Guide to Golfing in Co Donegal, Ireland - a must for keen golfers with 12 golf courses to choose from. St Ernan's Country House is an ideal destination for your golfing vacation in Ireland, with twelve golf courses to choose from, all within easy travelling distance. The dramatic County Donegal landscape ensures a memorable days golfing with many courses situated on the coast and offering breathtaking views of sea, mountains and rugged countryside. Championship Courses, 18 Hole Courses and Links - there is something to suit golfers of all ages and abilities. So whether you enjoy a serious round of golf or are a relative novice, St Ernan's is an excellent base for that Golfing Break in Ireland, just 2 miles from Donegal Town. And after your golf return not to a hotel but to the privacy, peace and quiet of St Ernan's. Golf Courses within one hours drive: 1. Donegal Golf Club - Donegal Golf Club on the Murvagh, 6836 yds, peninsula in Donegal Bay, hence it is generally known as Murvagh, just six miles from Donegal Town, one mile off the N15 on the south side. The links is isolated from the outside world by a forest of evergreens washed on one side by the great Atlantic Ocean and with a panoramic view of the Bluestack Mountains. www.donegalgolfclub.ie. 2. Bundoran Golf Club - An excellent 18 hole, 6123 yds, course laid out in two 9 holes loops with the ninth and eighteenth greens close to the clubhouse. The course which is for the most part undulating is picturesquely situated commanding at all parts splendid views of Donegal bay and the mountains piled up inland. www.golfeurope.com/clubs/bundoran. 3. Sligo Golf Club - The present Championship links was designed in 1927 by the famous golfing architect, Harry S. Colt, with a variety of holes to create a test for the very best golfers. Over the years legendary players such as Walter Hagen, Bobby Locke, Henry Cotton, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo and Darren Clarke have made the pilgrimage to this classic course that lies under the imposing shadow of Ben Bulben. Peter Aliss described this fascinating links course as a tremendous test for the highest quality player abd great fun for the modest competitor and one which stands at the verty top of great Irish Golf Courses. www.countysligogolfclub.ie. 4. Castle Hume Golf Club - 18 hole, 6,700 yd, Par 72, Championship Course which hosted the Ulster PGA in 1996, 1997 1998. Parkland course, 3-1/2 miles north of Enniskillen. Best days for visitors: any day Bar, light snacks. Pool table, darts, practice fairway. www.castlehumegolf.com. 5. Enniskillen Golf Club - The eighteen hole, 6111 yds, par 71 parkland course provides a challenge to golfers of all abilities. Mature oak and beech trees, some over 100 years old, line the narrow fairways. The opening Road Hole has been described by many as the most intimidating starting hole they have played. Although the opening nine holes have been in existence for only fifteen years, trees and shrubbery are well matured and will cause some golfers the occasional problem. www.enniskillengolfclub.com. 6. Ballybofey Golf Club - Established fourty-six years. This course offers a challenge of all standards. 18 holes, 5870 yds, set in the Finne Valley Tree Lines Park Land with its feature hole 16th set on the shore of Lough Alaan. Ideal course for Holiday Golf in Donegal. phone 074 91 31093. 7. Narin And Portnoo Golf Club - One of Irelands true Links Courses, 5820 yds, situated in the West Donegal Coast with paroramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Arranmore Island. The Narin, Portnoo Beach lies on the other side of the Sand Dunes along the 2nd nine. While the course is short avery club in the bag is needed to reach the greens in reputation. The course is located in the seaside resort of Narin. phone 074 91 25185. 8. Letterkenny Golf Club - Letterkenny Golf Club has a beautiful 18 hole, 6239 yards, Par 70 Parkland Championship course. The course takes advantage of natural variences of elevation with four holes wrapped around the banks of Lough Swilly and the top seven holes affording the golfer a panoramic view of the Lough-side and the picturesque garland hills and wooded countryside. Nestled withing 147 acres of tranquil bliss the golfer's game will be shared with no-one but nature and its splendid beauty. phone 074 91 21150. Golf Courses more than one hours drive: 9. Dunfanaghy Golf Club. 10. Rosapenna Golf Club. 11. Portsalon Golf Club. 12. Ballyliffen Golf Club

Tourist Attractions Sight-Seeing in County Donegal. The following map gives locations of just some of the many tourist attractions and sight-seeing opportunities available to guests staying at St Ernan's Country House in County Donegal. All are within driving distance and include areas of natural beauty, dramatic sea and landscapes, castles, historical buildings and gardens and shopping for traditional Irish hand crafts, including Donegal Tweed, hand knits, crystal and china. And after your days journey return not to a hotel - but to the privacy, peace and quiet of St Ernan's. 1. Donegal Town - Donegal Town including the O'Donnell Castle and many craft shops selling unique, traditional Irish hand crafts. 2. Slieve League - The Slieve League cliffs, situated on the West coast of Donegal, are said to be the highest and one of the finest marine cliffs in Europe with a three hundred metre drop straight down into the wild, Atlantic waves below. This creates a breathtaking but extremely scary view. One is advised to leave one's car and walk the few miles to the cliffs so as not to miss the exciting scenery of the area. There are terrific views of the sea and the Sligo Mountains to be seen. can be clearly seen as you walk towards the very high top of Slieve League and there is a small lake at eye level. A short walk will take you to the right of the amazing cliff face of Bunglas (which literally means end of the cliff) which rises over 306m above the raging ocean. One Man's Path will take you to the summit of Slieve League but the climb must be approached with extreme caution as it is very dangerous. 3. Ardara Heritage Centre - Tells the story of Donegal tweed from the shearing of sheep to the manufacture of the woven cloth. Weavers at work show how a loom operates and the different stitches which make up Aran knitwear can be examined. Ardara Heritage Centre tells the story of Donegal tweed from the shearing of sheep to the manufacture and completion of the beautiful woven cloth. Old photographs, displays and models recall the remarkable history of tweed production in the Ardara region. The audio-visual presents some of the many attractions of this scenic area of Donegal. 4. Derek Hills Glebe Gallery. The Glebe Gallery which is a Gallery housing a collection of paintings belonging to the artist Derek Hill who lived at the Glebe House, the collection contains works by famous artists such as Picasso, George Braque and Matisse, as well as some of Derek Hill's own paintings. He had a studio on Tory Island where he encouraged the Islanders to paint and they formed their own school of painting whose works are now very much sought after. 5. Glenveagh National Park - Here within a late 19th century setting in a rugged and remote mountain valley, Henry McIlhenny from Philadelphia created one of the most celebrated gardens in Ireland. Woodland gardens and pleasure grounds, an Italian terrace with antique sculpture and terracotta pots, are all skillfully interwoven against the wild and beautiful Donegal landscape. 6. Grianan an Aileach - Visit this inspiring archaeological site incorporating an original Stone Age Ring Fort - an important structure in Ireland's turbulant history. 7. Castle Coole - A magnificent neo-classical house designed by James Wyatt, family home of the Earls of Belmore. It has remarkably fine interiors and exquisite furniture and furnishings from the period before 1830. 8. Florence Court - One of the most interesting and important houses in Ulster, built in mid-eighteenth century by John Cole. The house has magnificent plaster work and its striking rococo dining-room ceiling was fortunately saved from fire in 1955. The rest of the plaster work has been meticulously restored. The grounds provide an excellent picnic site or a place to just sit and admire the views. 9. W.B. Yeats' Grave - Travel south around Donegal Bay and at Drumcliffe Churchyard stop to view the grave of W.B. Yeats, the Nobel prizewinning poet, who based much of his work on the natural features around Sligo. Continue through County Mayo to visit the pilgrimage town of Knock, one of the world;s leading shrines. The Virgin Mary is reputed to have appeared to 15 people on August 21, 1879. Visit the shrine and the modern basilica before heading to Galway, the capital of the west of Ireland. Check into your hotel overlooking Galway Bay with views of the Aran Islands and the Burren Country. 10. Belleek Pottery - This world famous pottery offers guided tours. Visitors can watch master craftsmen and women at work and the visitor centre shop offers an extensive range of fine parian ware. 11. Park Castle - Fivemile Bourne, Co. Leitrim, sits in a sheltered lakeside location on the northeast side of Lough Gill and is part of the celebrated Lough Gill Drive (see below). A fine example of a 17th century fortified manor house, this castle was named after the English family who gained possession of the land during the 1620 Plantation of Ulster. Highlights of the castle include an Irish oak interior, diamond-shaped chimney, mullioned windows, parapets, and a courtyard that predates the castle with a cluster of old stone buildings and a wishing well.

Saint Ernans is a period house set on its own wooded island connected to the mainland by a causeway. It is a scenic and tranquil location. Its appeal is to those who appreciate peace, quiet and relaxation. For your information we advise you of the following: Children under six years are not catered for. Saint Ernans is a non smoking house. Dinner is served every Friday and Saturday. Dinner should be reserved by noon. A night porter service is not provided. A deposit of one night's accommodation is required. Credit card details may be provided and a one-night charge may be made as deposit. In the event of a cancellation within two weeks of arrival or a no-show the deposit amount may be forfeited unless the room can be resold. Access, Visa, MasterCard, Euro card credit cards accepted. Standard rooms are en suite with bath (as opposed to bath with shower) and are located at the top of the house (while these rooms are very comfortable and have very nice views they are not the most accessible if you have difficulties with stairs).

 Credit cards accepted
 Dinner may be served in the room
 Heating
 Quiet surroundings
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Phone at reception
 Phones in rooms