In recent times, the county has been seen as being divided into a number of areas both on an economic and physical basis - the north western area ( which includes '''The Rosses''' and '''Fanad Peninsula''') is lightly populated with generally mountainous terrain, with the south of the county (around Bundoran and Ballyshannon) being densely populated and relatively flat. The east of the county, particularly around '''Letterkenny''' and the '''Lagan Valley''', is the most densely populated area of all, and is economically significantly richer than the rest of the county.
There are very deep connections between the people of '''Donegal''' and Scotland, Glasgow in particular, due to the economic need for emigration in the past and the strong ties forged over the generations as a result.
The county consists chiefly of low mountains, with a deeply indented coastline forming natural loughs. The mountains (more famously known as the "Hills of Donegal") consist of two main ranges, the '''Derryveagh Mountains''' in the north and the '''Bluestack Mountains''' in the south. '''Mount Errigal''', at some 750 metres, is the highest peak. The '''Slieve League''' cliffs are the highest sea cliffs in Europe and '''Malin Head''', in the Inishowen Peninsula, is the most northernly point on the island of Ireland.
Thus, '''Donegal''' is not as accessible as other tourist-oriented places in the Republic of Ireland, such as County Galway or County Kerry and this means it is not as commercialised in the tourist sense. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your expectations. If you are looking to get away from over-commercialised tourism, Donegal can offer unspoilt scenery (apart from over-building of holiday homes and chalets in areas like Dunfanaghy and Downings) and cheaper prices. To combat the overdevelopment of holiday homes, Donegal county council has adapted a plan whereas only one in five houses will be developed as holiday homes in the future.
The downside of not being as commercialised as other Irish counties is that facilities and amenities are not as readily available in Donegal and travelling out-of season will restrict your options. On the other hand, if you are into '''fishing''', '''walking''', '''rock-climbing''','''water sports''' or '''golfing''', and you are prepared to "rough it" at times in the less developed and populated areas of the county, then Donegal has a lot to offer the more adventurous visitor. Donegal's rugged landscape lends itself to active sports like climbing, hillwalking and surfing. Many people travel to Donegal for the superb golf courses - long sandy beaches and extensive dune systems are a feature of the county, and many links courses have been developed.
The pastime of rock climbing is of very high quality and still under-developed in the county. The complete [http://www.pete-smith.co.uk/dynamic/guidebook/index.php Donegal climbing guidebook] is available at the [http://www.colmcilleclimbers.com Colmcille Climbers] website. There is a wealth of good quality ''climbs'' in the county from granite rocks in the south to the quartzite and dolerite-based landscape in the north. There are long mountain routes in the Poisoned Glen and boulder challenges of excellent quality in the west of the county and in the Inishowen Peninsula.
Surfing on [http://www.beachwizard.com/beach.asp?country=Ireland&beachid=2090 Donegal's Atlantic coast] is considered to be as good as any in Ireland. Donegal has hotel facilities as good as any other in Ireland in its major towns, as well as top class restaurants.
The form of Irish spoken in the area is noticeably different to that in the rest of the country, although it is an accepted dialect, and is used on the Irish language television and radio services.
Locals refer to Donegal as part of "the South", distinguishing it from "the North" (i.e. Northern Ireland), even though it is geographically north in relation to the rest of the island. This is because it is indeed politically part of "Southern Ireland" (i.e. the Republic of Ireland), even though it only shares a few miles of its county border with "the South"!
A number of '''private bus operators''', most notably [http://www.mcgeehancoaches.com/ McGeehan] and [http://www.johnmcginley.com/ McGinley], operate services from Donegal Town and Letterkenny to Dublin also.
[http://www.gallagherscoaches.com/ '''Gallagher's Coaches'''] operate a twice daily service between Letterkenny, Derry and Belfast.
[http://www.sjp.claranet.co.uk/nibus/lstt.htm Lough Swilly Bus Company] runs routes in the north of the county, particularly in the Inishowen area. These include routes between Letterkenny, Buncrana, Malin and Carndonagh to Derry.
[http://www.fedaodonnell.com/ '''Feda O'Donnell Coaches'''] run regular daily services between Galway and Donegal, which service most of the county.
'''By Car'''
The road network within Donegal is notably poor, even compared to the rest of Ireland, with only the national primary and national secondary routes between major towns being of what most people expect as acceptable quality. Some of the towns are bypassed, such as Donegal Town, Ballyshannon and Bundoran. In rural areas, roads are often one lane with passing places, or barely two lane. Meeting a wider vehicle, such as a 4x4, truck or bus on these roads can lead to reversing into the nearest gateway to clear the carriageway. Cycling on these roads is best left to the fit and the courageous, as narrow roads over mountains are often the only way from one place to another.
Road signs in the Irish speaking, or Gaeltacht regions of the country are in the Irish language solely, however, even when directing to places outside the region. Due to this, place names in this article are listed bilingually, as often no obvious connection exists between the English and Irish forms. Road signage in '''Donegal''' is often extremely poor, so a recent map of the county is advisable. Distances on road signs are officially in kilometres, but a mix of old signage and poor conversions have left distances often in miles, or completely inaccurate.
Allow plenty of travel time when planning itinaries and don't underestimate the distance you need to travel. Remember that the roads are poorer and travelling will be slower than expected. A tour of the Fanad Pennisula takes at least half a day, and the Inishowen Peninsula is best experienced over a full day if you are driving. Similarly, touring the Rosses region, taking in Glenveagh National Park and '''Mount Errigal''', will take a full day.
'''By Bus'''
A private bus operator, [http://www.sjp.claranet.co.uk/nibus/lstt.htm/ '''Lough Swilly Bus'''], operates services daily to the Northern half of the county from Derry City and Letterkenny, albeit infrequently, with services to Malin head on Saturdays. The Dungloe route passes through Kilmacrennan, Dunfanaghy, Creeslough, Falcarragh, Gweedore and Burtonport, among others. There are also daily services to Fanad, passing through Ramelton.
[http://www.gallagherscoaches.com/Timetable.htm '''Gallagher's Coaches'''] also offer a local service in the North of the county, covering Annagry, Gweedore, Falcarragh, Dunfanaghy and Creeslough on the route between Annagry and Letterkenny.
[http://www.fedaodonnell.com/ '''Feda O'Donnell Coaches'''] have a twice daily service between Crolly and Letterkenny, which passes through the same route as Gallagher's. This bus continues to Galway via Ballybofey and Donegal Town.
In the Southwest of the county, [http://www.mcgeehancoaches.com/index.html '''McGeehan Coaches'''], in conjunction with [http://www.buseireann.ie/bubble.php?id=58 Bus Eireann] have a twice daily service between Letterkenny and Glencolumbkille, stopping at Fintown, Glenties, Ardara, Killybegs and Kilcar. Another service travels between Dungloe and Donegal Town, stopping at Glenties, Ardara, Killybegs, Bruckless, Dunkineely, Frosses and Mountcharles. [http://www.fedaodonnell.com/ Feda O'Donnell] also has a weekly service between Annagry and Galway, passing through Dungloe, Glenties, Ardara, Killybegs and Donegal Town.
[http://www.buseireann.ie/bubble.php?id=58 '''Bus Eireann'''] have regular buses between Letterkenny, Stranorlar, Ballybofey, Donegal Town, Ballyshannon, and Bundoran, which continue on to Sligo and Galway. There are also bus links between Strabane and Lifford, Letterkenny and Ballybofey, as well as local routes linking Raphoe and Convoy with Lifford and Letterkenny. There is a nightbus service at weekends between Letterkenny and Ballybofey.
'''By Bike'''
Donegal, with its many quiet country backroads provides excellent opportunities for cycling. It's hilly geography and sometimes potholed roads can be a challenge. A good [http://www.osi.ie/en/starticle/map-results.aspx?cid=8 map] is essential, as road signs can be confusing. Bike hire is available in Letterkenny, Donegal Town and Ardara [http://www.goireland.com/donegal/bicycle-hire-in-donegal-county-page1.htm].
Some popular routes include the Inishowen 100 [http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/ireland-plan-your-visit/listings/product/?fid=FI_10824], the Northwest Trail [http://www.northwest-trail.com/], and others [http://www.irondonkey.com/northwest-ireland-bicycle-tours.php] [http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/ireland/donegal]. [http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ Sustrans] also has information about cycling in Donegal.
Pretty much the entire county is scenic, with stunning sights to be observed along the coast, and in the mountain ranges. Mount Errigal, is a quartzite-topped mountain is in the Derryveagh mountains to the north of the county, with the Bluestack mountains to the south.
The Slieve League cliffs in the county are among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Ireland's most northerly point, at Malin Head, is in the county.
A [http://homepage.tinet.ie/~leslie/railway/ preserved railway], with an operative original railcar open for public journeys, is located at Fintown in the centre of the county; when restoration is complete this will link to Glenties in the west of the county. In addition, a [http://www.cdrrl.com separate museum] for a separate part of Donegal's now-gone but formerly extensive narrow gauge railway network is in Donegal Town, located in the towns former station house.
An operative [http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/North/NewmillsCornandFlaxMillsDonegal/ corn and flax mill] is preserved at Newmills, outside Letterkenny, with the [http://www.donegal.ie/dcc/arts/museum/museum.htm county museum] being located in the towns former workhouse. Another former workhouse, at Dunfanaghy, has been partially restored as workhouse museum.
The county's two main offshore islands are both still inhabited, and both worth a visit. In addition, some of the smaller islands are worth seeing, if you have the means to get to them. Most of these are uninhabited during the winter and lack power, water, or any other means of life for anybody but temporary visitors.
[http://www.arainnmhor.com/ Arranmore], the larger and closer inland of the two, has two hotels, 7 pubs, some watersports activities and mountain trails for hikers; and is accessible by a regular, multiple times daily car ferry service. A pre-Christian hill fort as well as ruins of a coastguard station, 1700's lighthouse and World War Two lookout post are all visible on the island. The countries only off-shore football team is based here, with a pitch built on sand dunes on the south of the island.
[http://www.toryhotel.com/ Tory Island], is smaller, less populous, and further offshore, and is accessible only by a passenger-only ferry; which runs multiple times daily during the summer, dropping to 5 times a week in winter. The island has a 14-bedroom hotel. Tory's history is lived out to this very day with an elected "king" who attempts to greet all tourists, and a round tower with famed "cursing stones" and Celtic cross.
'''Letterkenny''' also features a multiplex cinema, and a theatre, [http://www.angrianan.com/ An Grianan]. Nightclubs of varying size and quality are dotted throughout the counties tourist resorts, including Letterkenny, Glenties and Bundoran. '''Bundoran''' is Ireland's answer to Blackpool, and features large amusement arcades as well as a Waterpark, not to mention being a good base for surfers, beside some of the best surfing sites in Ireland.
The [http://www.littleireland.ie/dunleweycentre/ Ionad Cois Locha] in '''Dunlewey''', part of the '''Poisoned Glen''', is a tourist attraction, originally built by the countries main power company, the '''ESB''', to employ workers it was laying off from a nearby power plant. Based around a restored two storey farm house, it features a museum of weaving equipment and weaving demonstrations; boat tours of a man-made lake caused by an ESB hydro electric power station (the station itself is an eyesore, really, on the landscape), and often hosts '''concerts''' or '''art exhibitions'''.
Weather will dictate whether one should climb '''Mount Errigal'''. Always leave details of time of departure and expected time of return with your local contacts when undertaking walking, climbing and boating activities, as bad weather can descend without warning.
Glenveagh National Park is a haven for nature lovers, with its scenic walks and climbs, together with its gardens adn castle grounds. Plan to spend at least half a day here.
Glenties is a good hillwalking base, situated at the meeting of two glens on the edge of the '''Bluestack Mountains'''.
Wine is becoming increasingly available in pubs, where you can order a quarter bottle of red or white, which several brand choices, at most pubs for around ?4 to ?5. Don't expect to get a top of the range wine unless you are in a good restaurant. The question is, do you really want to drink wine in the land of guinness...