Here in Donegal for a week with Betty and her family staying in the Lettermacaward

Today we had a lovely day in beautiful Glenveagh National Park and Castle. Glenveagh Castle is a 19th century castellated mansion and was built between 1867 and 1873. Its construction in a remote mountain setting was inspired by the Victorian idyll of a romantic highland retreat.

The park covers 170 square kilometres of hillside above Glenveagh Castle on the shore of Lough Veagh (Loch Ghleann Bheatha), 20 km from Gweedore. The network of mainly informal gardens displays a multitude of exotic and delicate plants from as far afield as Chile, Madeira and Tasmania, all sheltered by windbreaks of pine trees and ornamental rhododendrons.

The estate was established by John Adair, who became infamous for evicting 244 of his tenants and clearing the land so they would not spoil his view of the landscape. The gardens and castle were presented to the Irish nation in 1981 by Henry P. McIlhenny of Philadelphia who had purchased the estate in 1937. And if you have a spare hour and a half Sheila will give you the full history!!

We might have to go back and do a second visit as there is so much to see and so many beautiful walks to do.

Is Sheila posing or needing to use the facilities!!