Glenveagh National Park and Glenveagh Castle in Co Donegal are world renowned for wild beauty and the expanse of mountains, lakes and gardens.
Glenveagh, (Gleann Bheatha, in Irish, meaning Glen of the birches), is home to the largest herd of red deer in Ireland and visitors can now spot Golden Eagles, since they were re-introduced to the park in 2000. Spanning 16,500 hectares Glenveagh National Park is the second largest national park in Ireland, offering an abundance of great hiking and biking trails, with bike hire available at the visitor centre.
Nestled on the expansive shores of Lough Veagh, Glenveagh Castle and Gardens was created as a 19th century idyllic retreat to rival that of the Queen’s residence in Balmoral in Scotland. Complete with a tranquillity pool overlooked by towers and turrets and surrounded by an expanse of magnificent centuries old gardens, a trip to Glenveagh Castle and National Park offers something for every visitor. The expansive gardens and grounds are free to explore with a small fee charged for visitors wishing to tour Glenveagh Castle which has a rich and turbulent history. It has hosted some infamous visitors, from landlords and landed gentry to American moguls and famous Hollywood stars such as Greta Garbo.
