The Perfect Holiday Home in Ireland's Spectacular Northwest

• Grand!

  Grand!

  • Guest Ruth
  • Date of stay 04/23/13
  • Review Submitted 05/03/13
  Our family of 4 adults had a wonderful stay in this comfortable Irish farmhouse. We were greeted by the cows upon our arrival which just added to the authenticity of the location. The daffodils were in full bloom and despite the cool Irish spring temperatures, we enjoyed tea in the morning and wine or Irish whiskey in the evening in the garden. The 'tour guide' information was better than any guide book. The recommendations for pubs, restaurants, hikes, etc. were extremely helpful though we never found Bell's Island and the haunted castle! We can't wait to return to The Hilltown and next time will be for a much longer stay!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

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• Enchanting

  Enchanting

  • Guest Elizabeth
  • Date of stay 03/19/13
  • Review Submitted 04/04/13
  After two weeks, it was difficult to leave this enchanting farmhouse with beautiful views of the Blue Stack Mountains and sheep grazing in the fields. Our family found plenty of activities and tours to do even in the off season and acutally ran out of time to do all that was available. Caretakers Geoffrey and Jennifer couldn't have been more kind and caring. Thank you for a magical time.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children.

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• Xmas 2012

  Xmas 2012

  • Guest Brendan
  • Date of stay 12/22/12
  • Review Submitted 02/20/13
  We planned to stayed at Hilltown for a week over Xmas 2012. We were so exited about staying in Ireland for our first time and in what looked like a beautiful old house (there don't appear to be too many old houses to rent in Ireland). Even though it was late and dark when we arrived we could tell the house was going to be just perfect for Christmas. Our children just couldn't stop squealing with delight and having two staircases to surprise each other made their evening and several after. We found some lovely walks to and from fantastic beaches - its amazing being on a big beach with the crashing sea and no one else for miles around. Locals are friendly as you like. The house is great - and we've stayed in plenty all over Europe. We were desperately unlucky as our little girl developed a very serious lung infection which resulted in her being hospitalised for three days. Without hesitation, the owner and his agent allowed us to stay a couple of extra days until she was fit enough to travel - thank you for being so understanding in what was quite a stressful few days and also for not charging us any extra. We'll definitely be back to Hilltown House. Brendan, Celia, Summer, Destiny, Barbara & Ralph.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Charming home away from home

  Charming home away from home

  • Guest Gail and John
  • Date of stay 09/01/12
  • Review Submitted 10/24/12
  We spent a delightful month here in Donegal with this wonderful home as our base. There is so much do see and do here, the time flew by much too quickly. We have rented many houses through VRBO and been happy, but this one will be at the top of the list. Exceptional! Geoffrey looked after us in a caring but not obtrusive way, and between he and Boyce, we never felt at a loss for places to go or things to see. Geoffrey even suggested a friendly pub where we could watch the final in the Gaelic football match between Donegal and Mayo. Very exciting! We loved The Smuggler's Creek Inn for dinner, Cruit Island for nine holes of the most fun golf we have ever played, the Cabaret at Harvey's Point Hotel for incredible local talent, and sightseeing the wild and rugged coast of this beautiful county. Thank you for sharing your remarkable home with us.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

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• A Piece of Heaven

  A Piece of Heaven

  • Guest Andy
  • Date of stay 05/28/12
  • Review Submitted 06/25/12
  Hilltown is everything it claims to be and more. There is nothing presumptuous about this house. It is, as my mother used to say, as comfortable as an old shoe. The kind of place that immediately impresses you with its old age charm as soon as you walk in the front door. And from that same front door there are some great walks, especially on the beautiful Murvagh Beach. But Donegal is more than beautiful. Its coastlines and loughs are nothing less than spectacular. There are plenty of really good restaurants within a 15 minute drive of the house and of course lots of historic places to visit. And always, spectacular walks wherever you go. All of this is set in a very special Donegal culture that is warm and friendly. Slow, charming and welcoming. It is indeed a piece of heaven. We'll be back.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• A Wonderful Christmas Stay at The Hilltown

  A Wonderful Christmas Stay at The Hilltown

  • Guest jen m.
  • Date of stay 12/22/11
  • Review Submitted 02/08/12
  Our stay at the Hilltown for Christmas was wonderful. The location was beautiful - gorgeous views, very quiet, with the beach a short walk away. The home was even better than we imagined. The setup was perfect for a family Christmas - lots of room to relax, spread out, and enjoy. The kitchen was especially well equipped, making it easy to cook a large Christmas feast that we all enjoyed in front of a roaring fire in the dining room. And the washer and dryer in the mudroom was very convenient, especially after excursions to the local beaches and walks around the countryside. Our kids loved it too - the bunk room was a big hit. Geoffrey and Jennifer, the caretakers for the home, were so hospitable, always available, and even invited our kids to their farm to meet the cows, horse, and pony - a highlight of the trip. And many thanks to Boyce Budd, who provided so much helpful information about the local area (and great pub tips!), and who checked in with us to ensure everything went smoothly with our trip. We have rented several vacation homes in Ireland, and the Hilltown was by far our favorite. We are already thinking about our return trip...we highly recommend the Hilltown for a wonderful, memorable vacation in Donegal.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Home away from home...

  Home away from home...

  • Guest Judith
  • Date of stay 04/14/11
  • Review Submitted 04/26/11
  Our visit to County Donegal and Hilltown was delightful. The house was better than described, and we so appreciated your helpful information about sights, dining and hiking. We would definitely recommend the Hilltown for anyone who is looking for a picturesque setting in County Donegal. All the amenities of home were available to us, even clothes pins for hanging laundry outdoors on a bright sunny day!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Beautiful home and location

  Beautiful home and location

  • Guest Lisa
  • Date of stay 09/09/10
  • Review Submitted 10/26/10
  What a beautiful home and location! My family and I had a wonderful time here. The house is so spacious yet so cozy - we all had plenty of space to stretch out. The surrounding countryside is beautiful. It's located in the country but so close to Donegal town. The pictures of the house on the website do not do it justice - it was even better than we expected it would be! Everything was spotless and well maintained. Geoffrey (the caretaker) was readily available if needed, and he was a very nice man. Boyce was very helpful by providing us with a list of local pubs and restaurants and local attractions. After a day of touring it was so nice to come "home" to this lovely farmhouse. We would recommend this home and we will stay here again on our next trip to Donegal! Thank you Boyce for sharing your home!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Storybook Setting

  Storybook Setting

  • Guest Kathy
  • Date of stay 08/21/10
  • Review Submitted 09/14/10
  My husband and I, with teens down to young children, loved your elegant renovated home. I am so glad the roads are still one lane with those old hedgerows! The land feels like a storybook setting, but with modern comforts in the house. Mary, the cleaning lady, let us in, was very helpful and the place was clean. The gardens are beautiful outside. It is so nice that the cows and the pony are on the fields near the house. We felt we were transported to a quieter time. Very relaxing. Also, the view with the ruined stone church and graveyard and the bay view from the top of the hill was fabulous. So wonderfully linked to the past and so aesthetically pleasing! Donegal town and Murvagh beach are also really inviting. The apple orchard and blackberries in August were a bonus. I made 4 pies with my daughters.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/5

• The perfect Ireland Vacation home!

  The perfect Ireland Vacation home!

  • Guest Barbara Z
  • Date of stay 07/24/10
  • Review Submitted 09/04/10
  Hilltown is a beautiful, perfectly appointed home that serves as a great base for a visit to NW Ireland. We were two couples and played golf 5 out of 7 days, at great courses like Enniscrone, Sligo, Donegal, Rosapenna and Cruit Island - all at a fraction of the cost of the better-known Irish links courses. After using the terrific materials provided by the owner, we were able to provision the house with local food products and cooked in a couple nights. The kitchen has everything you need. All the other evenings we enjoyed some of the great local restaurants and pubs featured in the owners guide. We cannot recommend Hilltown enough if you are interested in discovering a little-visited lovely part of Ireland.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Nov 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012 -  $ 1,200/wk; $3,500/mo; min stay - 5 nights; 
utilities included - oil, electricity, water, local telephone, wifi, post-departur
cleaning; security deposit required
Jun 1, 2012 to Oct 31, 2012 -  $1,655/wk; $4,750/mo; min stay - 5 nights;
utilities included - oil, electricity, water, local telephone, wifi, post-departur
cleaning; security deposit required

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.