Themed Bed & Breakfast - Seawinds, Killybegs

Themed Bed & Breakfast - Seawinds, Killybegs, Co Donegal

Category: Hillwalking, Angling, Heritage & Culture

Picture this: colourful fishing trawlers lining up along the harbour wall, seagulls circling overhead, eager for their share as the days catch is unloaded.   Some fishermen mend their nets on the pier and even the odd seal may pop its head up to complete the image!!  Fiction? No!  Simply what you may see from one of the windows at Seawinds as the evening draws in.

Seawinds is located in the heart of Killybegs an area known as ‘the diamond’ convenient to all amenities!  Killybegs is Ireland’s premier fishing port where the harbour rarely sleeps; unlike the guests staying at this comfortable home under the care of Patricia Faherty, a real ‘diamond’ herself!!  She has been welcoming visitors to Seawinds for just over 10 years and is a great ambassador for Killybegs and the surrounding area.  Have a chat with Patricia over a sumptuous ‘Seawinds breakfast’   and you will receive first hand knowledge of local events, often because she has helped organize them and first hand knowledge of their location, often because she has painted them!!  Patricia is a terrific ‘watercolour’ artist and the fruits of her labour adorn the walls at Seawinds for guests to enjoy.   The people in Killybegs take great pride in their ‘Maritime and Heritage Centre’, which is housed in the former Carpet factory, which in turn houses the largest hand knotting loom in the world, you can also try your own hand at hand knotting alongside learning the history of the sea faring activities from this natural harbour on the wild north west coast of Ireland from the re-created boat wheelhouse, or join the town heritage trail there is plenty to do.   You can continue your connection with the water by immersing yourself in the Atlantic at the blue flag beach at Fintra or go a little deeper and see the coral whilst scuba diving at St John’s point, just a 10 minute drive away.

Needless to say, Killybegs is a magnet for those interested in Sea-Angling and Seawinds is the perfect place to stay.   Equipped with the tidal and weather forecasts, Patricia keeps close contact with the Irish Angling Charter Boats, several leave from the slipway at Killybegs; a mere walk away from your breakfast table and visible from the viewing deck outside the dining room, so don’t rush your coffee, the captain’s not there yet!!  Whichever boat you select for your day at sea, it will be equipped with all you need to reel in your catch, except your food, but Patricia will send you off with a packed lunch of homemade soup, brown bread, fruit and sandwiches with a filling of your choice, tuna anyone!!! 

You don’t have to be a water lover to visit Seawinds; you can enjoy it from the top of Sliabh League, and the magnificent cliff scenery of the adjoining coast purporting to be home to Europe’s highest sea cliff.  There are magnificent walks in the area from shorter less strenuous treks to the more arduous hikes over local headlands and mountains.  Patricia will furnish you with the weather forecast and maps of popular walks and having walked many of them herself and consulted with a local archaeologist she is in a great position to point notable things out to make that walk even more interesting.  You too can facilitate of the drying room at Seawinds, but hopefully you won’t need to!

Finish your day with dinner at one of the Seafood Restaurants just down the street from Seawinds. Over there, is that your starter sidling up the slipway?