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Holiday Cottages, Fanad

This beautiful peninsula stretches north from the village of Milford to Fanad Head and back down to the Georgian village of Ramelton. It has some of the most remarkable cliff scenery in Ireland, including outstanding examples of marine erosion. Knockalla Coast Road offers a spectacular drive overlooking Lough Swilly and Inishowen. The Fanad Peninsula Scenic Tour is a 72 km signposted circuit of the peninsula through breathtaking scenery.

Fanad Lighthouse (pictured above) was built by George Halpin and today serves as a helicopter base for the service and maintenance of all lighthouses along the northern coast.

Along the Lough Swilly coastline there are impressive fortifications, built during Napoleonic times - indeed, one of these, on the shore front in Rathmullan, now houses the "Flight of the Earls" heritage centre while the other 2 are privately owned. Golf courses include the 9 hole Otway course and the fabulous links course at Portsalon.

As you drive along the coastline, the road rises around Knockalla Mountain and you can enjoy the breathtaking views across Lough Swilly to Dunree Fort and Dunaff Head on the Inishowen Peninsula. On the apex of the hill, as the road turns west, you can stop at the viewpoint, for a panorama so spectacular that it is used to promote not only Donegal but the entire island of Ireland. Below you is Ballymastocker Bay bedecked with an array of golden beaches.

Villages and place names of the Fanad Peninsula include - Rathmullan, Portsalon, Kerrykeel, Rosnakill, Milford, Doaghbeg, Kindrum, Glenvar, Tamney, Glasagh, Cashel, Ballyheerin, Rinboy and Glinsk.