House in Ballintra, County Donegal

The Perfect Holiday Home on the Spectacular Northwest Coast of Ireland

The Perfect Holiday Home on the Spectacular Northwest Coast of Ireland

Photo gallery for The Perfect Holiday Home on the Spectacular Northwest Coast of Ireland

View of the house from the front garden
View of the house from the field below
View of the front garden and house
Driveway entrance with house in the background
Dining room table

Overview of The Perfect Holiday Home on the Spectacular Northwest Coast of Ireland

10 out of 10 Exceptional
4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 12241.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Outdoor space
  • Mountain view

Explore the area

Ballintra, County Donegal
  • Popular LocationDonegal Bay Waterbus4 min walk
  • Popular LocationDonegal Castle11 min walk
  • Popular LocationO'Donnel's Castle11 min walk
  • AirportLondonderry (LDY-City of Derry)89 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 4

2 Single Bunk Beds

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

The Perfect Holiday Home on the Spectacular Northwest Coast of Ireland

Accommodations: The Hilltown is a historic, recently renovated, traditional farmhouse plus additions, stable and farm buildings on 50 acres of actively farmed land - four bedrooms, three baths - sleeps up to ten.

Description: William McKinley, born in 1882 in a thatched cottage a mile from the Hilltown, emigrated to the US, and then returned to purchase the Hilltown in 1928. His reason? He wanted his expanding American family to learn of their roots. His parents and some of his siblings are buried in the Drumhome Churchyard on the hill directly opposite the house. Three of his grandchildren, the current owners, have rehabilitated and modernized the house from top to bottom while striving to retain the charm and feel of the traditional Irish farmhouse which they experienced as children. The house is located on a hillside with panoramic views of long, green, drumlin hills at the head of the Donegal Bay. These hills in turn are framed by the Blue Stack Mountains some 15 miles distant.

In mid-summer, when all is in darkness around the house, the tops of the Blue Stacks are often bathed in the sun’s last orange rays. Murvagh Beach, a three-mile strand on the South side of the bay, where the tide recedes for up to one quarter of a mile, is minutes from the front door. Donegal Golf Club, locally known as Murvagh Golf Club, is a superb links course described as the Muirfield of Ireland and is located about one mile away. Several pubs are also within a mile. What else does one need?

The Hilltown has proven to be the perfect setting for Irish-style decompression. It has been the romantic location of choice for many honeymoons, and a cozy nest from which three generations of McKinley heirs and many of their friends have launched excursions throughout the northwest of Ireland.

Amenities: Working fireplaces located in kitchen, dining room and sitting room with turf and wood provided. Full kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooking utensils provided. Mudroom has large-sized washer and dryer. Dining room oak table seats eight. Two bedrooms have queen-sized beds, a third one has two queen-sized beds, and a bunk-room (with a half bath) can accommodate four kids. Linens provided. Two bathrooms, one with shower and the other with tub. Satellite TV and CD/DVD player in Sitting Room. WiFi signal is available.

Activities: Extensive hiking and mountain climbing opportunities including Slieve League, the highest edge-of-the-Atlantic mountain on the west coast of Europe, world-class golf courses within a days drive, cycling (mountain bikes can be rented in Donegal Town), beautiful beaches, horseback riding, ocean, lake and river fishing, exploration of ancient round forts, stone cairns, abbeys, castles and remains of great houses, trips to off-shore islands, shopping in Donegal Town, Ardara and Glencolumbkille for native tweeds and sweaters, boating, swimming, sailing, picnicking, and on and on.

Keywords: House

Property manager

Michael Budd
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Mountain view

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Donegal

Located in Donegal, this holiday home is in a rural area and by the sea. Diamond Obelisk and Killaghtee Old Church are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Donegal Golf Club and Deane's Farm Equestrian Centre. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Abbey of Donegal - 1 min walk
  • Donegal Bay Waterbus - 4 min walk
  • Diamond Obelisk - 6 min walk
  • Donegal Castle - 11 min walk
  • O'Donnel's Castle - 11 min walk

Getting around

  • Letterkenny (LTR-Letterkenny Airfield) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

  • Olde Castle Bar - 11 min walk
  • McCafferty's Bar - 9 min walk
  • The Reel Inn - 11 min walk
  • The Reveller Bar - 10 min walk
  • Harbour Restaurant - 10 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Perfect Holiday Home on the Spectacular Northwest Coast of Ireland pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Perfect Holiday Home on the Spectacular Northwest Coast of Ireland?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Perfect Holiday Home on the Spectacular Northwest Coast of Ireland?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Perfect Holiday Home on the Spectacular Northwest Coast of Ireland located?

This family-friendly Donegal holiday home is located by the sea, within a 5-minute walk of Abbey of Donegal and Donegal Bay Waterbus. Daniel O'Donnell Museum and Diamond Obelisk are also within 10 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 51 out of 52 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 52 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 52 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 52 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 52 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Florence G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved the Hilltown
We all thoroughly our week at the Hilltown, even the two days we were forced to ‘stay in’ due to constant rain our seven grandchildren ages ranging from 2 to 13 had great fun playing in this very spacious house. (Only niggle there were little spiders making their webs in the corners which freaked out one of the girls)!! The Hilltown is an historic family home and I really enjoyed reading some of the history of the area. It is a lovely home to relax in and even though we’d rain most days we also got to see quite a bit of the surrounding area. Glenveigh National park is a must visit and also the beautiful local beach(Murvagh). We also took the kids for a day to Castletown Farm and activity park- this was a great hit with the kids. We had planned on a day trip to Bundoran but weather did not permit. Everything you need and more to self cater is provided for and all the instructions and info that was emailed before we arrived Ll was of great help. Many thanks for our great holiday in your historic family home, Michael, and we will hopefully return again.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ardine O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great family Vacation
We had a lovely week . Great location. Both the owner and the property manager Jennifer were could not have been nicer. Jennifer even forwarded items we had left behind-thanks Jennifer.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jean D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Brilliant house
This house is lovely and spacious, very relaxing and totally kitted out with everything you would need

10/10 Excellent

Cara M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing place for a big Irish family
An amazing and comfortable stay for my large Irish family. Very comfortable beds with amazing view out the front.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Nadene O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great family stay
Beautiful house with everything we needed. Close to Donegal town and beaches with plenty to do. Perfect for our family break. Jennifer was very helpful. Highly recommended
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2020

About the host

Hosted by Michael Budd

Host profile image
We are the descendants of William McKinley and his wife Ellen Stewart McKinley who were both born and raised near this farm. Grateful to still have the farm they purchased in 1928 to instill a love of Ireland in their relatives, we rent this ancestral home out to others in order to sustain it and keep it in the family. Welcome to our home- or in Irish: "Céad mile fáilte" (A hundred thousand welcomes)!

Why they chose this property

This property is the perfect home-base setting for exploring highlights of Donegal and its neighboring counties. Within driving distance of Sligo and Yeats country, many golf courses, Donegal Town, The Donegal Craft Village, Rossnowlagh surfing beach, Glenveagh National Park, Glencolmcille, Slieve League and the Bunglass sea cliffs, Lough Erne, Belleek (famous for the bone china that inspired Lenox), Ardara, the Maghera sea caves, and many other adventure spots. The house itself is cozy and comfortable while being spacious enough to accommodate 12 guests. Enjoy fires while you are here and the charm of a 400 year old renovated farmhouse.

What makes this property unique

The views from this house and the land are magnificent. In one direction looking toward the Bluestack Mountains and Barnesmore Gap, another direction is toward the sea, and everything in between is emerald green rolling fields and little round hills called drumlins.

Languages:

English

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