Bluestack Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Donegal
Bluestack Way is a 64.1 km moderate waymarked linear route in Donegal, starting near Donegal Town.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 3 days |
Getting there
Starts at Donegal Town at The Diamond, near Donegal Town.
Finishes at Ardara at The Diamond.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 54.65362, -8.11001
- Irish Grid reference
- G 929 784
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 10 and 11
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
Public transport
In Donegal Town: Extensive bus services - Check with Bus Eireann. In Ardara: Limited bus service Check with Bus Eireann.
Before you arrive
Please do not bring dogs on any section of the Way which crosses private land. If walking from Donegal Town the first section of private farmland is at Owenboy.
About the trail
The Bluestack Way is a 65km route through a true wilderness area of County Donegal in the north west of Ireland with great views as it traverses the Bluestack Mountains, a range of low rounded hills. It connects Donegal town with the town of Ardara on the west coast. Along the way the route passes by scenic Lough Eske, and then wends its way across the foothills of the Bluestacks to reach an area called Disert, where there is an ancient mountain graveyard. West of Disert the route goes over rough and remote high moorland terrain between Binbane and Cloghmeen Hill before descending along the Owenroe river to reach a bog road. This is followed across isolated bogland at Meenawannia to reach Glenties. From Glenties an enjoyable stretch which includes a very pleasant riverside walk along the Owenea river takes the route to the town of Ardara. Overnight accommodation options in the populated areas are very good. The terrain of the route consists generally of bog roads, open and often wet moorland, and mainly quiet tarmac public roads. In wet or otherwise unsuitable weather it is possible to avoid the open moorland stretch west of Disert by taking an alternative route to Glenties. The aggregate ascent over the route is 1430m, but other than the stretch up onto the pass between Binbane and Cloghmeen Hill, there are no significant climbs.
Before you go
21 kms or 31% of the Way follows local roads.
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Bluestack Way Committee
Bluestack Way Committee, Email: [email protected], Mobile: 087 6734875 Inga Bock, Rural Recreation Officer - Tel: 074 9744937
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Donegal Cycle Route 189 m away · 221.2 km trail
- Leghowney Loop Walk 6.4 km away · 6.9 km trail
- Ard na Mona Wood 7.0 km away · 1.9 km trail
- Creevy Coastal Walk 17 km away · 4.4 km trail
- Ballyshannon Cycle Hub Loop 1 18 km away · 36.1 km trail
- Ballyshannon Cycle Hub Loop 2 18 km away · 35.6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Bluestack Way?
64.1 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 1,230 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 3 days.
How hard is the Bluestack Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Bluestack Way start?
Starts at Donegal Town at The Diamond, near Donegal Town. The trailhead is at 54.65362, -8.11001 (Irish Grid G 929 784).
Can you bring a dog on the Bluestack Way?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the Bluestack Way without a car?
In Donegal Town: Extensive bus services - Check with Bus Eireann. In Ardara: Limited bus service Check with Bus Eireann.
Who manages the Bluestack Way?
Bluestack Way Committee. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Donegal
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.