5 Stars - Worth your time if you enjoy nature and history…read more
The beauty of the park...far-reaching. Put on your best walking or hiking shoes to get fully immersed, if you're able. The park boasts trails from moderate to challenging, beautiful visits, and a historical castle.
To start, my family and I traversed the 2.2 mile Lakeside Walk trail from the Visitors Center to Glenveagh Castle to start. A shuttle can drive you there and back for a few Euros. On the way, the seemingly endless valley, lake, and mountain range, quickly eased my memory of the (tense) drive to the park on very narrow roads.
The Castle itself costs money to walk through, but walking through the grounds of the Castle is free. The gardens are actively maintained and contain a beauty of their own. The history is fascinating and can be read at the park or beforehand online.
After the gardens, we chose to continue along the trail by the lake (Glen/Bridle Path Walk) to view the approximately 120 foot tall Atelleen Burn waterfall on the opposite side, which we enjoyed. The shortest way back to the Visitors Center is same trail. A longer, higher, and more challenging trail (Viewpoint Trail) can also be taken.
Walking back through the Castle grounds, we stopped in the restrooms and ordered a gelato and espresso from the truck. Nellie's Restaurant, located within the Visitors Center, offered some good food and beverages options when we returned, thankfully before the 5 pm close time.
All told, we spent about 5 refreshing and energy-expending hours at the park, with much of the park left unexplored.