We visit Buncrana, Donegal every year. It’s our annual trip because of family commitments but since having the children we try to mix it up so that we can all make the best of it. You’ll find a mixture of free and paid for activities that all of my children enjoy whilst staying in the area.
1. Glenevin Waterfall, Clonmany
This waterfall is hidden in Clonmany and is a lovely 1km walk along the river’s edge that leads to the stunning 40ft waterfall. We love it because there are lots of picnic tables, we stop off at SuperValu on the way to stock up on all of the goodies so that we can enjoy lunch/after the walk. There are a mix of open and covered areas.
Along the path to Glenevin Waterfall you’ll be able to spot fairy houses and gardens which keeps the attention of the kids, and you can also have a paddle in the stream (at your own risk, I’d advise wellies or watershoes). The path is well kept and suitable for prams/buggies/pushchairs too.
About 1/3 of the way in you can climb a steep trail to a view point if you want to enjoy some scenery.
You’ll also find the Rose Cottage Ice-Cream & Craft Shop which is reasonably priced, parking and toilets.
This is a free attraction however they rely on donations to keep it kept to a good standard. You can leave a donation in the box.
We found this suitable for all ages, and the kids like to run around on the way to the waterfall so it’s great to let off some steam!
2. Go to the beach!
Buncrana has some beautiful beaches, and whilst the weather might not always be on your side you can still enjoy time there. Whenever we visit we make an effort to visit no matter what. Sometimes we’ll go for a run and the kids will collect shells, when the sun is out we go for a beach swim or sometimes we’ll make a fire and enjoy being outdoors. Check these out:
Lisfannon Strand (Fahan) Beach
A favourite of ours because we got engaged here, back in 2007! It’s a nice stretch of beach which you’ll find opposite The Harbour Inn. There’s a small car park and steps to the beach opposite here, or a bit further down you can park too. It’s a quiet stretch with blue flag status – a great beach to go for a run!
Lady’s Bay Beach
Lady’s Bay is a sheltered cove beach just a five minute walk from town. It’s located near the play area which the kids love. It’s a big playground with lots to do for all ages. In addition to the play area, there are tennis courts, public toilets, and picnic tables. A coffee cart, the grind is usually parked nearby too!
3. Oakfield Park
Oakfield Park in Raphoe, Co. Donegal, is approximately a 40 minute drive from Buncrana but is well worth the journey. It is an award-winning private estate that has beautifully restored gardens and buildings, a lake and woodlands. There’s loads of activities to keep both kids and adults entertaining including a hedge maze, striking sculptures, miles of walking paths, and spectacular views of Croaghan Mountain.
We spent the whole day there, the restaurant serves great coffee and meal options but you can also take your own picnic with plenty of benches to stop and take a break.
Keep an eye out for special events around Halloween and Christmas time as well as food and drink festivals in the Summer months. We’ll be back for sure when we next visit.
4. Wild Alpaca Way
If you love Alpaca’s, and you love a walk in the mountains then this experience is for you. Around a 40 minute drive from Buncrana based in Malin Head you’ll find Wild Alpaca Way. You can walk with an alpaca in the mountains. There are various options available. We chose a group tour which was fine for us. Everyone in the group has their own alpaca to walk with photo opportunities and time to feed them. You can also opt for a private tour if you wanted.
Word of warning – there are no toilets so stop in a nearby town on route. It’s also very blowy up there so I’d recommend an extra layer to keep warm – even if the sun is shining.
The kids loved this experience, and it was great to be in the wild!
5. Wild Ireland
You might recognise this place if you ever watched the Netflix series ‘Return of the Wild – The Bearman of Buncrana’. A documentary following Killian and Katie’s journey to create a world-class wildlife sanctuary in the Irish landscape. Well Wild Ireland is it. We enjoyed a good few hours here, enjoying the wolves, bears, lynx and boars. There’s a cafe and play area too. A nice day out.
6. Tropical World
Tropical World is in Letterkenny, about an hours drive from Buncranna. It’s a good spot to visit with the kids, and you can stop in Letterkenny town afterwards for a little explore.
You’ll find a mini zoo, butterfly house, play area and lots of talks to keep little ones entertained.
7. Grianan of Aileach
Perched high on a hill in County Donegal, Ireland, the ancient stone walls of Grianán of Aileach provide visitors with truly spectacular panoramic views. From this majestic fort, you can gaze out over the beautiful countryside and the Inishowen peninsula, stretching between Loughs Foyle and Swilly.
You’ll find it sign posted off the main road, and there’s a small car park which is free of charge. There are no other facilities however when we visited there was a small tuck shop selling drinks and snacks.
The views are incredible, and the kids loved running around too!
8. O’Donnells Ice-Cream Shop, Buncranna Town
I’m not exaggerating when I say this is the best ice cream shop ever! It’s home of the famous ‘pink + white’ plus there’s a range of whipped and scooped varieties too. We love it because it’s family-run and has been going for years. We’re all on first name terms now and make multiple visits while in the area!
These are some of our favourite things to do in and around Buncrana. I’m sure there’s more to add to the list and I will be as we go along! Let me know if you visit any of these places or if there’s anywhere else we should explore. We visit anually to see family and friends.
Comments are closed