Rathmullan House

Second-generation owners Mark and Mary Wheeler continue a 60-year tradition of welcoming guests to their Georgian-cum-Victorian house in landscaped grounds and gardens, with a sandy beach on Lough Swilly. Stay at New Year and you can join the villagers for their annual dip – at other times, snuggle in by a turf fire in Batt’s bar or one of the lounges, or take a stroll to discover champion trees, a tranquillity garden with plashing fountain, and a Victorian walled vegetable garden. Bedrooms are highly individual with carefully chosen antiques, perhaps a wall of vintage plates. Rooms in a contemporary wing have French doors to a balcony or patio. Most sought-after are bay-window rooms in the main house with views across the lough to the hills of Inishowen. You can dine in the Cook & Gardener restaurant under a blue tented ceiling, on dishes such as locally landed fish and Donegal farmed meats, with home-grown vegetables and foraged wild garlic – maybe roast black sole, wild mushroom linguine, or roast rump of Lisdergan lamb. Alfresco Pavilion also offers stone-baked pizza. Sailing, horse riding and golf are all available nearby.