As a young user growing up in Donegal, there was one school destination that excited us like no other: Redcastle.
Specifically Leisureland Redcastle, with its famous big yellow slide (it’s actually mythical), remote cars and a lot of arcade machines.
Dublin Zoo was doing well, but everyone knew that it was in this village on the windy Inishowen Peninsula that the real madness was taking place.
It’s been more than 30 years – yes – and after a few decades of living in the capital, I’ve been waiting a long time to visit myself.
Added to this is the fact that my wife from Dublin complains that although I’m from the North West, I haven’t shown her much.
We arrived late on a Friday night at our accommodation for the weekend, the 4-star Redcastle Oceanfront Golf Hotel.
Despite the late hour, the night watchman couldn’t have been nicer and showed us our elegantly decorated room, one of the hotel’s 94 newly renovated.
After a night’s sleep, we woke up to amazing views of the water’s edge.
There’s a reason why the Wild Atlantic Route, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is so popular and you probably won’t find a greater representation than this stunning skyline.
We must first take advantage of the well-equipped gym, before heading to the breakfast room, where we were once able to enjoy the splash of the waves from the seashore.
The buffet was delicious, with a tasty and steaming variety to satisfy all palates – we were given a position for the day.
We agreed that it would be rude to come to a spa hotel and not savor what’s on offer, so we booked some remedies for mid-morning.
CARA Organic Spa recently introduced a new VOYA Spa package for couples, which includes the hotel room, a 30-minute treatment for each and breakfast for €333.
We started with the Rasul Mud vapor chamber experience, and while I’ll admit I’m a dust skeptic, we had a good laugh and felt at ease afterwards.
Thanks to the attentive staff, we took advantage of some last-minute cancellations: my wife got a facial and I went in for a back and shoulder massage.
After feeling good and really spoiled, we may have stayed in the bathroom all day, but had promised some views of Donegal, so we ventured further afield.
Families will be pleased to know that Leisureland is still in operation and although I ride bumper cars as much as anyone, my sense of laughter has matured a bit.
Close to our hotel is the impressive and giant Wild Ireland Wildlife Sanctuary.
Nestled in an ancient Celtic rainforest, it is home to grizzly bears, wolves, lynxes, monkeys, kangaroos, and wild boars, among others.
Their project is to highlight animals that once originated in Ireland, but have disappeared from our shores, and at the same time offer a safe position for animals that have been abused or abandoned.
It’s a desirable way to spend an afternoon and a genuine sense of calm among the animals. It’s also a position that will excite young, enthusiastic minds.
Did you know that the polar bear is a direct descendant of the Irish bear?Me neither.
There are 3 bears and they’re beautiful, but it’s hard not to be inspired by the elegance of the sanctuary’s wolf pack.
The park also has a café that offers burgers, fries, and other treats for the little ones to fill up while watching the animals.
Several times a day, a staff member will be giving a lecture at one of the most exclusive venues, which we found incredibly informative. This was followed by a Q&A session.
ENJOY the Great Donegal Escape Package at Redcastle Hotel
At the end of the tour, you’ll find a well-stocked gift shop with plenty of souvenirs and some informative books about the environment and animals.
We booked the Great Donegal Escape package at the hotel, which included €20 credits for Wild Ireland, as well as other attractions such as the Wild Alpaca Way, Doagh Famine Village, and Inish Adventures, among others.
After our walk in the woods, we worked up an appetite, so we headed back to our hotel to get ready for dinner: a three-course meal at The Edge restaurant.
To start, I had roasted quail, followed by a sirloin, while my wife had a poultry fritter and black pudding, with poultry breast, macaroni and cheese fritters, and butternut squash as the main course – all cooked to perfection.
We had a few drinks at the Captain’s Bar before leaving.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to savour the golf course this time, but it’s fair to say that my wife’s appetite for Donegal delicacies only increases after our glorious visit.
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