There are lots of fun and free things to do with kids around Donegal, from family walks to cycling to visiting the library.

Why not go for a walk, or a hike up a hill … there’s no shortage of them in Donegal! Whether it’s over heath or through woodland, beaches and cliffs, or spectacular hill and mountain scenery, the county has it all.

It doesn’t have to be difficult. Sometimes half the battle is persuading everyone to get out of the house! Here are some of our favourite family walks in Donegal.

Another fun walk is to follow the Sculpture Trail in Bundoran, we love the giant daisies!

Take out your bicycles and get active. Follow an established cycle trail or find an off-road route.

We like to bring our bikes to Rossnowlagh Beach but if you’re after something a bit more adventurous, you can find other “off road” places to go on the Coillte Recreation Map here.

Don’t forget the helmets!

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Turn almost every trip into an adventure with Geocaching, a modern day “Treasure Hunt”. Using your smartphone, you can search for caches to find near you, you will be surprised as to how many treasures are hidden in Donegal.

For more information read our article all about Geocaching.

Image courtesy Failte Ireland

We are blessed with beaches in County Donegal. In 2022, thirteen of our beaches were awarded the internationally recognised “Blue Flag”

• Bundoran
• Carrickfinn
• Culdaff
• Downings
• Fintra
• Killahoey
• Portsalon
• Marble Hill
• Murvagh
• Portnoo/Naran
• Rathmullan Marina
• Rossnowlagh
• Stroove

You don’t have to wait for the sun to come out. Head to the beach with coats, hats and wellies, if needs be, and take a walk on the shore. Bring fishing nets and explore rock pools or fly a kite!

Mind you, it’s quite likely that the kids will want to get wet, so perhaps bring towels and a change of clothes, even if you don’t plan on swimming!

Make sure to check out one of Donegal’s 13 library branches, they are a wonderful and free resource for families.

All Donegal libraries host a very popular, annual summer reading programme for kids while many of the branches run or host parent and toddler groups, storytelling sessions, arts and crafts classes, book clubs, games and activities sessions, exhibitions and so on. Not to mention the fact that there is free computer access and the option to borrow books and DVDs!

For a change of scenery, why not visit a different library to your local branch?

There are some great playgrounds throughout the county of Donegal.  Why not print the list and aim to visit them all over time?

It’s an activity that is both free and good fun! Make sure to bring some snacks and drinks or a picnic lunch.

Donegal County Museum is open all year round and displays a number of exhibitions throughout the year, it is free to visit.

Also, on the first Wednesday of every month a number of Heritage Ireland Sites have FREE admission, why not take advantage and visit Newmills Corn & Flax Mills, just outside Letterkenny, Glebe House & Gallery near Churchill or the beautiful Donegal Castle in Donegal Town.

National Heritage Week runs from during August and there are always lots of free family events taking place throughout the county.

Enjoy a walk along Dungloe River through woodland and along the river where you will find several fun sculptures and Stor the Troll! The Dungloe River walk is 2.1 km long with red and white markers that you can follow along the route.

40 foot tall Stor arrived in 2021 and has made his home there as part of an arts trail aimed at creating a magical living storybook. The trail features houses and creates a childhood land with Trolls, Giants and Fairies all inspired by legend and mystical folklore.