We thought we’d start a small blog series on the local spots around Buncrana & Inishowen to take your pooch for a lovely walk in the gorgeous Donegal countryside!
We go for a lot of walks during the week with Penny, Charlie and our extended Ollie’s Petcare doggie family; so we have a few places we love to go! We will admit it can be hard sometimes to find a suitable area to walk with one or more dogs, particularly when you want to go somewhere a bit more quiet with the possibility to let them off lead to run, sniff & explore without annoying any other visitors.
Over the next few blog posts we’re going to look at some of our favourite local parks, beaches and countryside walks that we think you’ll love to discover & explore with your dogs! First up is….
Dunree Beach, Linsfort, Inishowen, Donegal
Dunree Beach or Dunree Head is a lovely scenic area in the north of Inishowen, just 10 minutes drive outside Buncrana. It’s in an area known locally as Linsfort or ‘the parish’ and is a nice change of pace to the busy seaside town itself.
The beach walk is relatively small compared to others you may be used to, but what it lacks in size it makes up in beautiful views, quietness and plenty of different areas for your dogs to explore & sniff.
There is a small parking space at the entrance to the beach with a 5/10 minute walk to the beach itself. It is steep and uneven but Penny & Charlie love this walk down to the beach and the anticipation of getting there just builds the excitement for them!
On the way down to the beach you can say hello to the local sheep & horses on either side – who are very friendly – as are any locals you may bump into on your walk! Do note it’s requested that you do not feed the horses and they may not be around during the Summer months.
…the views on to the beach are worth the visit alone. On your left is Dunree Fort and on your right its the magnificent Uris Hills.
Jonathan
Once you get to the end of the walkway the views on to the beach are worth the visit alone. On your left is Dunree Fort and on your right its the magnificent Uris Hills. On a good day you can also look out over Lough Swilly and clearly see the golden beaches of Portsalon on the other side of the lough.
Dunree beach itself is very sandy and can also be quick stoney – do bring appropriate walking footwear. If you go to your left you can let your dogs explore the dunes and the rocky shoreline under Fort Dunree. To the right is where the Owenerk River joins the sea. It can be quite deep & fast flowing in places – though passable during the Summer dry months and always a favourite for the dogs to explore – and go for dip if they are brave enough!
On the other side of the river is the Uris Hills. There is a walking/hiking trail up the hill with an entrance from the beach; if you’re looking for a more adventurous walk. If that’s not your cup of tea you can walk around the rugged coastline to more smaller beaches and rock pools – tide permitting.
In conclusion…
Over all Dunree Beach has many attributes that we love. From its splendid coastal views to its relaxing & peaceful atmosphere and obviously its numerous areas for your dogs to explore and sniff about in relative quiet. It is small but has enough room for one or two visitors to enjoy their walk without getting in each other’s space.
It does however lack a few things that could make it a bit more practical – particularly for dog walkers. There are no bins. This doesn’t bother me, but unfortunately the general public can’t seem to take their rubbish with them. This means there can be a lot of dog poop to avoid & poop bags everywhere. After busy weekends there can also be a lot of rubbish which you need to be aware of if you have a dog that likes to nibble on things they find in the undergrowth.
Pop by our Instagram hashtag to see all our daily photos of Dunree Beach. #opcdunree
During the Summer months when the sun is shining Dunree Beach can get quite busy. With only one entrance/exit* and the lack of adequate parking it can be a task to get parked up. The best time to visit would be off season and early morning/late evening or when it’s slightly duller out.
Just beside the beach is Dunree Fort & Military Museum. If you’re interested in the history of the area then this is definitely worth a visit! It is free to walk around but admission to the museum itself ranges from e4 – e16. If the museum isn’t your thing it’s still worth a walk up to visit the dog friendly ‘The Grind’ coffee shop which will keep you stocked up & energised for your walk!
We do recommend a visit!
We can’t help but recommend a visit to Dunree Beach – no matter how much we want to keep it as our little secret! It’s our local and you can find us there almost daily walking with Penny, Charlie and other furpals.
We’d advise you to go weekdays, early in the morning or off peak times when it’s quiet and will be more enjoyable! We also recommend you come prepared as there aren’t many amenities; bring poop bags, water for the dogs and folding chairs if a rest is needed!
You can find Dunree Beach along the Wild Atlantic Way in the North of Donegal. It’s a great stop over when you’re exploring the peninsula or heading on to Mamore Gap & Malin Head! If you see us on our walks do stop us and say hello – we’ll be the one with all the sausage dogs!
You can find more info about Inishowen and the local area here at www.govisitinishowen.com
*there is a second ‘locals only’ way to access the beach at the bottom of the hill to the left. It brings you out on the other side of the river on the beach!
