Downings

Downings is a delightful seaside village located on the Rosguill Peninsula amid the spectacular scenery of north Donegal. It is blessed with wonderful beaches, and enjoys superb views across Sheephaven Bay to the Ards Peninsula and lofty Muckish mountain. Unusually Downings has several very similar names including “Downies” and even “The Downings”. Fishing and tweed making are the traditional industries of Downings, and both survive to this day. Indeed, some of the very fine tweed products of the area can be seen in McNutts store in the town.

Traditionally Downings is an Irish speaking area, and many of the locals will move back and forwards between Irish and English, depending on who they are talking to. Sheephaven Bay is one of the great sailing grounds of the North Coast, and should be on every touring boat’s itinerary. The area is also well known for water sports and particularly for deep sea angling. The Downings “Rosapenna Championship Links Golf Course” and its impressive Golfing Hotel is just half a mile from the village. Downings is of course also home of the famously stunning “Atlantic Drive”, one of the shortest and most spectacular scenic drives in all of Ireland.

The wonderful Atlantic Drive is a short but very spectacular scenic route which meanders in and out between the outsize boulders of Rosguill Peninsula. It encapsulates the dramatic marriage of two great natural elements, the ageless land of Donegal, and the timeless courtship of the Atlantic. And together they have forged a glorious alliance of great beauty. As it is only 12km in length, you will best appreciate it best if you walk or cycle. The walk can be comfortably accomplished in half a day. The views are spectacular, first across Sheephaven Bay to Horn Head, then into Tranarosan Bay, with its beautiful beach forming a golden link between two headlands. Further on is Melmore Head, which commands views across to Fanad Head. Then the road winds above Mulroy Bay with its many inlets, islands and peninsulas. An Meall Mór (Melmore Head) where the sands shine and the ocean sparkles, is simply stunning.  There is a pitch and putt facility off this road and a popular youth hostel at Tranarosann House.

Downings, and indeed the entirety of the Rosguill Peninsula, are stunning, and you are assured an enjoyable journey around every twist and turn of its wonderful roads, its panoramic vistas, and its gorgeous beaches.

How to get to Downings

By bus or car. Gallagher Travel provides 4 services daily from Letterkenny to Downings. Alternatively follow the R245 from Letterkenny to Carrickart, and then the R248 to Downings.

Where to stay in Downings

Downings has great choice of places to stay including hotels, hostels, self-catering holiday homes, guesthouses and B&B's.

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Explore more

Downings is surrounded by beautiful coastal towns. Don't miss Fanad and Portsalon if you are travelling east, and Portnablahy and Dunfanaghy if you are travelling west.

Things to do in Downings

1. Don't miss doing the Donegal Atlantic Drive. You can drive it in less than an hour, but to really appreciate, you need to see it by bicycle or by foot.
2. Downing and the Rosguill Peninsula have hundreds of tiny coves and beaches. Walk the coastal trails, bring your togs, and dive in!
3. The handwoven tweed for which Donegal is famous may be inspected and bought as souvenirs by visitors at the famous McNutt’s Tweed factory and shop, where all tweeds are designed in-house in the Downings Mill of McNutt.
4. Many of the traditional houses of Downings have been refurbished as holiday houses and are now available for holiday lettings. Shop around carefully and select a house which has retained the traditional charms and materials of the area, and your holiday will be all the more enjoyable.