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Lonely Planet praises peninsula
27.01.10
by Michael Stamp, Inishowen Independent
The 2010 edition of travel guide Lonely Planet has
given praise to “remote, rugged, desolate and
sparsely populated” Inishowen.
Among the compliments given is the description of
Moville as “an elegant spot where nearly every
building is old and well kept". Inishowen Maritime
Museum and Planetarium in Greencastle is lauded for
its “disarmingly eccentric collection of artefacts”
however the guide does warn visitors to “take care
if visiting on a day when local children are testing
out their homemade rockets.”
Apparently “sheep vastly outnumber people around the
secluded resort village of Culdaff.” Malin Head is
eulogized as being “great for wandering on foot,
absorbing the stark natural setting and pondering
deep subjects as the wind tries to blow the clothes
off your back". |
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It’s not all positive
though; Carndonagh is described as “not a choice
locale in these parts.” Ballyliffin and Clonmany are
described as “quaint villages” that have “plenty to
occupy visitors for a day or two”. Praise is given
to “the enthusiastically thrown-together” Doagh
Famine Village. According to the guide Buncrana is
“on the tame side of the peninsula” and is “a busy
but appealing town with its fair share of pubs.”
Grianán of Aileach is extolled for its “eye popping
views of the surrounding loughs and all the way to
Derry.”
Ballyliffin Golf Club gets a thumbs up for “having
scenery so beautiful that it can distract even the
most focused golfer” and McGrory’s of Culdaff is
applauded for its “spiffy (stylish) rooms” and
“having classic Irish cuisine that is the best for
miles around.” The guide praises the variety of
birdlife to be found in the peninsula and the range
of different semiprecious stones that can be found
on the beaches. Half a page is given over to a walk
between Glenevin Waterfall and Raghtin Mór which is
acclaimed for its “tremendous panoramas”
Kathleen Gill manager of Inishowen Tourism said she
was delighted with the praise the peninsula
received. “Guides like the Lonely Planet are
refreshing. We live very close to the product and
even though we know it’s beautiful we don’t really
see it. It’s a big positive, it reflects well on
Inishowen and it’s nice and refreshing to get praise
from an experienced travel writer," she said.
Kathleen hopes the guide will attract first time
visitors to the area pointing out that the guide
sells about 50,000 copies annually.
The guide which claims, “nobody knows Ireland like
Lonely Planet” is in its ninth edition and retails
at €18.85. |
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