Self-Drive Tours in Donegal

Donegal is the self-drive destination for travellers who have seen Ireland's famous southwest and want something wilder, emptier, and further off the beaten path. The county sits beyond the motorway network — the last stretch from Sligo or Derry is on good national roads — and once you arrive, the traffic thins dramatically. You can drive for an hour without seeing another car on some of the coastal roads.

The southwest corner around Slieve League is the most dramatic starting point. From Donegal Town, drive west through Killybegs — Ireland's largest fishing port — and on to Teelin, where the road to the Bunglas viewing point at Slieve League begins. The final kilometres are steep and narrow, climbing through mountain moorland to a car park where the cliff drops 601 metres to the Atlantic below. The Glengesh Pass, a scenic mountain road between Ardara and Glencolmcille, makes an excellent return route.

The northern coast requires a separate day — or two. Fanad Head Lighthouse sits at the tip of the Fanad Peninsula, reachable via the 75-kilometre loop drive around Lough Swilly. The Harry Blaney Bridge connects Fanad to the Rosguill Peninsula and the Atlantic Drive, a coastal road with views that rival anything on the Wild Atlantic Way. Malin Head, on the Inishowen Peninsula, is Ireland's northernmost point. The Inishowen 100 — a 160-kilometre signposted loop — takes a full day and passes through the Gap of Mamore, Five Finger Strand, and Greencastle.

Glenveagh National Park, in central Donegal, adds a different dimension. The 16,000-hectare park is centred on Lough Veagh and a 19th-century castle with gardens. A shuttle bus runs from the visitor centre to the castle; walking back through the park takes about an hour.

Our self-drive packages include a diverse range of vehicles with fully comprehensive insurance and zero excess, unlimited mileage, and all tolls covered.