Zephyr Lodge Blog
29th January 2018
With Ireland making it to 5th place on the Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2015’ guide it is sure to be a popular destination for travellers in 2015. The Zephyr Lodge team have put together our top tips for planning your holiday to Ireland in 2015.
Book Ahead
Yes, you will not be able to get last minute bargains this way. But you will also be safe from sudden price increases and you will be able to budget better once the costs for flights, accommodation and a rental car are out of the wa
Bring a rain jacket, some warm and clothes… and sunglasses!!
Irish weather is a mystery. It’s just unpredictable. You could have all four seasons making an appearance in the space of a day so we’d recommend leaving the bikini at home and packing your rain jacket as well as your sunglasses
Stick to one or two counties
Don’t try to see the entire country in a week. Pick a couple of places and really explore! Ireland is a small country in size, but that doesn’t take away from the fact there is something to see or do in every county so if you plan on taking on Ireland in one trip, think again. Depending on the amount of time you have, it’s usually best to stick to one or two regions. If flying into Dublin, people tend to stay one or two nights in the city and venture out for a few days of discovery. This is a great way as it takes in both city and rural Ireland in one trip. But no matter where you choose to visit, there are always amazing attractions on your way. If you decide to take a trip west you have the Wild Atlantic Way, a coastline of 2,500 km to discover, but make sure to choose your route ahead of time as it would be impossible to fit everything in in one journey
Don’t forget your travel adapter
If you’re travelling from the Americas, mainland Europe or Asia, you’ll want to bring a travel adapter for your devices. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination ready to take thousands of photos with a camera with no battery. But don’t worry if you have forgotten it, most chemists in Ireland sell them
Choosing the right accommodation for you
There are so many alternative types of accommodation available today so it’s wise to choose the most suitable accommodation for your journey. If you are coming to Ireland on a holiday then a B&B is the perfect option. B&B hosts provide helpful information on where to visit in the area, the most popular attractions and hidden gems and even recommend the best places for dining and entertainment.
Give yourself time to explore
Add at least a 1/3 more time to travel estimates between point A and point B. The roads are small. There will be many stops between for pictures. And you may enjoy a wrong turn or two. No worries though–You are in Ireland!
Once you have arrived in Ireland be sure to
Reach out to the locals—they have the best advice and ways on how to see the real Ireland. Seek out hidden gems beyond the regular tourist spots. Don’t know where to start? Just ask your B&B owner. They will know where to go
Get lost. 🙂 No really, taking a wrong turn in Ireland can lead to some of the best undiscovered small towns. It also gives you an excuse to stop to talk to the locals for directions or advice.
Learn a bit o’ Irish before you leave! It’s always fun to say Sláinte (Slan-cha): at a pub and see the reaction you will get.
Bring a good pair of walking shoes. The countryside and walks around Ireland are amazing and worth an exploration.
Relax. No matter what. Above all else. Even if something doesn’t go as planned. Relax. Enjoy yourself, because you are on holidays. Happy holidays.
Posted in: Zephyr Lodge Blog
Tags: B and B, Bundoran, Donegal, Ireland
23rd January 2018
The iconic Fairy Bridges and Wishing Chair in Bundoran was named as part of a reader’s poll of the Irish Independent in their annual reader travel awards – the results of which were revealed over the weekend in the paper.
The Hidden Gems of Ireland category was won by Hook Head Lighthouse in Wexford and also features Slieve League in 4th position while the Fairy Bridges takes 7th position in the top 10.
Bundoran’s Fairy Bridges have been popular with tourists for many years and are located on the Roguey Walk at Tullan Strand and can be visited free of charge all year round. The attraction has topped the TripAdvisor “Top things to do in Bundoran” list for the last two years while also achieving consecutive Certificates of Excellence from the travel review website site.
More information on the Fairy Bridges can be found at www.discoverbundoran.com/fairybridges or www.fairybridgesandwishingchair.com
ENDS
Posted in: Zephyr Lodge Blog
18th December 2017
We are getting very excited here at Zephyr Lodge with only a few days until Christmas. It’s a magical time of the year with quite a few traditions too. Below are our favourites.
Christmas Day Swim
Every year without fail a selection of the local community in Bundoran like to head to the beach, stip-off and take a dip – crazy or what!!
Decorations
Christmas decorations in Ireland were traditionally just a wreath of holly on the frontdoor of the house but these days everyone puts up a Christmas tree in their home with fairy lights and decorations. The picture is an example of many of the houses dotted around Donegal and indeed Ireland at the moment.
Christmas Carols
Local choirs gather around the Christmas tree to sing Christmas carols usually on Christmas eve, it’s a magical time and if we are lucky this year we might even get a sprinkle of snow.
Family returning home
Most Irish homes have a family member how lives abroad but Christmas is traditionally the time of the year when everyone comes home. Family is the most important thing to the Irish making this time of the year that bit more special.
Christmas Jumpers
Most Irish people will have received for Christmas an awful jumper that had in some cases been hand-knitted by an aunty, grandmother or mother but in recent years these have become very trendy – the more ridiculously decorated the better!
Have a wonderful Christmas from everyone at Zephyr Lodge
Images – Discover Bundoran, Irish Times
Posted in: Zephyr Lodge Blog
3rd December 2017
Donegal often called the “forgotten county?” is one of Ireland’s most beautiful counties. We have put together some interesting facts for anyone coming to visit us at Zephyr Lodge
1. Donegal is situated in the north-west of Ireland on the Wild Atlantic Way and is surrounded by 5 counties including Sligo, Leitrim, Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh making it a perfect platform to explore some hidden beauties.
2. The County has six hundred and fifty kilometres of rugged coastline and sandy beaches to explore
3.Tory Island off of Donegal has a King. This is a unique tradition that does not exist anywhere else in Ireland. The current Rí Thoraí (Irish for King of Tory) is painter Patsaí Dan Mac Ruaidhrí (Patsy Dan Rodgers in English). The king has no formal powers; though duties include being a spokesperson for the island community and welcoming people to the island. The total population of the Island is under 200.
4.Donegal has the second-largest Gaeltacht(where Irish is the first language) area in the whole of Ireland
5. Some famous people that have hailed from Donegal include the world famour singer Enya, the renowned trad group Clannad, country and western crooner Daniel O Donnnell, rock legend Rory Gallagher and for those of literary interest the poet William Allingham.
All in all Donegal is a great place to visit while on holidays in Ireland
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17th November 2014
The Top Things To Do for free in Bundoran!
With everyone watching the pennies these days, here’s just some of things you can do when you get to Bundoran – for free!
Make a wish on the Wishing Chair
The wishing chair has been part of Bundoran’s charm for many years, yet its origin remains somewhat of a mystery. Located right next to the stunning Fairy Bridges, thousands of visitors to Bundoran have made their wish here. It is thought that many famous wishes have been made there too by poet William Allingham, his wife Helen, golfer Christy O’Connor Jr, singer Bressie who spent many summers in Bundoran as well as tv presenter Eamonn Holmes who recently tweeted about the many holidays he had in Bundoran.
To find out more about the Fairy Bridges and the Wishing Chair click here
Explore the Sculpture Trail
Bundoran’s impressive sculpture trail has been in place for many years now with various works dotted around the town. The most iconic of these works is undoubtedly the Rock of the Birds (Carraig Na nEan) which sits overlooking the Peak surf break near Waterworld – local surfers often refer to this as the “Protector of the Peak”. Installed in the year 2000 and created by local sculptor Brendan McGloin, the monolithe is one of the most recognizable symbols of Bundoran. To download the Sculpture Trail Guide click here Bundoran Sculpture Trail
Explore the rock pools for crabs and winkles!
Being on the west coast with the Wild Atlantic rolling in, Bundoran is home to all sorts of marine life and with an abundance of flora and fauna to uncover in the many rock pools between Main Beach and the West End you’re sure to find lots to collect from shells, to crabs to winkles!
Take a Wild Atlantic Walk!
Here in Bundoran we are blessed with some amazing free amenities – not least the beautiful and breathtaking coastline and quiet countryside to enjoy a lesiurely stroll. The most well known of these walks is the Roguey Walk which offers stunning views of Donegal Bay and also the mountains of Leitrim and Sligo which surround us. There are several walks in town and out into the countryside, while nearby you can enjoy Mullaghmore Head (Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point), the Gleniff Horseshoe, The Creevy Shore Walk and the Benbulben Forest Walk. To download the Discover Bundoran Wild Atlantic Walks brochure click here (AVAILABLE SOON). Check out some nearby walks and trails here
Enjoy a surf, swim, cycle or run
Some say that Bundoran boasts the best surfing waves in the world and indeed National Geographic list it in their Top 20 towns in the world for surfing and more recently as the Top Surfing Spot on Earth!
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional you’ll find conditions to suit you here from beach breaks to top class reef breaks – world famous surfers like Kelly Slater, The Molloy Brothers and Bethany Hamilton have all surfed Bundoran and while we can’t guarantee you’ll be as good as them we can guarantee that you will have fun! Bundoran also sits on the Northwest Trail Cycle Route and is close to mountain biking trails in County Sligo. With the Atlantic ocean rolling into Tullan Strand and Main Beach and two freshwater outdoor pools there are plenty of free swimming options in Bundoran too! Just remember the water safety basics and watch out for tides and rip currents. The Cara Bundoran Challenge happens each March and is a 10 mile run, many sections of which are along the coast. You can check the route out here and give it a try!
Content and pictures are direct from www.discoverbundoran.com
Posted in: Zephyr Lodge Blog
4th November 2014
We are delighted to announce that we have reached the Number 1 spot for speciality lodgings in Donegal. Out of the 76 businesses listed in this sector, Zephyr Lodge has been voted number 1 thanks to our guests. We are over the moon. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write a review.
Zephyr Lodge, Trip Advisor, Donegal
Posted in: Zephyr Lodge Blog
29th October 2014
Everyone in Zephyr Lodge was delighted to hear that Ireland has been named fifth on Lonely Planet’s list of countries you need to visit in 2015
The influential guide has called us “the real deal” and we were particularly happy to see that they even compared the Wild Atlantic Way to California’s Pacific Coast Highway and Australia’s Great Ocean Road.
The guide goes on to say that “Ireland is stunningly scenic, its traditions – music, dance, whiskey and beer – firmly intact and the cosmopolitan, contemporary Irish are just as friendly and welcoming as their forebears were known to be.”
The Lonely Planet guide is hugely influential so hopefully being included in this list will see a major boost to tourism around the country over the next 12 months and beyond.
Here the full list of Lonely Planet’s Top 10 countries for 2015:
1. Singapore
2. Namibia
3. Lithuania
4. Nicaragua
5. Ireland
6. Republic of Congo
7. Serbia
8. The Philippines
9. St Lucia
10. Morocco
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