Local Activities

Angling

Visitors to the area are spoiled for choice with three lakes, Loughs Nacally, Gartan Akibbon all yielding generous catches. Gartan lake yields a plentiful supply of small brown trout and the odd salmon.

Walking

There is a great variety of walking routes amidst the rugged spendour of the Derryveagh Glens of North-West Donegal.

Gartan Lake Walk (7.5 miles -12 Kilometres)

4 hours via Derryveagh, Glendowan, Claggan and Gartan

This walk has beautiful scenery, quiet roads, abounds in history and has many interesting stops.

ROUTE
Begin at the Glebe Gallery where there is a suitable car park. On exiting from the Gallery cross the little (Tehabber) bridge directly ahead where there is an optical illusion, an impression that the water flows uphill.

At the first corner turn left on to a gravel road. As you walk this quiet track you will have beautiful views of the lake on your left, the stark Derryveagh mountains to the right and the Glenveagh National Park deer fence alongside you at the lower end of the road. About one mile along this track look out for the 'Eviction Site' memorial on your right. This is a beautiful area that evokes feelings of calm and peace. After about three miles when you reach the head of the lake, cross the bridge over the Bulluba river and continue to the main road.

Turn left at this road and travel along through Glendowan. In former times this was a well populated Gaelic speaking community. Arriving at Claggan junction, continue straight ahead through a wooded area of mainly birch and some oaks. Glendowan Chapel is to the left on a prominent location over Gartan Lake. To the right there is a colourful wood, containing beeches, ash and oak, on the slopes of the Brown Mountain. From this elevated road there are excellent views over the Lake and across to Derryveagh.

About one half mile past the chapel a small road turns down to the lough-side and leads to the Gartan Outdoor Pursuits Centre. Continue past this building and take the little road, to the left, past the front of the Colmcille Heritage Centre.

This road, which was the original entrance to the landlord's house, keeps to the side of the lake and emerges at the Leannan Bridge. Turn left and pass over the Leannan River as it leaves Gartan Lake.

Turn left at the next junction and continue along the road as it winds to the left and takes you back to the Glebe Gallery.

Points of Interest:

• Glebe Gallery, known as St. Columb's was built in 1828. Donated by artist Derek Hill to the State in 1981. Houses over 300 of hiscollected works of art.
  
• Derryveagh Eviction Site. In 1861 John George Adair evicted his tenants and levelled their houses to the ground. Many ended up in Australia.
  
• Gartan Outdoor Education Centre. Known as Lough Veagh House and built in 1829 using stones from an O'Donnell fort on Rough Island, in Gartan Lake. This was the Johnson Estate House until the 1950's.
  
• Colmcille Heritage Centre. Built in 1989 to commemorate the life(521-597 A.D.) of Gartan's famous son. A beautIful setting.

Around the Two Mountains walk (5 miles - 8 kilometers)

2.5 Hours via Church Hill. Mountpleasure - Claggan - Gartan Lake - Barrack Brae - Church Hill

This route circles Brown Mountain and Crockraw Mountain on
quiet roads and provides excellent views of Glendowan Valley, Derryveagh Mountains and Gartan Lake.

ROUTE

From Church Hill walk towards Letterkenny. A few hundred yards from the village, in the hollow, take Falbane road to the right. This is a pleasant undulating countryside with Leafrin Quarry to the left and Brown Mountain to the right. Near the end of this road you can see a road winding up the hill opposite. This road leads to Crahy Bog, where most of the local turf is cut. At the T-junction turn right towards Glendowan. Approaching Claggan from the high ground you get a wonderful view of West Donegal and the first view of Gartan Lake which will be a feature of the route for much of the journey. Stretching out towards the left is Glendowan, a once populous glen. Beyond the glen and lake are the foothills of the Derryveagh Mountains. To your right is the rounded shape of Crockraw Mountain.

When you reach the Claggan T-junction turn right and continue up the 'Wood Road' as it runs through a mixture of fir, hazel, birch and some oaks. Emerging from this woodland, you will find Glendowan Chapel to the left on an imposing site overlooking Gartan Lake. There are many splendid views of Gartan Lake and across to Derryveagh along the route. This is a favourite location for artists. To the right on the side of Brown Mountain stands a colourful broadleaf wood containing beech and oak. About 112 mile past the chapel look out for the small road to the left leading down to the lakeside, the Gartan Outdoor Pursuits Centre and the Colmcille Heritage Centre.

Take the small road past the front of the Colmcille Heritage Centre and travel along the lakeshore and woodland. You will reach the main entrance gateway with its excellent designs. Turn right up the Barrack Brae passing the old Constabulary Barracks on the right. This building became the Garda Barracks and remained so until the 1950's. On reaching the top of the Brae the walk arrives at its destination in Church Hill.

Points of Interest:

• Leafrin Quarry was the location of a Mass Rock.
  
• Colmcille's Well is located on the forest road behind Glendowan Church.
  
• Gartan Outdoor Pursuits Centre - originally Lough Veagh House -the local landlord's house
  
• Colmcille Heritage Centre - a very fine tourism centre.
  
• Court House in Church Hill - this was the location for the infamous Glenveagh sheep stealing trials

Gartan Outdoor Education Centre

Offers courses in hill, mountain and water sports.

Acknowledgement for permission to reproduce pictures and much of the text on this page to 'Walking Donegal, Derryveagh Glens', a Derryveagh Glens Development Association Book