This spectacular location is internationally renowned for its hauntingly beautiful wilderness, wildlife (including a large herd of red deer and Golden Eagles), mountains, lakes and glens. Nestled at the heart of the 16,500-hectare national park and on the untamed shores of Lough Veagh is Glenveagh Castle - a 19th century hunting lodge surrounded by beautiful and expansive gardens.

 

Find out about this unique environment and its history when you check out the famous Glenveagh Visitor Centre. Bike hire is available for those who wish to explore the truly wild surroundings of this magnificent place.

 

Glenveagh Castle is accessible by guided tours only. Guided tours are available daily during the open season. Guides on duty will be happy to provide visitors with information about the park and surrounding area as well as tickets for the park buses.

 

The Castle Gardens are among Ireland’s most celebrated horticultural masterpieces and are steeped in tranquillity. The gardens are open to the public with free admission, every day and all year round.

 

Glenveagh Castle was created in the heart of Donegal’s granite mountain wilderness as a ‘Victorian Camelot-and romantic retreat’. It was conceived. By its founders as facilitating an idyllic lifestyle for lovers of nature, art, hunting and fishing.

 

Fishing on Lough Veagh is available from July 15 to September 30. For further information on fishing the area, please contact reception.

 

The Glenveagh Visitor Centre is located on the northern end of Lough Veagh, near the edge of the National Park.Its award-winning design incorporates a living heather roof mimicking the surrounding landscape causing minimum disturbance. The extensive displays contained within provide an introduction to the parks natural and built history as well as providing information on walking trails, events etc. Guides on duty will also be happy to provide visitors with information about the park and surrounding area as well as tickets for the park buses.

Time: 40mins

 

Terrain: A mostly flat gravel path

 

This trail brings you through the glen from the visitor centre Location is at the Bus Stop near the Visitor Centre. ( Grid Ref: C 039231) to Glenveagh castle and gardens. The walk begins at the bus shelter from where there is a fine view of the valley of Glenveagh and continues along the shores of Lough Veagh. It is possible to walk one way and return by bus by obtaining a ticket at the castle reception. The walk starts through a stand of mature Austrian Pines and scattered native broadleaved trees such as Holly, Rowan and Birch. Past the wooden shingled roofed boathouse is a recently constructed bridge over the Owencarrow River. The bridge was constructed by park staff using seasoned larch and recycled plastic decking. The Owencarrow River is the main outflow from Lough Veagh which eventually meets the sea at the Lackagh Bridge near Doe Castle. The Owencarrow river is home to breeding salmon, trout, eel, freshwater pearl mussel, and otter. Beyond the bridge the path takes walkers out on to the more open landscape of blanket bog and wet heath habitat that is typical of much of Glenveagh and the west of Ireland generally. These are wet peatland habitats and although mainly treeless they are home to a range of plant and animals, many of which are unique to these habitats. As the path meanders along the glen and lake side there are beautiful views across Lough Veagh and it’s scattered islets to the cliffs and open hilltops beyond. This sublime landscape offers a taste of a remote and peaceful Irish wilderness where nature comes first. Further along you will find examples of small native scrub woodland and mountain streams. The path ends in the wonderful castle gardens, an amazing botanical contrast to the wilder surrounding landscape. 

 

We are the nearest accommodation to Glenveagh National Park being just 35 minutes drive 

 

For more information follow the link https://www.glenveaghnationalpark.ie/