TOUR ESSENTIALS

way to go

We travelled to and from Ireland with Irish Ferries (pre-pandemic), from Holyhead to Dublin Port.

Take it easy on the Ulysses Cruise Ferry at three-and-a-half hours or so, or go by the Swift, which takes one hour 50 minutes to two hours.

Pets are welcome on these ferries, but must remain in your vehicle when on board.

Prices vary according to season, and there are usually special offers – check at www.irishferries.com.

Where we stayed ■ Lakeside Caravan & Camping Park

Belleek Road, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal

Web lakesidecaravanandcamping.com

Open From the weekend nearest St Patrick’s Day (March 17)

Charges

€26 plus €5 for electricity

We stayed at the four-star Lakeside Caravan & Camping Park on Belleek Road, which is just five minutes’ walk from the town of Ballyshannon.

The campsite provides 58 spacious hardstanding pitches with 16A electric hook-up and scenic views over Assaroe Lake. It’s a convenient base from which to explore the southern Donegal and Sligo sections of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.

find out more

For further details about visiting Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way and Slieve League, see ireland.com.

For general information on Ballyshannon, see discoverballyshannon.ie.

Both Ballyshannon and Bundoran have a good range of shops, pubs, restaurants, take-aways, leisure facilities and family entertainments.

■ Bundoran Seaweed Baths

Web www.waterworldbundoran.com/ seaweedbaths. Our treatment cost €47.50.

■ Donegal Equestrian Centre

Web www.donegalequestriancentre.com Horse-riding for adults and children aged four years or over. All abilities catered for, and open all year round. Our two-hour beach and dunes ride cost €55 each.

■ Lissadell House and Gardens

Web lissadellhouse.com

Admission €14 per adult, including guided tour, exhibitions, Alpine Garden, Victorian Garden and Woodland Walks. Lissadell is currently closed because of the pandemic, so do check the website before you visit.

Covid-19 restrictions

As with all travel across international borders, entry into Ireland is currently affected by Covid-related restrictions.

If you are planning a visit, you should check the latest regulations by visiting gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ireland.

If you’re travelling via Northern

Ireland from Great Britain, meanwhile, you should visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/ articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travellingwithin-common-travel-area.

When travelling, you should bear in mind that restrictions can change very quickly.