There are an abundance of activities and attractions nearby to Harbour Cottage.
Beaches
Enjoy some of the beautiful unspoilt beaches in the locality –Narin Strand is a Blue Flag beach set in a cove and with the welcome protection of Dunmore Head. The beach is within a designated natural heritage area, exhibiting a highly diverse range of both coastal and terrestrial habitats. During the bathing season from June until the end of August, the beach is usually attended by a lifeguard.
In addition to Narin Strand there are beautiful beaches at Rosbeg and Tramore a short distance by car.
Golf
Narin & Portnoo Golf Club
Narin and Portnoo Golf Club is considered one of the most scenic 18-hole links courses in Ireland, with sweeping views of Gweebarra Bay. Opened in 1930, it is engagingly old-fashioned, with a meandering route over and around the dunes and it is ideal for year-round golf.
Wild Atlantic Surf School
Operates at the beautiful Dooey Beach near Dungloe in Co. Donegal on the north-west coast of Ireland. Wild Atlantic Surf School is approved by the Irish Surfing Association and provides a fun and safe introduction to the sport of surfing. Dooey Beach is the perfect location to get started, with over 3 kilometres of sandy beach and ideal waves suited to surfers of all abilities.
Offering surf lessons, school/group lessons and surf rentals as well as kids surf camps during the holiday seasons.
Walking & Hiking
Explore the Sheskinmore Nature Reserve
The Sheskinmore Lough reserve is part of a large, shallow freshwater coastal lagoon set in wonderful machair (flat sandy) grasslands. It is rich in wild flowers, insects and birds. The reserve is an important ecosystem which is renowned for its wintering Greenland White-fronted Geese, along with Choughs during the autumn and breeding Lapwings during the summer months. A walk or hike around this reserve is a must when visiting the Portnoo area.
Dawros Peninsula
Find numerous peaceful roads and country lanes to walk - the Dawros Peninsula is dotted with patchwork fields, small lakes and gentle rolling hills. There are also two Waymarked Ways in South West Donegal - The Bluestack Way and Slí Colmcille
Glenveagh National Park
Glenveagh meaning "glen of the birches" is the second largest national park in Ireland. The park covers 170 square kilometres of hillside above Glenveagh Castle on the shore of Lough Veagh. The network of mainly informal gardens displays a multitude of exotic and delicate plants from as far afield as Chile, Madeira and Tasmania, all sheltered by windbreaks of pine trees and ornamental rhododendrons.
Assaranca Waterfall
Assaranca waterfall is located just outside Ardara on the way to Killybegs. The waterfall itself is just fantastic and on a rainy day, the volume of water cascading seems to treble. Just beyond the waterfall are the Maghera caves situated on Maghera Strand which is beautiful, huge, deserted and made from fine white sand.
Fishing
Fish on the River Owenea Fishery between Ardara and Glenties
The Owenea River runs for some 13 miles draining Lough Ea in the west of the Croaghs, into Loughrosmore Bay at Ardara. This is one of the best salmon rivers in the county. The river has a run of spring salmon, grilse, sea trout and has a resident stock of small brown trout. The fishery consists of 9 beats on the bottom 8 miles of the river with good pools spread throughout the whole river. The beats cater for 3, 4 or 5 rods depending on the particular beat. The river has a lot of ‘nice fly water’ with the majority of fish being caught by this method. When in condition the river is one of the best in the country for grilse. The main grilse run starts in July with salmon right to the end of the season.
Watersports
Rosbeg-Portnoo Sailing and Watersports Club use the sheltered waters between Portnoo Pier and Iniskeel Island to encourage and promote watersports in the area. They have a fleet of Topper Topaz dinghies as well as a variety of other crafts to help revive and seafairing traditions of sailing.
Heritage & Culture
Visit some of the many ancient monuments in the countryside around the holiday home including Lough Doon Ring Fort, Inishkeel Island, the Kilclooney Dolmen, and Ardara Fort at Hillhead.
Take a trip on the Fintown Railway - the only working railway in County Donegal which runs along the shores of the stunning Lough Finn
Glencolumbkille personifies survival of a people who endured hardship, famine, and debilitating emigration.
Cycling
Rás Dun na nGall - In conjunction with the ‘Melting Pot Festival’ up to 200 Cyclists and 100 support Staff, visit Ardara to tackle all the climbs, corners, downhills and beautiful scenery the area has to offer.
Events & Festivals
Enjoy some of the many well established festivals in the locality Rás Dun na nGall, Blue Grass Festival, The Harvest Fair and Fiddlers Weekend in Glenties, The Cup 'o Tae and Bluegrass Festivals in Ardara http://ardara.ie/festivals-and-events/.
