. Its architecture exemplifies neo-Gothic style, designed by William Hague, known for numerous religious structures in Victorian Ireland.

Notably, the cathedral is built from white sandstone sourced from Mountcharles along the northwest coast.

This material was transported via Lough Swilly and carried by the local populace to this elevated site.

The cathedral features stunning stained glass windows created by the An Túir Gloine studio and Harry Clarke, and the Great Arch showcases imagery from the lives of St. Eunan and St. Columba, who were active in Ireland and Scotland during the 6th and 7th centuries.

5. Lough Swilly

A glacial fjord, Lough Swilly meanders from Letterkenny to the Atlantic Ocean approximately 40 kilometers to the north.

The Wild Atlantic Way traces the shoreline of the lough, and for a memorable golfing experience, there are golf courses located both in Letterkenny and further north in Portsalon.

During the Napoleonic Wars, a series of martello towers (small circular forts) were established to protect Londonderry to the east.

These structures were renovated at the onset of the First World War and remain visible in eight picturesque locations around Lough Swilly.

Across the water from Portsalon, Fort Dunree is beautifully positioned on a headland and houses a military museum along with restored BL 6-inch Mk VII naval guns from the First World War.

6. Glebe House and Gallery

The English artist Derek Hill resided and worked in this house on Lough Gartan from 1954 until he donated it, alongside an exceptional art collection, to the Irish government in 1981. Hill amassed works by distinguished 20th-century artists such as Renoir, Braque, Picasso, and Oskar Kokoschka, as well as an impressive collection of Islamic and Oriental art and textiles by William Morris.

The house and its remarkable art collection are accessible only through guided tours during Easter and from May to September, when visitors can also enjoy light refreshments at the tea rooms.

The surrounding woodland gardens remain open year-round.

7. Donegal County Museum

The location of the Donegal County Museum is steeped in history; it occupies the former Warden’s House of the Letterkenny Workhouse, a formidable stone structure completed in 1845 during the Great Famine.

The museum’s galleries are diverse, showcasing the folklore, social history, agriculture, and archaeology of County Donegal.

For those interested in a quick overview of local history spanning thousands of years, the first floor features a timeline that begins in the Neolithic Period and progresses to the 21st century.

Historians can deeply engage with Donegal’s heritage through the Donegal Islands Film and Radio archive and the Northwest Film Archive.

8. Newmills Corn and Flax Mill

Located ten minutes along the Swilly in Milltown, the Newmills Corn and Flax Mill is a well-preserved piece of industrial heritage dating back to the early 19th century.

This site is particularly noteworthy as combined corn and flax mills are unique to Ulster and Northwest Ireland.

Water is channeled from the Swilly via a one-kilometer mill race, which powers two distinct mills: one for processing flax into linen and the other for barley and oats, driven by one of the largest operating mill wheels in Ireland.

This wheel, installed in 1907, continued to function until 1980. During the summer season, visitors can observe the process of flax fiber separation (scutching) and explore the intricate network of hoists, pulleys, and elevators within the corn mill.

9. Oakfield Park

Set on land that was once a deanery and later became a stately manor in the 19th century, Oakfield Park is a stunning outdoor destination where visitors can enjoy leisurely walks through natural woodlands, formal gardens, and tranquil lakes.

A highlight of Oakfield Park is the steam-powered narrow-gauge railway, which offers scenic views of Croaghan Hill to the south.

This 4.5-kilometer railway line winds through meadows and forests, crosses streams, and traverses a wooden causeway.

Horticulture enthusiasts will appreciate the grounds, adorned with follies and sculptures and featuring a parterre, a historic walled garden, and cherished heritage trees.

Visitors can also indulge in refreshments at the tea rooms, which serve homemade cakes and craft beers brewed in Donegal.

10. Fanad Peninsula

Traveling north from Letterkenny, one can embark on an enchanting journey along the Wild Atlantic Way, with the waters and hills of Lough Swilly beside you.

Before long, you will arrive at the Fanad Peninsula, noted for some of Northwest Ireland’s most stunning landscapes.

This area is characterized by dry-stone walls, heather, and verdant meadows dotted with grazing cattle.

Highlighted by bold peaks, including the quartzite hill of Knockalla, reaching 363 meters in height, the landscape is captivating.

During your drive, you may take a break at the endless Atlantic beaches, such as Ballymastocker Bay, or explore prehistoric dolmens located at Saltpans and Gortnavern.

At the northernmost point lies the rugged Fanad Head, where the namesake lighthouse, established in 1886, stands on a slender promontory battered by the waves.

11. Tropical World

Located beside Letterkenny Golf Club on the eastern outskirts of the town is a small zoo dedicated to tropical species.

Among its inhabitants are lorikeets and turacos showcasing vibrant plumage, along with lizards, snakes, turtles, meerkats, yellow mongooses, and various species of small monkeys.

One of the most delightful features is the butterfly house, displaying butterflies of all sizes in a brilliant array of colors. The zoo also features a garden center, a play area, picnic tables, and a café.

12. Lurgybrack Open Farm

Providing a delightful experience for families with young children, the Lurgybrack Open Farm allows kids to interact with friendly and gentle animals.

Among the residents are Highland cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, draft horses, turkeys, exotic birds, chinchillas, and rabbits.

With staff supervision, children can feed and handle many of these animals, learning intriguing facts about them in the process.

The farm features a soft play area along with an adventure playground equipped with a zip-line, sunken trampoline, and a barrel train.

13. Letterkenny Town Park

For those with leisure time in Letterkenny, the town park spanning four hectares is an ideal spot for a sunny day.

Established in 1999 on a site of 18th-century woodland, the park features a newly upgraded playground designed for children.

Additionally, there is a tea room, an orchard, flowerbeds, mature trees, and a herb garden.

At the end of August, the family-friendly Party in the Car Park event takes place here, featuring music, arts, food, bouncy castles, and games for children.

14. Colmcille Heritage Centre

Located fifteen minutes west of Letterkenny beside Gartan Lough, this small museum is dedicated to St. Columba (Colmcille in Irish), who helped disseminate Christianity in Ireland during the 6th century.

The Colmcille Heritage Centre is situated near the saint’s birthplace and provides fascinating insights into his life.

A particularly intriguing aspect of his story involves his year spent copying a manuscript of the Book of Psalms.

He was found guilty of copyright infringement for this act and subsequently exiled to Scotland, where he introduced Christianity for the first time.

The heritage centre features informative panels, a wax figure of Columba, and replica artifacts demonstrating the tools and dyes used during the creation of his manuscript.

15. Killydonnell Friary

Traveling along Lough Swilly, visitors will encounter the serene ruins of a 15th-century friary, nestled within the grounds of a still-active cemetery.

Killydonnell Friary provides a remarkably tranquil environment overlooking the fjord.

This Franciscan friary commenced construction in 1471 by the O’Donnell clan, built upon the site of an older church dating back to the 900s.

By 1603, the friary had been closed during the Plantation of Ulster.

What remains are a church featuring a nave and chancel, cloaked in ivy, alongside remnants of monastic structures to the north.

These structures include vaults that have partly been repurposed as the family tomb of the Stewarts of Fort Stewart.