Revisiting the Grianán of Aileach national monument in County Donegal.
I have often passed through the village of Burt when travelling from Belfast to the northwest of County Donegal. On those journeys, the An Grianán Hotel in the village would usually serve as a lunch stop.
On this particular Friday evening (3rd August 2018), I arrived at the hotel for an overnight stay as part of a Highpointeering weekend on the Inishowen peninsula.
The circular front of the hotel (see above) has been designed to mimic the Grianán of Aileach, an ancient ringfort perched high above on an overlooking hilltop. The fort is a National Monument, and I had briefly visited it once with my parents about thirty years ago.
On the Saturday morning, while I ate breakfast in the hotel’s Old Church restaurant, I decided to make an unscheduled revisit to the Grianán of Aileach. After check out, I jumped in the car and drove up.
This really is a stunning place with fantastic views (if you get nice weather). If you are passing by, or staying at An Grianán Hotel, I can thoroughly recommend a visit to the Grianán of Aileach. My visit is summarised in this series of Instagram posts.
Kieron Gribbon 