Just three minute’s walk to the Atlantic Ocean , our charming, rough little cottage sits alone in an iconic location, above the wild, smooth-stoned beach and tiny harbour of An Port, Donegal. It is a brilliant hideaway in a breath-taking landscape.
The space
This ocean-edge home is offbeat, off-grid, and very nearly off the map. There’s only one rough road to A Port, Donegal – and the nearest neighbours are three miles up the valley.
With no mains electricity, we generate our own 12V power from solar panels , and keep warm with traditional stoves and ingenious hot water systems. Some might call it primitive, but we don’t - we reckon it provides some of the greatest luxuries you can have in an over-loaded, high tech world.
Holidays in An Port, Donegal are wildly old-fashioned with no power to spare for electronic games or TV, but there's plenty of fishing, swimming, scavenging, messing in streams and waterfalls, walking, and getting really muddy. Lots of extreme sports too - rock-climbing, kayaking on the door-step - and surfing not far away- for those who've a mind to.
NB - there is No 220V power in the cottage - the plugs by the snug were for my old marine radio , and have been disconnected for years.
Inside:
An Port,Donegal follows its traditional lines, with a central room with a fireplace, cosy lovers' nook, with sheepskins, and long table for eating. A large hatch opens into a simple kitchen with gas stove, sink and running hot and cold water.
This is a simple, mod-con-free, and genuinely eco, zone. A small amount of power comes from the solar panels – enough for a 12V. few lights Our water comes into the house from a hillside river, and we heat it at the back of a wood-burning stove. We have no fridge - food is chilled in the outside larder and milk/drinks in the stream. This is an important part of the simple charms of Port, but it wouldn't suit anyone too "power-hungry".
Bedrooms – we have a master bedroom and ensuite, and a double-bunk room with ensuite inside the main cottage.
The Snug by the stove in the Living-room , covered in Kenyan sheepskins, can be easily converted into a lovers' nest, or kid's corner.
We keep warm with two wood-burning stoves inside, but in the coldest times, it never gets to modern home temperatures. Also, the house is old-fashioned, without an even surface or wide door anywhere, so we're afraid the property is not generally suitable for the disabled or elderly.
Outside:
An Port,Donegal has a small grassed stonewalled area – and couple of stores - and to one side is a large traditional sink for cleaning fish, washing surf/snorkel gear etc. But the main outside is the rest of the valley, which surrounds the cottage. Streams, waterfalls, rivers, immense cliffs, heather'd hillsides - and not a single other house in sight. You can walk for miles along the coastline, through valleys people don't go into for days, or weeks on end.
Nearby:
Beaches: 25 minutes drive to Maghera's huge sandy beaches and caves, 35 minutes drive to the perfect crescent beach of Silver strand . 45 minutes drive to Tramore, and Bundoran, both surf beaches.
Glencolmcille, the closest village, is 20 minutes drive or an hour and a half’s brisk walk across the hills. Glen, as its called locally, has a lively pub, a cultural centre (music and Irish classes) and often great live trad music. It’s also a very spiritual place, with ancient standing stones scattered around the village.
Ardara - the closest town, half an hour’s drive away is really friendly, and good fun in the evenings, with loads of pubs, live music and the best fish and chip shop in Ireland (the West End Café). Great shopping if you like woolly jumpers or tweed.
be sure to get a Molloy Blanket before you leave - woven with all the colours of the Donegal landscape.
Access:
Most people would be very glad of a car, because there is very little public transport round here, nothing at all from our valley. Buses from Glencolmcille, in the next valley, are irregular and seasonal.
Airports – there are a few flights into Derry and Donegal airports, but most people come via Dublin or Belfast. Ferries come from Wales, Scotland, France and Spain to Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, `Cork, Belfast or Larne.
Important facts to note :
The road to An Port:
The road to the cottage is tarmac'ed, though rough and bumpy , but four wheel drive is not necessary, unless in the snow! It is also reachable by mountain bike over the hills. But, most people are glad of a car here, given how remote it is, if only as a charging point for phones/cameras.
Car also helps in terms of bringing in Fuel/supplies etc.
Availability:
we are open All year round - and there s always something sublimely beautiful about An Port, no matter the weather.
Minimum 1 week stay in general, though weekends available out of season.
In our opinion , it really isn't worth getting all the way here, immersing yourself in the glorious remoteness of it all, only to turn around and leave!
Guest access
Communications:
There is a mobile signal in An Port, Donegal, from various odd spots around and in the cottage - and you can always invoke the Glengesh Rule (see in our house rules) if you prefer to be without :) - NB there is no 220V power in the cottage ( sorry if I seem to be repeating myself here !) , so any phones/cameras need to be charged from your car.
Other things to note
POWER / WATER :
The cottage runs on Solar Panels for electricity and Gravity for water ( from a stream up the hill).
The power is limited ,like Irish sunshine, and sometimes runs out. But that's when the romance of candlelight comes into its own.
Power is all 12V DC - which means that there are NO 220v plugs for charging phones or running computers etc .the plugs in the snug were for my marine radio- now disconnected.
Repeat - No power outlets for charging Computers/phones.
Pls be sure to bring a car-charger for your phones etc.
Head-torches are strongly recommended.
Hot water is independent of the solar / electrical system - if you light the fire in the stove , you will get Hot Water.
Fridge / Freezer : there are none. please use the outside "larder" by the back door. this keeps stuff pretty cool - or the Stream nearby works well for chilling beers / wine.
