Hafen
Killybegs

Settle in for a leisurely and immensely panoramic drive through County Donegal, following a circuitous route to the village of Crolly and back. The entire time, you will travel through the heart of Ireland’s second-largest county, a northwest landscape punctuated by sleepy villages, long valleys and a rocky, barren coast. Traditional Irish life has been preserved throughout Donegal as you will observe while passing through towns such as Dungloe, which is surrounded by spectacular lakes and rivers full of salmon and trout. Upon reaching the tiny village of Crolly, you will pause at a pub for an Irish coffee and to listen to traditional music. The beloved singer Enya and her family, who make up the group Clannad, are from Crolly and you will likely hear about their early years there. The return drive will be just as memorable, as you will take a different but just as scenic route with occasional photos stops.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Drive through remote County Donegal, admiring some of Ireland’s most glorious scenery.
• Pass through sleepy villages, across gorgeous rivers and along a beautiful barren coast.
• Enjoy a drink and traditional Irish music in a pub in the singer Enya’s home town.

Watch sheepdogs show off their prodigious talents for herding at the family farm of FJ and Meghan Cunningham. On the way there, you will pause for photos at Silver Strand, a little-known horseshoe-shaped beach on the Wild Atlantic Way coastal road. The Cunningham’s farm is also wonderfully picturesque and an ideal setting for raising border collie sheepdogs. FJ has been training sheepdogs since he was a boy and the communication between him and the animals is remarkable. During the demonstration, they will obey FJ’s verbal commands to move the sheep clockwise, counterclockwise or however else he asks. The intelligence, stamina and agility of these invaluable working dogs will soon be obvious. You will enjoy another glimpse at traditional life in County Donegal while stopping for fresh-baked scones in the village of Carrick.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Watch sheepdogs demonstrate their remarkable herding abilities at a family farm.
• Pause for photos at beautiful Silver Strand, a remote beach known mostly to locals.
• Enjoy fresh-baked scones and Irish hospitality in the lovely village of Carrick.

Hop aboard a boat and go fishing in Donegal Bay with a local that knows the best spots to catch fish. What’s biting will depend on the water conditions and the season, but be assured that the skipper will take you to the likeliest places to land a big one. All the gear and tackle will be supplied, so all you have to do is concentrate on reeling in the fish. There is no telling what you might catch or how many, as these pristine waters are teeming with cod, mackerel, haddock and flounder. Lesser-known species include coalfish, dogfish and launce, a slender-bodied fish commonly called a sand eel for the way it burrows in the bottom of the sea. The views will be spectacular the entire time, as the bay features some of the most stunningly rugged coastline in County Donegal. Keep an eye out for dolphin, which are often spotted frolicking on the water’s surface.

HIGHLIGHTSS:
• Go fishing with a local on a boat in Donegal Bay.
• Follow the skipper’s advice to increase your chances of catching fish like cod and flounder.
• Look for dolphin playing in the water and take in the beauty of the rugged coastline.

Stand atop a stretch of coastal cliffs that are among the highest in Europe, an exhilarating experience that will feel as if you’re at the very edge of the world. The towering Sliabh Liag cliffs—also called the Slieve League cliffs—plummet straight down to the sea in one of the most remote areas of County Donegal. Almost three times higher than the more famous Cliffs of Moher, Sliabh Liag presents panoramic views of a wild, absolutely pristine landscape that are stunning beyond words. On a clear day, you can see the town of Sligo and the Mayo Mountains across the sea to the south. The guide will offer a historical perspective that may reference ancient stone remains that suggest the cliffs may have once been a pilgrimage site. Later, you will have time to reflect on the experience while enjoying scones and a beverage at the Tí Linn Café & Craft Shop.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Take in the stunning views while standing atop one the highest coastal cliffs in Europe.
• Gain a historical perspective of the wild, isolated cliffs that may have been a pilgrimage site.
• Reflect on the experience while enjoying a snack at a nearby café and craft shop.

Observe the art of weaving, bread-making and a celebration of life in Ardara, a small town where traditions are still held in high esteem. Upon arriving, you will visit the John Molloy Woollen Mills, a family-run operation that produces exquisite knitwear. You will observe the artisans masterfully weaving wool and tweed goods using techniques that have been handed down through the generations. Following the demonstration, you may shop for merchandise such as Aran fisherman sweaters, scarves and Donegal tweed jackets. While snacking on scones at the Corner House, you will watch traditional Irish soda bread being made from scratch. Still, few traditions are as well-known as the Irish wake, a glorious send-off for the deceased. You will have the opportunity to take part in a re-enactment of a wake, complete with music, snuff taking and a tasting of poitin, a uniquely Irish spirit much like moonshine.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Watch weavers make fine Irish knitwear in the traditional town of Ardara.
• Enjoy fresh-made scones while enjoying an Irish soda bread-making demonstration.
• Take part in a re-enactment of a traditional Irish wake.

Enjoy a leisurely jaunt along the Disert Circular Walk, a 2-mile trail that loops through the foothills of the gorgeous Bluestack Mountains. The scenery will be breathtaking the entire way, but especially at the vantage points that offer sweeping views of Donegal Bay. The trail encircles a national monument graveyard and holy well dating to the times of St. Colmcille, a 6th-century abbot that become one of Ireland’s three patron saints. If you’d like to visit the historical monument, you can follow a short trail spur that will also take you by a tributary of the Eany Beg Water. The Bluestack Mountains aren’t particularly high, but the range is extraordinarily beautiful. A sense of peace seems to pervade the landscape, a quality that attracted religious pilgrims centuries ago. Others came seeking cures for ailments, as certain stones supposedly had miraculous healing powers.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Walk a circular trail through the Bluestack Mountains, taking in the gorgeous countryside.
• Follow a short trail to the national monument that lies within the Disert Circular Walk.
• Discover the history of the mountains and the reasons ancient pilgrims traveled there.

Delve into the culture and traditions of wonderfully remote Donegal County by browsing the Glencolmcille Folk Village, a replica of a rural village that presents life as it was centuries ago. A panoramic drive will showcase the county’s wild remote setting, which should put you in just the right frame of mind to experience rural life dating back to the 18th century. You might meander through a thatched-roof pub, an authentic fisherman’s cottage, a craft shop full of locally made merchandise and a school house with a display of poetry by Welsh author Dylan Thomas, who spent considerable time in Donegal. Other highlights include a traditional music performance, a snack of scones and tea, and a revealing talk on home remedies for ailments. Be sure to ask about Father McDyer, who created the folk village in 1967 to employ locals who were emigrating in large numbers because work was scarce.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Enjoy a leisurely drive through a ruggedly scenic, remote area of County Donegal.
• Browse a folk village of thatched-roof homes that replicates rural life centuries ago.
• Hear a traditional music performance, snack on scones and interact with the locals.

This activity is conducted by Silversea Expedition Team and is weather depending. More specific information and logistics will be communicated by the Expedition Leader on board.  

The Expedition team will offer different activity level hikes that will operate simultaneously with the Wild Donegal & Glencolmcille tour and therefore guests would be able to either join one of the hikes or the tour but not participate on both.