5 Toddler-Friendly Activities to do in Donegal

Covid has changed the normalcy of our world. It’s hard for us to believe, but Donegal was our first little trip with the kiddo and post-Covid outbreak. Young kids and toddlers love the outdoors as much as we adults do and wish we could do more of that with kiddo the last few months. Arushi really enjoyed this little trip to Donegal and was so much fun to travel with. Without further ado, here are 5 toddler-friendly activities to do in Donegal.  

5 Toddler-Friendly Activities to do in Donegal

Maghera Caves and Beach

Which toddler doesn’t like a little beach time? Maghera beach is really beautiful with its white sand and perfectly, blue waters. It’s a perfect place for a little sensory play for your toddler. Let them run wild, play in the sand, and get themselves dirty. It’s probably my most favorite of the 5 toddler-friendly activities to do in Donegal. 

If you time your visit to the beach during low tides, you will be able to explore some of the caves this beach host. There are more than 20 caves here and you will be able to enter into a few of them. Make sure that you make a note of the timings of tidal waves, as the low tide can quickly change to high tide. 

Assaranca Waterfall

On the way to Maghera Beach, make sure that you stop at the Assaranca Waterfall. It’s a small waterfall, but something fun to grab your toddler’s attention. Parking is right in front of the waterfall.

Slieve League Cliffs

Slieve League isn’t exactly toddler-friendly. however, with the proper gear, it can be a fun place for a little adventure for the entire family. Slieve League is about 3 times higher than Cliffs of Moher and is absolutely stunning. Plan your trip to the cliffs on a relatively rain-free day as it won’t be any good otherwise. 

There are two parking at Slieve League. The lower parking is bigger and has a toilet. However, you need to climb 30-45 minutes upwards, to reach the viewpoint. With the toddler in tow, we would recommend going to the upper parking right at the viewpoint. At the viewpoint, you can buy coffee, water, and ice cream from one of the cute trailers. 

We carried a baby carrier with us, and simply put Arushi inside and carried her like a backpack. It was so much easier to hike with her that way, and she absolutely enjoyed the whole journey and the view. We, of course, didn’t hike all the way to the end as with a toddler, you never know when they will get bored and would want to get down. On the way, we saw a flat stretch of the path and let her down to explore the stones and surroundings. Our kiddo was such a sport through our hike and had a great time.

At the viewpoint parking lot, there are a lot of wild sheep running around. Arushi had the best time chasing sheep, and calling out ‘baa baa’. We were careful, as they were wild sheep after all, but such a fun activity to burn some extra energy. 

Glenveagh National Park

All the National Parks in Ireland are absolutely stunning and Glenveagh National Park is no different. It’s a little piece of Scotland, in the Irish landscape, with beautiful lakes, forests, waterfalls, and a castle. Visiting the park and visitor center are free of cost, and you need to pay a small fee if you want to enter the castle. 

In the National Park, there are a number of walking trails to choose from. We did the stunning Lakeside walk and I loved how the path was buggy friendly. It’s not a looped walk, so we had to get the bus back from the castle. At the castle, there is a little garden, a toilet, and a coffee shop. 

Malin Head

Leaving the best for the last, you definitely can’t miss Malin Head on your trip to Donegal. It’s the most northerly point on the Island of Republic Ireland and raw natural beauty at its best. Similar to Slieve League, it isn’t exactly toddler-friendly but with the right gear, you can have a great time. 

We got our baby carrier and did a hike along the stunning Irish coastline. We let Arushi down for a bit of run when the trail was flat and risk-free. It was such a lovely day to be with nature and our kiddo had the best time at the great Irish outdoors. 

Where to Stay in Donegal 

Donegal is a relatively bigger county and the attractions are a bit far away from one another. So, we decided to split our stay between two different locations and accommodations. Since we were traveling with a kid, and are vegetarians we decided to rent houses with a functional kitchen. 

The first accommodation was located in Killybegs and it was very close to Maghera Beach and Slieve League Cliffs. We stayed at Killybegs Teachin Carraig, and it was such a cozy bungalow. 

To cover Malin Head, we stayed two nights in Moville. The Market Square Nook, was right in the town center, a bit tiny but good for two nights. 

Also, read other articles on Ireland

Having lived in Ireland for more than 5 years now, we have explored a lot around this tiny little island. Liking a few of our favorite destinations here. 

• Explore Blarney Castle in Cork during winter
• 10 Awesome Things to do in Dublin
• How to spend a sunny day hiking the Cliffs of Moher
• The beauty of Connemara National Park will mesmerize you. 
• The Drive to Giants Causeway and Beyond
• Postcard from Sligo