Nestled in an inlet of Sheephaven Bay on Donegal's Wild Atlantic Way, Doe Castle is the 1420s stronghold of the MacSweeney clan, its grounds free and open every day.
The 1420s MacSweeney fortress sits right on the waterline of Sheephaven Bay, off the R245 between Carrigart and Creeslough. Admission to the grounds is free and they are open daily all year round, so you can walk the ruined walls and courtyard at your own pace.
The castle is at its most photogenic framed from across the fields, from the shore and from the water, with Sheephaven Bay and the Atlantic behind it.
Interior access is limited, but guided tours of the keep can be arranged strictly by appointment. Email [email protected] for availability, and give 48 hours' notice of any cancellation.
Inside the tower house is a finely carved MacSweeney grave-slab dated 1544. On-site display panels chart the castle's history, from the MacSweeney chiefs to the shelter given to Spanish Armada survivors in 1588.
A family-run coffee shop sits right beside the castle, serving LavAzza coffee, teas, snacks, ice creams and cold drinks, and stocking Doe Castle souvenirs and local handmade crafts.
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