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The Lookout - Loughros Point

For generations people have gazed from The Lookout, watching the tides and listening to the oyster catchers call across the water.  This deceptively large house offers generous comfort and top quality furnishings to complement the exquisite vistas.

Perfectly placed near lovely Ardara, you’re also spoiled for choice amidst silver beaches, mountains, sea caves and much more. There’s ample space for families, surfers, bird-watchers, walkers, sailors and golfers. It’s a light-filled hideaway where you can relax and take your ease.

Views from The Lookout

The views across Loughros Beg Bay are just as mesmerising today and the house gives you everything you need to enjoy them in comfort – including a pair of binoculars. If you want to snuggle down at home for the evening the sitting room has a new solid fuel stove and a flat screen TV with Blu-ray/DVD on which to enjoy Freesat digital programmes or your favourite film.

Ardara

Ardara is a gem-like heritage town with vendors of pretty much everything you need and a wide variety of pubs. The Lookout is just a handy walk, cycle or drive away. There’s usually traditional music on somewhere and there are a number of festivals through the year when the fun really gets going.
 

Annual Festival Calendar

January - Country & Western Music
March - International Walking Festival – walks of varying rigour with dancing in the evenings.
May - “Cup of Tae” Festival – a weekend full of traditional music throughout the town
June - Music Festival – a wide variety of street music and bands
August - Ardara Agricultural Show – an absolute must if you can make it!
October - Traditional Irish Dancing festival
November - Matchmaking Weekend - Blind Date, Speed Dating and more - if you dare.

Distances

• Nearest Village:  Ardara. Lovely heritage town with lots of shops, pubs and craic.  3 km

• Beaches:  You’re always close to a good beach on Loughros Point. Trabane is 3km up the point for beautiful sand and surf (point break). Liskeraghan is a pleasant 2km walk over the hill. There are more beaches around the point. You can ride horses on Ballyganny Beach at the head of Loughros Beg Bay within sight of The Lookout. A little further to Maghera Strand - 8km - spectacular white sands, dunes and interesting caves. Tramore beach - 10km – huge with good surf.

• Golf Course:  Portnoo (award winning 18 hole links course) 16km

• Fishing: The nearby Owenea River is a renowned salmon and trout water. There’s sea fishing from the point and boats operate out to sea for the ultimate marine experience.

Surrounding area

There are excellent walks to be enjoyed from the door of The Lookout. You can stroll along the point or explore various islands at low tide. For more strenuous exercise, head up into the Slievetooey Mountains. It’s 3km by car, bike or foot to Ardara - a small, friendly town with lots of characterful pubs, eating places and good shops. Glengesh Pass (picture postcard scenery) leads up away from the town. 

Maghera Strand, caves and dunes are a quarter of an hour away past the Assaranca waterfall. Between twenty minutes and half an hour away are Portnoo (small seaside resort, golf), Tramore Beach (surf), Bonny Glen (forest walks and picnics).

Within about half an hour’s drive are Slieve League (monumental sea cliffs), Glencolumbkille (Irish language and folklore centre), Fintown Railway, Killybegs (fishing port), Donegal Town (historic castle).

Access

1 hour from Derry airport.

Facilities & Living Space

Facilities

• 4 bedrooms to sleep 7/8
• our linens are top quality white 200 thread Egyptian cotton
• family bathroom with bath and separate shower on ground floor
• shower room on first floor with electric shower and sea views
• living room with breath-taking views across Loughros Beg Bay to the Slievetooey mountains
• 2 comfy sofas and quality leather upholstered chairs are grouped round the cosy turf-fired stove
• 32 inch HD Freesat tv
• Blu-Ray/dvd, cd/radio with iPod dock
• glazed double doors join or seperate sunny kitchen and living area - door onto the south facing deck
• fully equipped kitchen with gas hob and electric oven
• microwave, dishwasher and coffee maker
• washing machine and tumble dryer in basement utility room
• iron and ironing board in basement utility room
• washing line (in laundry/utility room – put it up outside if and when you want it)
• storage for bikes, swimming gear, walking boots, surf boards and wet suits
• sheltered south-facing deck with glass table and folding chairs
• large level concrete paved area, great for kids’ ride-on toys, additional parking or just taking in the amazing view
• Grand vistas across Loughros Beg Bay, Slievetooey mountains to the south and the open ocean to the west
• 3km to Ardara
• 16km to Portnoo Golf Course
• ample car parking spaces
• friendly new turf stove for relaxing evenings by the fire
• we love well-behaved dogs
• enclosed garden

Living Space

  Kitchen

Large, comprehensively equipped modern kitchen with outstanding views across the estuary and mountains – it can be hard to concentrate on cooking!  There’s everything for the serious gourmet cook or to cater quickly for hungry kids fresh from the beach.  4-slice toaster, stainless steel kettle and a choice of coffee makers. White porcelain dinner service and quality glassware – plenty for a big family even when the (built-in) dishwasher is full. Good quality stainless steel pans and cutlery, wide range of cooking and serving dishes and equipment for all eventualities. Glazed doors open into the living/dining area so you can talk to people while you’re cooking, or shut them out, as you wish.

Basement laundry/utility room with plenty of space for indoor drying. Fitted sink with drainer (and amazing views of the bay), washing machine, tumble dryer, iron/board and clothes airers. Lots of dry, clean space for bikes, swimming gear, walking boots, surf boards and wet suits.

  Dining Area

The living/dining room is very large with windows on three sides to follow the sun and enjoy the breath-taking views across Loughros Beg Bay to the Slievetooey mountains. To get the most from the vista and to spot seabirds there’s a pair of binoculars to hand. The big wooden dining table is surrounded with upholstered chairs.

  Living Area

Two comfy sofas and quality leather upholstered chairs are grouped round the cosy turf-fired stove. There’s a huge dresser laden with books and in the evening you can settle down to a film or Freesat on the Hi Definition TV and Blu-ray/DVD. Double doors open to the kitchen and another to the south facing deck. This is a great area for entertaining.

  Bedrooms

Bedroom 1:  Double bedroom on first floor. Spectacular sea views, dressing table, generous storage and soft rugs.
Bedroom 2:  Twin bedroom on first floor. Comfy 3 foot single beds with own reading lamps, dressing table, shaggy rug and lots of storage.
Bedroom 3:  Double bedroom on ground floor, mirrored wardrobes, chest of drawers and dressing table.
Bedroom 4:  Double bedroom on ground floor with Queen size bed, mirrored wardrobe, attractive rug  and dressing table. This small (4 foot) traditional sized double can also provide very generous comfort for one.

Our linens are top quality white 200 thread Egyptian cotton.

  Bathroom

1. Family bathroom with bath and separate shower on ground floor.
2. Shower room on first floor with electric shower and sea views.

  Elevated Wood Deck with Sea Views

Grand vistas across Loughros Beg Bay, Slievetooey mountains to the south and the open ocean to the west. Loughros Beg Bay is fascinating and beautiful at all states of tide and weather. The low tide sands are crossed by river channels and sprinkled with little islands that can be reached on foot from the head of the bay. High tide varies from mirror calm to tumbling waves.

Tariff

Booking Details

Sterling rates are also available.  

€100/£100 non-refundable deposit cheque secures booking with balance payable 6 weeks prior to arrival
- check in 4pm, check out 11am
- rental Sat – Sat except by special arrangement

We want you to have a great time at The Lookout so we keep things simple. Top quality Egyptian cotton bedding and towels are included. Electricity, gas and heating oil are included. We think you should relax the moment you arrive so there’ll be some milk, tea and coffee to get you started and the fire will be set, ready to light, with enough fuel for your first cosy evening.

What's Included

• quality linen and bath towels included (please bring beach towels)
• electricity and gas included
• central heating included
• cot and highchair available (on request)

Availability Key

Availability for The Lookout - Loughros Point