Name: Cuan na Ri Holiday Homes
Address: Donegal N/A, Burt, Burt, Burt, Ireland
Rating: 8

Smoke-free property

Heating

Garden

General

Non-smoking rooms

Rooms

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Fishing

Recreation

Free Parking on Premises

Parking

Diving

Sports

Children's playground

Kids

Pets allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Donegal Airport

City of Derry Airport

Cuan na Ri Holiday Homes

Burt

Here's the problem I have with posting a review of Donegal Boardwalk Resort (former Cuan na Ri), I don't want to share it!

Travelled with 3 generations of family and friends and it was a winner with everyone.

The complex has recently changed hands and is under new management, the houses are spacious and have been updated and in between our various stays here we notice little incremental improvements e.g. new drying racks for the clothes, patio furniture, etc.  There is a deck area to the rear with plenty of green space.

Beds were very comfortable, medium to firm mattress, no complaints from anyone, plenty of pillows and George and the team are so obliging any extra bits just text them and its sorted.

On entering the resort, there is a complex of houses broken into 3 little horseshoes with a playground beside them.  There is a fibre network here with very fast speeds, password supplied at house.

A 7 minute walk from the houses along a path through the resort will bring you directly to the sea front at Trá Mór beach.  There is a bar/restaurant here with another new playground for young kids beside it.  Alongside the playground is a new tennis court and basketball court. There is plenty of parking.

From the bar you can access the beach directly on to the sand but the sand here is quite soft until you walk around the headland.  Alternatively, the boardwalk stretches for 1.2km from the bar across the sand dunes with benches and viewing platforms built in.  The boardwalk runs right up to the firmer sand but there is a dip down that would not be wheelchair accessible.

There was a pitch n putt at the entry way which is no longer used but it would be good to see it in action again.  I'd suggest bikes or scooters for younger kids as the walk from the house down to the beach is lengthy enough, great freedom for them on the bikes around here.

The restaurant is proving popular, plenty of local action and around meal times you need to book or you won't get a table.  There are tables outside so if you don't mind a lovely view with a breeze, you'll be grand.  Overall the food is tasty and the service was fine, bit hit and miss on both depending on the night that's in it.  I'm putting it down to growing pains as sometimes it wasn't very busy and the food/service was slow/poor.  Seafront setting is fantastic and the bar is great if you fancy a cool one while the kids play in the small playground adjoining the bar.  It's also really convenient if particularly when self-catering, you just don't want to be cooking you can   toddle down with the gang and get fed.

Trá Mór beach is a fine beach about 4 miles long and it is stunning with gorgeous fine sand, no lifeguard and caution necesssary if swimming - there are sandbanks and dips and the tide rolls in and out fast here.  The smell of honeysuckle and meadowsweet permeates the air, it is absolute silence in the evening despite all the people around and the backdrop of the hills behind the houses is beautiful.  

If you take the road to High Glen you will go over this hill and completely FOR FREE get the most incredibly stunning views of Sheephaven Bay - it's breathtaking in its splendour.  If you are an artist, bring your paints because the light here has a beautiful quality.

There's a list of places to see on the Boardwalk website but others weren't included.  Here's a few on our list:

* Muck n Muffins in Dunfanaghy do a kids art class two evenings a week so parents can have a drink or walk the beach.  Book ahead, €10 per child, kids loved it and the lady who runs it was very pleasant. Pay in shop.

* Donegal is made for Watersports, we used Jaws and found them relaxed and focused on us enjoying our lessons but there are others dotted around in the villages.  Doesn't matter if it rains though the sun does make it more enjoyable

* Beaches everywhere up here all totally unspoilt.  Marble Hill is shallow and lifeguard; Portnablagh drive onto the beach, pier here too, small beach but perfect with younger kids; Tra Mor in Carrigart, sweeping beach for walking but there's also Ards Forest Park and many more dotted all over the place each with its own quality

* Bikes for hire on the way into Carrigart village - or bring your own scooters and bikes

* Visit Fanad Lighthouse but don't take the Harry Blaney bridge over - the drive is longer but spectacular if you go the long way (about 25 mins) over by Portsalon.  Come back the Harry Blaney bridge and home in ten mins.

* Doon Mass Rock, Well and Doon Rock are worth a visit, quirky places of history and legend with beautiful views over the valleys

* For wet days: Kids play area in Downing Bay Hotel; Letterkenny has cinema, indoor play area and bowling alley

* Everywhere: doesn't matter where you go up here, it is all beautiful

Tips:

* Book restaurants at dinner time - everywhere in vicinity was booked at meal times.  The pork burger at the beachfront bar was given the seal of approval by the teens and the adults alike

* Beach wheelchair available from Donegal County Council, mobile number was listed in The Galley pizzeria in Downings

* Doctor in Carrigart till 5pm, after that over to Milford or Letterkenny

* Milford road is a better one to Letterkenny, roadworks on road from Letterkenny to Creeslough caused long traffic jams

* Centra in Carrigart is small but has a good range of items: LIDL in Milford if you want a big shop

* Recycling not available at the house but recycling centres are opposite Carrigart Church and in Creeslough carpark on the bend

* Buy live chickens in Creeslough; fresh eggs and potatoes "farm to fork" all over the place

Note: There are plans to further develop this resort with additional houses, leisure facilities and hotel

The secret is out - no place better, perfect for multi-generation holidays

Our week at the Donegal Boardwalk Resort (formally Cuan na Ri) was a very pleasant stay.  We were told that the complex had a recent overhaul and it was evident.   We (2 adults & a teen) stayed with our small dog, in a semidetatched cottage which was fresh and clean.  The open plan living area had a two and a three seater sofa, single chair together with a small kitchen table and four chairs and a  fully kitted kitchen.  There is a seperate formal dining area and a downstairs WC.  Upstairs has two decent sized doubles (one en-suite) and a 'snug' single with bunk beds. There is also a family bathroom with an electric shower over the bath.  All home comforts are provided for.  Outside has a decked area which unfortunately doesn't have outdoor furniture but as the weather was so great, we used the small kitchen table & chairs out there.  It was a great base to travel around Donegal and further afield from and the boardwalk itself was a great amenity, together with the bar/restaurant, tennis and basketball courts.  The one thing I would like to see there is a recycling area?  If you recycle at home, why not when you are on holiday? The area by the 'Office' at the entrance would be an ideal spot!  All in all, a very enjoyable stay and George, the Caretaker is a gentleman.  We will certainly be visiting again!!!

Very Enjoyable Stay.

Have never rented a holiday home before but was pleasantly surprised Cuan na ri was lovely modern, comfortable houses. A bit of a walk to the beach though. Within a few miles of the nearest town or shop but nice never the less.

First experience of holiday homes

This was our second visit to Cuan Na Ri - we went in June. The detached Vila is very comfortable especially for about 4/5 people. There are 2 bathrooms in these properties.  The location is just stunning. A great place for the children if they have bikes. The beach at Tramore is beautiful. The restaurant on site is very good too and there is so much to to do and see in the local area. The houses are pretty much true to the pictures on the website, very clean and spacious. George the man on the ground is incredibly helpful. As with all rentals you do need to bring your own supplies of necessary items so as not to be caught out but there is a general store nearby which sells everything. Do bring some fold up garden chairs if you want to sit outside on the decking, weather permitting.

Another lovely stay at Cuan Na Ri. Very good accommodation.

Booked two houses for a family wedding. Just needed a few days but had to book the full week at €950 per week for a semi detached house. They also charged £8 per day for electricity and heating. So €1006 per house per week. Two of the smallest double beds I've ever seen and a room with bunk beds. Sleeps six but only a three seater and two seater sofa. One guest presumably has to sit on a dining room seat? 
One shower between six people and that's in the en suite. Welcome pack was a packet of biscuits and a pint of milk. Three forks in the cupboard, four mugs and two beer glasses. Half a toilet roll in the bathrooms. Not a picture in the ground floor area but holes in the walls with pipes and wires sticking out. Deck outside but no seats. Fireplace but nothing to put coal into. Needed to change the linen in two bedrooms in each house as we had different people arriving... they had no one to change the linen so we did it ourselves, they then tried to charge us €30 for the extra sheets. Had to give a €200 deposit in cash on arrival. 
We all left two days early. Dreadful experience and €2000 worse off. 
 Should be closed down. 


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