Redcastle, Donegal, Ireland

City of Derry is the closest airport to Redcastle and is ideal if you want to minimise driving after you land.

There are direct flights from London Heathrow, operated by Loganair. Flight times are usually around 1 hour 30 minutes.

Because it’s a smaller airport, there are fewer daily flights than Belfast or Dublin, so booking earlier is a good idea.

Belfast City Airport is a very popular option and usually feels the most “civilised” if you’re flying from London.

There are frequent flights from both London Heathrow and London City Airport, mainly with British Airways. London City in particular is handy if you’re based in east or central London.

The drive from Belfast City to Redcastle is straightforward and typically around 2 hours, depending on traffic.

Belfast International tends to have the widest range of flight times and can often be cheaper, especially from London Gatwick.

It’s a slightly bigger, busier airport than Belfast City, but still very manageable. Flight times from London are similar to Belfast City.

Driving time to Redcastle is similar to Belfast City – allow around 2 to 2.5 hours.

Ireland West Airport Knock is a solid option from London Heathrow, with scheduled Aer Lingus flights.

It’s a smaller, easy-going airport and can work well if the flight times suit you. The drive up to Donegal is longer than from Belfast or Derry, but very scenic.

Best thought of as a good alternative rather than the default option.

Donegal Airport is tiny but very local. It’s a nice option if you’re already in Ireland or travelling via Dublin or Glasgow.

Flight schedules are limited compared to other airports, but landing here feels very “Donegal” and avoids the longer cross-country drives.

Because flights are limited, availability can disappear quickly.

Ferry company: P&O Ferries.

Best for: Scotland and the north of England.

Usually the quickest “across the water” option, with a short crossing and regular sailings. Once you land, it’s a straightforward drive across the north of Ireland and over the border into Donegal.

Ferry companies: Stena Line and Irish Ferries.

Best for: lots of travellers coming from England/Wales (especially Midlands + south).

Very frequent sailings. You land in Dublin and then drive north across the Republic towards Donegal. It’s a longer onward drive than the Larne/Belfast routes, but it’s straightforward for a good portion of it.

Ferry company: Stena Line.

Best for: north-west England (and anyone avoiding the drive to Holyhead).

Longer crossing, but it can work well (often as an overnight) and drops you into Belfast with easy onward driving towards Derry and then Donegal.

From Scotland / North England: Cairnryan → Larne (P&O) is usually the simplest.

From England / Wales: Holyhead → Dublin (Stena Line or Irish Ferries) is the common choice.

From North-West England: Liverpool → Belfast (Stena Line) is worth considering.

In the north, speed limits are shown in miles per hour (mph).

Once you cross into Donegal, speed limits switch to kilometres per hour (km/h).

Sat-nav usually adjusts automatically, but roadside signs don’t — it’s easy to drift over without realising.

If you hire a car in the north and drive into Donegal, you generally need to have cross-border cover included (it’s normal — just something you must tick/confirm).

Most hire companies charge a one-off cross-border fee (often around £25) to cover insurance / assistance on both sides.

Europcar is the outlier — it’s often much more expensive (closer to £100), which is why we wouldn’t recommend them for this trip.

Tip: search the booking terms for “cross-border”, “Republic of Ireland”, or “ROI” before you pay — that’s where the fee is normally mentioned.

You normally just drive straight across the border — there aren’t routine passport / immigration checks.

However, police checkpoints are more common than in England, especially at weekends and later in the evening.

It’s sensible to have ID with you, and if you’re in a hire car, having your booking confirmation handy doesn’t hurt.

The drink-driving limit in the Republic is significantly lower than the UK.

Realistically, even one drink can put you over the limit (and the morning-after risk is a thing as well).

Best rule for the weekend: if you’re driving, don’t drink at all.

The final roads get narrower and more rural than the map suggests — bends, hedges, and slower speeds.

If you’re arriving after dark, just take it handy — it’s a much nicer drive in daylight.

Petrol stations thin out once you leave the main routes, so it’s worth topping up before the last leg.