Downings: Beach, Tweed and Experiences

The village of Downings lies on the Rosguill Peninsula in County Donegal; its distinctive points of interest range from the coast to the tradition of weaving. Downings Beach is in the village, while McNutt’s Donegal Woollen Mill has been weaving Donegal Tweed and Irish linen for more than 60 years. This combination offers a concrete starting point when choosing holiday accommodation in Downings: consider whether you would like to focus your stay mainly on water activities, crafts or a mix of both. The experiences below appeal to different interests and can be considered as distinct highlights.

Coast, Water Sports and the Atlantic Drive

At Downings Beach, you can swim, kayak, go boating, windsurf, sail and surf. The range extends from activities in the water to different forms of boating and wind sports. If you are weighing up beach time against more active pursuits, the selection offers different ways to spend time by the water. Downings Beach is also associated with An Taisce’s Blue Flag award, the National Trust for Ireland. Beach conditions and services can change seasonally; check the relevant conditions and provider availability if a particular water activity is important to your stay.

Downings is also associated with the Atlantic Drive, a scenic driving route. e-Bikes Downings is located in the centre of Downings, at the start or end of the Atlantic Drive. These details offer a different perspective from the beach: they bring the village centre and the route associated with Downings into consideration as you decide which aspects of the area will shape your stay.

Weaving Tradition in Downings

The original weaving mill is in Downings, where the first McNutt weaving mill began in 1953. McNutt’s Donegal Woollen Mill has been weaving Donegal Tweed and Irish linen in Downings for more than 60 years. The McNutt Experience Theatre offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the heritage, passion and creativity behind the woven collections. In this way, the origins of the weaving tradition, the work with tweed and linen, and the ideas behind the collections come together as different perspectives on the same craft. Check McNutt’s current visitor arrangements before making plans, as operator information and visitor policies can change.

Alpacas and an Annual Event

The Meet and Greet experience at Gáinne Mór Alpacas lasts about an hour and includes hand-feeding the alpacas. Gáinne Mór Alpacas also offers walks with alpacas on its own grounds. This gives you a choice between a time-limited encounter and a walk as two different types of experience. The approximate duration of the Meet and Greet can help with planning your day; arrangements may change, so it is advisable to check the latest details before making plans.

The Donegal International Rally can also be an occasion to plan the timing of your stay: it takes place annually, and visitors can plan their stay in Downings around the event. Check the dates and the event format before travelling, as both may vary.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Culdaff, Lettermacaward, Ballyliffin, Ballyshannon, Lifford, Gortiness, Clonmany, Stranorlar.

For the county-wide travel overview: County Donegal.