Burnfoot brings together nature, landscape and outdoor activities. Wild Ireland is set in an ancient Celtic rainforest; a walking festival guide describes a hill route on Scalp Mountain designed to offer panoramic views across the peninsula; and Halfway Karting is an outdoor karting track. Nearby, the flat Slablands and Inch Wildfowl Reserve add further points of interest.

Forest and wildlife in Burnfoot

Wolves, bears, lynxes and wild boar live in the ancient forest at Wild Ireland. A fairy trail runs through the rainforest, adding its own themed element to the wildlife. As the animals kept there may change over time, it is advisable to check the latest information before travelling.

Wild Ireland focuses on the forest and its animal groups, while the route on Scalp Mountain offers a different connection with nature. According to a 2022 brochure about the route, the area’s hidden vegetation supports wildlife and rare flora and fauna because of its geology. The route description therefore covers both views across the peninsula and the area’s geologically shaped natural environment.

Scalp Mountain and the Slablands

The road from Burt to Burnfoot passes through an area locally known as the Slablands. It is described as unusually flat and was reclaimed from Lough Swilly in the late 19th century. With their flat terrain and history of land reclamation, the Slablands offer a different landscape from the hills of Scalp Mountain; its walking route was selected to provide panoramic views across the peninsula.

The walking times for Scalp Mountain are also tied to a specific historical date: a six-kilometre walk lasting four to five hours was scheduled in Burnfoot for Friday, 16 September 2022. This information relates to the festival programme at the time. It gives an idea of that particular planned walk, not of a general or current walking time.

Activities and places to visit

As an active alternative to nature and landscape activities, Halfway Karting offers a racing experience on an outdoor karting track in Burnfoot. Operator information may change, so check the latest details before travelling. This lets you consider this activity separately from the walking route and its landscape features.

Another nearby destination is Inch Wildfowl Reserve. Together with Wild Ireland, the Scalp Mountain route and Halfway Karting, it shows that these interests involve different places and activities. There is no need to pack everything into one outing: you can consider nature, landscapes and karting as separate highlights.

Historical places in the wider destination of County Donegal

Beyond Burnfoot’s local nature and outdoor activities, the wider destination of County Donegal offers its own historical points of interest. Donegal Castle was the personal stronghold of Red Hugh O’Donnell, Lord of Tír Conaill. Guided tours tell the castle’s story, from the time of the Gaelic lords through the Plantation and its long period as a ruin to its recent restoration. Check before travelling whether tours are available.

Donegal Castle offers illustrated treasure hunts for children. Doe Castle, also in County Donegal, has a different historical association: it is a medieval stronghold of the MacSweeneys. These regional cultural destinations complement Burnfoot’s nature and activity offering, but are separate points of interest within County Donegal.

Discover more destinations: Bunbeg, Figary, Convoy, Letterkenny, Bundoran, Fintragh, Ballyshannon, Glendowan

View the wider travel overview: County Donegal.