Ireland in 10 giorni on the road: Wild Donegal, lighthouses and Dublin

Irlanda on the road: 10 days in wild Donegal, lighthouses on the ocean and authentic Dublin

For us, Ireland has always been a silent call made of wind, ocean, cliffs and pubs full of music. A place we return to whenever we need to slow down.

This is why we have built our itinerary 10 days in Ireland with a simple idea: less running, live more. And when we need to slow down and live we can only go to our heart place: Donegal, the most authentic and wild part of the island.

Day 1 – Dublin at night, with eyes full of anticipation

We land in Dublin late, when the city is illuminated by warm lights and the air has a different scent, we head to Wynn's Hotel, hotel chosen for this night, we put down our suitcases and get under the covers with that electric sensation that always comes before something beautiful.
The real journey begins tomorrow.

Day 2 – Towards Donegal, where we feel at home

Quick breakfast and bus to Letterkenny.
Outside the window, Ireland slowly changes: less traffic, greener, more silence.

When we go down, Claudio is already there waiting for us. Not only the host of Dream Lodge B&B, but now a friend, one of those friends who welcomes you with a hug. With him we reach Maghery, overlooking the Atlantic and here we also see dear Laura waiting for us as always with open arms. And once again when we arrive here as if by magic the same thing always happens: breathing becomes slower and we already know that these will be exciting and unique days.

Donegal: four days in the wildest heart of Ireland

Il Donegal It's not the Ireland of a glossy cover, it's strong wind, narrow streets, Atlantic ocean and nature that dictates the rhythms and rules. And this is why it is always our favorite place.

Just as we had done during the honeymoon (WHO the article of our honeymoon itinerary), we decide to live it in an authentic way but with the desire to learn more and more about this wonderful land and, Therefore, here we are still doing all our excursions together with Claudio.

Claudio, it's not just someone driving, it's someone who tells you the stories of the place, it takes you to the less touristy corners, makes you see"his” Donegal, the real Donegal. It's like exploring the area with a local friend, and trust me, this changes the journey completely.

Day 3 – Cliffs and lighthouses: the first taste of freedom

In the morning we leave together with Claudio, chatting in the car like old friends.

The first stage is Horn Head. The wind almost pushes us back, the cliffs collapse into the Atlantic and we remain silent watching that infinite blue, it's those views that put you back in your place in the world.

Let's continue towards Dunfanny, then the magnificent Fanad Head Lighthouse, white and lonely against the sky. Here we decide to also take a guided tour of the lighthouse, We recommend it, it's very engaging. Continuing we arrive at Ballymastocker Beach, the beach is practically deserted. We take off our shoes and walk on the cool beach laughing for no reason.

Returning towards Maghery, Claudio takes us to Doe Castle, stopped there for centuries reflecting itself in the water, and here too we remain speechless. Meanwhile the sun goes down slowly, and in the car we smile and understand that we don't want to be anywhere else.

Day 4 – Giant's Causeway and the suspension bridge over the ocean

We leave early, direction Northern Ireland, we go to Giant’s Causeway, here it feels like walking inside a legend: perfect stone columns, born from fire and sea. Claudio tells us local myths and stories as we jump from one rock to another. After the morning dedicated to the Giant's Causeway, here we are arriving in the early afternoon at Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, a suspended rope bridge swinging over the ocean. Spoiler only Noemi and Claudio cross this bridge, Marco prefers to wait for them on the mainland 😊

Before returning, let's stop at Mussenden Temple. The deepest silence reigns here, we find strong winds, infinite panorama and that feeling of peace that only the truest Ireland can give you (a truly magical and introspective place, think that it was the library that a bishop had built overlooking the ocean! Don't miss it if you pass by here).

Day 5 – Slow Ireland, the one that enters you

And here's the last day in Donegal, and this day becomes pure poetry. Our first stop is a hidden gem: Assaranca Waterfall, waterfall surrounded by greenery that takes your breath away and makes you dream. A short distance from here we find the wonderful beach of Maghera Beach, a beach of wild beauty and we see a sea with Caribbean colours. After a nice walk on the beach, we are starting to feel hungry and Claudio decides to take us to lunch at Glencolmcille Folk Village, here time really seems to have stopped. Let's eat hot soup, simple ones to warm up after the morning wind (Noemi's very personal opinion, soup lover, this is definitely the best soup of the day in all of Ireland 😉) .

In the afternoon we drop by An Porte here the landscape leaves you speechless, bright colors and that scent of uncontaminated nature that you can only smell in certain corners of the world. We then continue by car to go and see the ancient and mysterious il Kilclooney Dolmen. On the way back we stop at Portnoo and here too the colors give postcard emotions. It's time to return to B&B but first there is always time to stop and see Crohy Head Sea Arch, we sit in front of the ocean and without speaking we understand that Donegal is not simply visited but "felt" in the heart.

In the evening we celebrate our wedding anniversary, choosing to stay and have dinner in B&B: Claudio and Laura prepare us a mountain of oysters au gratin and many other fish delicacies. It was an evening full of laughter and stories, In short, like being at home.

Day 6 – Return to Dublin, with a bit of melancholy

Saying goodbye to Maghery every time is difficult: hugs, promises to see you again soon, Claudio accompanies us to Letterkenny, where the bus to Dublin is waiting for us.

In the evening we completely change the atmosphere with one Celtic Night: traditional music, dance, noisy pubs (if you want to know other experiences to live in Ireland read our dedicated article WHO). After the wilds of Donegal, the city overwhelms us with energy.

Dublin and surrounding areas slowly

Day 7 – Belfast during the day

We decide to take a trip out of town: direct bus to Belfast (circa 2 hours of travel, really very comfortable).

Murals, shipyards, intense story: Belfast surprises us with its strong and authentic character.
Thanks to a splendid sunny day, it was lovely walking around the city, very different to Dublin but still fascinating.

Day 8 – Malahide e Skerries

We wake up calmly and after a nice breakfast we decide to take another trip out of town, direction Malahide, place where we always love to return when we are in Dublin.

Here we dedicate ourselves to slow walks, drink a hot tea and then decide to go and visit the Malahide Castel, very charming. Malahide is a romantic town far from the chaos of the Irish capital, among other things easily reachable by bus in approximately 45 minutes from Dublin city centre. After lunch we decide to take the train and also visit the village of Skerries, another pearl of the Irish east coast. By train they are only about 15 minutes from Malahide. Here we take a nice walk, first to see the mills, and then towards the small port where, given the beautiful weather that accompanies us, let's eat the famous ice cream"99”.

Days 9 e 10 – Getting lost in Dublin

We never plan the last days, let's walk aimlessly, we enter pubs attracted by the music, we watch life pass by from the windows.

We literally lose track of time, and this is exactly how we want to greet Ireland.

Our advice for visiting Donegal

If you are thinking about what to see in Donegal, the greatest advice we can give you is this:
the first time do it with someone local.

Having a person like Claudio next to you, who knows every road, history and shortcut, he turned our trip into something much deeper than just a vacation.

Less tourism, more connection with nature and landscapes.

And this is it, Perhaps, the real secret ofIreland.