Ardara, voted by The Irish Times as one of the ‘best villages to live in’ in 2012, is one of the most attractive towns in Donegal, set in a wide valley where the Owentocher River enters Loughros More Bay. Visitors can enjoy the many craft and gift shops, together with the traditional Irish pubs. There are many brown trout lakes in the area for budding fisherman, or why not discover the nearby caves and falls of Maghera? Enjoy walking the magnificent Glengesh Pass, with spectacular views over the Atlantic from Loughros Point. Every March, the village hosts a successful walking festival with walkers coming from all over the world, while May boasts the annual “Cup of Tae” traditional music festival. Donegal town, 17 miles away, is situated at the mouth of Donegal Bay, on the River Eske, and is overshadowed by the Bluestack Mountains, which provide a great base for hill walking. With Donegal Castle, and the remains of a Franciscan Abbey which dates back to the 15th century, there is plenty of Irish history to absorb. There is a horse riding centre just one mile away, great golfing opportunities nearby, with a magnificent links course open for players of all abilities just seven miles away, and five miles away is Killybegs Sea Angling, where a competition is held on the first Saturday in May and September each year, along with the Killybegs International Sea Angling Festival, which is a two day event on the second weekend in July. Also 20 miles away is the wonderful Slieve League mountain, which has a height of 601 metres (1972 feet) and is situated on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal. With its sandy beaches offering good surfing conditions, restaurants, shops and pubs, this is the perfect base for an Irish break.
