Downings Coastguard Cottages are set within Rosapenna’s splendid championship golf links with commanding views over Sheephaven Bay. Based at Rosapenna, the site of the cottages overlooks the small traditional fishing village of Downings, well-known for the production of Donegal tweed. Carrigart, just over a mile away, is a picturesque village with a pretty park and a purpose-built dive centre among its amenities.
Our 4 star Fáilte Ireland Approved cottages, each with 3 bedrooms, offer an ideal base for exploring Donegal’s rugged North-West with Medieval Doe Castle, Ards Forest Park, and Glenveagh National Park and Castle only minutes away by car. We have 4 types of cottage on-site, classified A, B, C, and D, all with 3 bedrooms. All types are bookable online via this web-site so feel free to browse the information provided on each.
By car one should take the national route for Letterkenny. From here one should travel on the N56 until taking a right turn signposted Carrigart / Downings (R245). Continue on this route until the left turn for Rosapenna / Downings (R248). More detailed directions are provided on confirmation of booking. The nearest Bus Éireann bus station is at Letterkenny. This is about a 40 minute drive from the cottages, or circa 22 miles. Private bus services from the Dublin and Galway routes stop at Creeslough, a village about a 15 minute drive from the cottages, or circa 8 miles. Bus services from Glasgow and Belfast also stop here. · Dublin – Donegal · Galway – Donegal. There are no railway lines in County Donegal. Therefore the nearest train station is at Derry (also known as Londonderry) which is about an hour and a half to drive from the cottages, or circa 45 miles. There are 2 regional airports serving the North West. Both have daily services to and from Dublin. Donegal Airport is circa 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive from the cottages / 40 miles. Derry Airport is just over 1 hour and a half to drive from the cottages / 52 miles. The nearest port is at Larne, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Port of Larne is about 3 hours from the cottages / 120 miles.
Each Type B cottage has 3 bedrooms: 2 double bedrooms, and a twin bedroom (2 single beds). A fully-tiled bathroom (bath and separate shower) serves the double and twin bedroom, while the double master bedroom has a shower/toilet en-suite. Type B cottages are not suitable for cots, and as a result we cannot provide them.
A spacious living room with a leather-upholstered sofa and armchairs awaits you off the hall, off which is a beautifully fitted modern kitchen designed to make light work of food preparation. With an open fireplace in the living room for those slightly chilly evenings and full oil-fired central heating for unseasonable or winter season cold snaps, the cottages are snug and cosy year-round.
The living room has a 21 inch TV, DVD player, open fireplace suitable for solid fuel (fuel not provided), while the adjoining conservatory/dining-room enjoys commanding views over Sheephaven Bay. The kitchen is fully equipped with a four-ring electric cooker with grill, oven and extractor fan; dishwasher; refrigerator; microwave oven; toaster; and electric kettle. All utensils, crockery, and cutlery are also provided.
Adjacent to the kitchen is a compact utility room housing a washer-dryer with a worktop area and cupboards for extra storage.
We provide bed linen, bath and hand towels, tea towels (drying cloths), and a dish cloth. Face Cloths are not provided. Where a cot has been requested, the client must provide the linen for it.
Cots are not suitable for the Type B. An enclosed children’s play area with a tarmac surface is situated in the centre of our site. The cottages are ideal for families with mainly family groups residing on the site during the summer months.
As well as the other equipment listed, an iron, ironing board, and vacuum cleaner are provided for your use.
Ample parking is available outside each cottage. The entire site is within stone walls providing security for children. At the back and surrounding the cottages there are large open grassy areas.
Pets are welcome provided that they are house-trained. In the interests of cleaning, we ask that you limit your pet to rooms / areas with non-carpet floor coverings whilst indoors (i.e. they are not permitted in the bedrooms). In the interests of other holidaymakers, we ask that you clean up after your pet.
Electricity costs are an extra charge, as is oil used to fuel the central heating system. Both are payable by the client on departure according to metered per unit / per litre usage.
Our Type B cottages have ramp access for disabled people. The front door entrance has a ramp and safety railing for ease of access.
Within 30 minutes drive · Medieval Doe Castle, near Creeslough. · Ards Forest Park, Creeslough. · Famine Exhibit at the Workhouse, Dunfanaghy. · Horn Head Drive, Dunfanaghy. · Horn Head Pet Sanctuary, Dunfanaghy. · Beaches at Marble Hill and Killahoey
Within 1 hour drive · Glenveagh National Park and Castle. · Ionad Cois Locha (Lakeside Centre), Dunlewy. · Grianán Aileach, spectacular ring fort located at Burt.
Situated in the heart of the Old Tom Morris golf links at Rosapenna, the cottages are ideal for golfers keen to sample two of Ireland’s famed golf links. The modern Sandy Hills links is the challenging new addition at the Rosapenna Golf Resort. Tee times and preferential green fees for both are available via Downings Coastguard Cottages.
There are a selection of pubs locally including the Harbour Bar; Tramore House; the Singing Pub; and bars at the Beach and the Downings Bay Hotels. Many of the above serve food. There is also a convenience store in the village for all those essentials.
The facilities at the Magherabeg Leisure Centre include a pool, sauna, steam room, and a well-equipped and spacious gym.
Downings Beach (Trabeg) and Tramore beach are both within easy reach of the cottages. A couple of miles away lies Trá na Rosann on the famous Atlantic Drive.
Carrigart (2 miles) The Main Street offers excellent supermarkets; Joy’s Gift Shop selling authentic Irish crafts; a selection of pubs; and a fine restaurant at the Carrigart Hotel. Just off the main street is a well kept public park, and the Carrigart Riding Stables which offer horse riding across the sand dunes and strands of the locality.
Carrigart also boasts Donegal’s first purpose-built dive centre, Mevagh Dive Centre. Experience wreck, scenic, or drift dives. Facilities include a shop, changing rooms, lecture room, and provision of all necessary equipment.