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5 REASONS TO VISIT ARDARA   Ardara is a beautiful hertiage town situated in SW Donegal on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way.  Famously known as the "Home of Festivals" along with its world famous home of tweed making in Donegal. To add, Ardara has the most friendliest locals always ready to assist visitors.  It was recently voted in the top 11 most enchanting towns in Europe.  Beyond the warmth of our welcome, there are lots of reasons to visit Ardara.  Read on for 5 reasons to visit Ardara.     1. Visit Assaranca Waterfall & Maghera Beach & Caves   Assaranca Waterfall in Ardara is just a short trip from Nesbitt Arms Boutique Hotel.  Follow the road to Killybegs and you will come to a sign on the right for Maghera.  If you follow this road, you will experience the most beautiful scenery that surrounds Ardara.  This is a must for first time visitors to Ardara when you are out and about.  Assarana Waterfall is at its best on a good rainy day or the day after.  The water simply cascades with a musical ring to it.  Simply stand still and listen to the music unfolding.     Follow the road further down and you will come to the world famous Maghera Beach.  Take the short walk across a field, a gentle climb through dunes and then you will be blown away by the view ahead of you.  If the tide is out, head left over to the famous Maghera Caves always being mindful of the tide returning.   This world famous beach with its white sand, is literally a world away from the hustle and bustle of life and a yet a short trip from our hotel.   2. Sliabh League or Sliabh Liag   Most visitors to The Nesbitt Arms Boutique Hotel come to visit Sliabh Liag Cliffs.  These are probably one of Ireland's best kept secrets and are a signature point on the Wild Atlantic Way.  From the hotel, follow the road to Killybegs and onto Carrick where you will be guided to Sliabh Liag.  These cliffs stand over 600metres high nearly three times higher than Cliffs Of Moher.  You can simply drive up and take a gentle look or otherwise you can walk up to the viewing area and take in this wild rugged coastline.  For the more athletic visitors, this is a super area for a hike and not for the feint hearted.  Hike One Mans Pass or Pilgrims Path and you will experience scenery so majestic and breath taking, you will keep this memory forever.    On the way back to our hotel, meander down Glengesh Pass - also recently voted in the top 10 most panoramic view in Ireland.  http://www.sliabhliag.com/   3.  Golf Narin & Portnoo Links   Narin and Portnoo Links course is just 8 miles from The Nesbitt Arms Boutique Hotel and has just been redesigned by world famous Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner.  This 18 hole course has been voted at no 28 out of 100 in Ireland which is no mean achievement given our island hosts the most spectacular golf courses.   If you want to play really simple old fashioned unpretentious links-golf, then you have to stray off the beaten track a little.  For all you avid golfers out there, you will not be disappointed, if the golf  isnt up to scratch, you wont be disappointed by the majestic scenery. https://narinandportnoolinks.com/   4.  Shop the beautiful family owned tweed shops   Ardara is the home of tweed making and boasts some quaint family owned and run shops which sell amazing tweeds, knits and lots more.  You can visit John Molloy Tweeds on way into Ardara or Triona Designs coming from Killybegs.  In the town itself, you can experience Eddie Doherty giving a weaving demonstration.  Eddie is now 66 years weaving and is a total expert.  Our President Michael D Higgins has worn many of Eddie's tweed suits over the years. Campbells of Ardara stock the most beautiful products from MC Nutts, lambswool knits, tweed throws and lots more.  Closer to the hotel is the Donegal Design Makers shop which stocks creations from more than 25 designers from the county of Donegal.  This is an easy day and why not drop off in the famous Nancys Bar, Ardara for a wee Irish Coffee or pop into Ramblers Bar & Restaurant for a hot Silkie Whiskey from Sliabh Liag Distillers. https://www.sliabhliagdistillers.com/  https://trionadesign.com/ https://campbellsofardara.com/ http://donegaldesignermakers.com/ https://handwoventweed.com/ https://www.johnmolloy.com/     5. Sheskinmore Nature Reserve, Ardara   Sheskinmore refers to a large area of sand dunes, lake and marsh that lies between Kiltooris and Ballinreavy Strand, north west of Ardara.  This beautiful unspoilt natural area is designated as a Special Area of Conservation a Special Protection Area and a Wildfolw Sanctuary. There are three designated access points so please ask and we will advise you.  This is the second biggest nature reserve in Donegal and walkers are advised to be cautious of grazing animals between October and May and dogs should be kept on a lead and under control.  Appropriate walking clothing and a map would be recommended.  This is really a world class wilderness.

So you have booked your staycation and you decide that Donegal is the place.  Arrive and check in here at The Nesbitt Arms Boutique Hotel, unpack and begin your relaxation, perhaps sit down in Ramblers Bar and have a wee drink of Sliabh Liag's local whiskey or their Assaranca Vodka if whiskey is not your preference.  We created a Silkie Irish coffee last year and it went down a treat but the ladies preferred Sliabh Liag's An Dulamain Gin - made from seaweed (that sorts one of your five a day). It has a vey distinct taste, some say it is fab on it's own over some crushed ice but more love it with a fever tree tonic and a slice of lemon.  Perhaps its a cuppa or a nice freshly ground coffee, whatever your choice, we have it.   If you are feeling like a little excercise, we now have a few new walks which you can take directly from the hotel.  A short one just to stretch your legs over Drumbaran, where you can stop and look down over Ardara.  This has just been completed and locals love it, a bit of a climb though but short and sweet.  There are other walks through the woods if you are feeling more energetic.   Close by, but you need to get in your car here, head towards Killybegs and visit Assaranca Waterfall, if it has been raining, you will be blown away with this lovely creation, here you will get a few photos an the drive to it is spectacular.  Continue on down the road and you will come to probably one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, Maghera Beach and Caves.  Not a long beach but the views are breath taking and if the tide is out, you can walk in around the caves.  A great photography moment here.   Back to the hotel, take a nap.   Thats it for today.

Atlantic Coastal Cruisers offers a new and exciting cruise to Sliabh Liag cliffs, Europe's highest accessible sea cliffs. Also included in their schedule is a Killybegs harbour cruises which take in the Lighthouses  & Salmon farms on the bay. This cruise liner is capable of carrying 96 passengers to sea along the Wild Atlantic Way in a single trip offering great opportunities for our guests to spend the day inhaling the majestic scenery of SW Donegal.  Let us organise your trip.  Prices available for individuals and groups.   Commencing June and ending September