Dunlewey Centre
Dunlewey Centre
3.5
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingWhat is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
5 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- PMacEDublin, Ireland98 contributionsVery enjoyableGrandparents, parents and kids all enjoyed our visit. The grnadparents found the cottage tour interesting, the children loved the playground, and all enjoyed the boat trip and restaurant (excellent sandwiches and wraps). Staff were friendly and helpful, and we would happily return.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 31 July 2024
- Ed C5 contributionsA Great Family Day OutA great day out for the whole family. We did the boat trip on the lake, the tour of the old house and enjoyed the craft fair that was on. The kids loved the bumper cars, the peddle boats and the indoor play area. The outdoor play area looks like it was just upgraded and the kids had great fun there. We also had food at the cafe, it was busy but great value and very good. Overall, as a family, we’d definitely recommend Dunlewey Centre for a family day out.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 17 August 2024
- AidanDrogheda, Ireland1 contributionBrilliant visit with toddler family!Brilliant family day out. We have 3 kids under 4 year old. Decent food cafe, bumper cars, paddle boats, playground were brilliant. Very friendly staff, give our children on a go anything they wanted and if they didn’t like something they kindly helped them out and suggested something better for them. Boat tour around the lake is a good time of 30 minutes, enough to keep the kids entertained but not go mad on the boat. Was a perfect 4 hour visit for us. I got home a week later and remembered I left my sunglasses behind on a climbing frame in the playground. Contacted the centre, they found them and posted them to me in Dublin. Great place to visit but the staff were top class. We will definitely be back as the kids keep asking about it!Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 4 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
3.5
127 reviews
Excellent
45
Very good
37
Average
13
Poor
15
Terrible
17
Julie M
6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Went here for the morning, price included a 20 min boat ride with commentary on the local area which was good. Peddal boats and bumping cars €2.50 per person. Staff so friendly, play park fir the kids and little lake walk
Written 22 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SharonOffaly
Dublin, Ireland79 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Disappointed here, very old site but probably a long time since kids activities were updated. The pedal boats were on a tiny dirty little lake. We wouldn't go back tbh, very small and expensive to use all rides overall. But we did enjoy the boat trip.
Written 5 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ingrid O
Belfast, UK7 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
Had fun finding here but lovely day was had by all. There is a boat tour and small train ride. Kids voted the pedaloes, for two, best fun, as could bump each other and stay on as long as you wanted. We paid in which included the boat tour then bought tokens and pedaloes were the best value! Water zorbing great fun but also exhausting . Keep an eye out as your kids can tire and get very hot as air only lasts few minutes. Then they get brought back in. Our kids went on it twice! So must have enjoyed it . Trampolines and bucking bronco and great park with zip line. Lovely gift shop and can bring picnic and eat outside. Great days fun but not exactly a cheap day.
Written 28 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
H7256JKmaryc
Dublin, Ireland47 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
With Errigal in the background, it’s a nice location. It cost €27 for 2 adults and 3 kids ages 7-11. The entry price includes a 20 minute boat ride, access to small playground, animals and picnic tables. We saw 1 donkey and a couple of ducks, that’s it. There were no talks available. All other activities are extra and you must pay via tokens which cost €2.20 each. Zorbing and climbing are closed due to Covid. Masks are to be worn (not kids) on the boat, indoors and when interacting with staff.
They don’t publish their prices on their website and no wonder! The 5 activities are very short and very expensive. We arrived late afternoon, did the boat trip and just accepted the high prices to make the most of it. It wasn’t busy and we didn’t have to queue. It cost €6.60 for 3 of them to take out a pedalo and €13.20 for 3 kids (2 tokens each) for 2 minutes in the bumper cars. However, without any prior warning, they refused to sell us tokens after 5pm even though the rides are open until 5.30. There was only a handful of kids in the centre at this stage and anyone with a token could go on the ride but they wouldn’t sell a token. No staff, outside or inside, would solve the half hour gap for us despite our pleas.
We were so keen to support a community scheme, but we won’t be back as it is rundown and astonishingly overpriced.
They don’t publish their prices on their website and no wonder! The 5 activities are very short and very expensive. We arrived late afternoon, did the boat trip and just accepted the high prices to make the most of it. It wasn’t busy and we didn’t have to queue. It cost €6.60 for 3 of them to take out a pedalo and €13.20 for 3 kids (2 tokens each) for 2 minutes in the bumper cars. However, without any prior warning, they refused to sell us tokens after 5pm even though the rides are open until 5.30. There was only a handful of kids in the centre at this stage and anyone with a token could go on the ride but they wouldn’t sell a token. No staff, outside or inside, would solve the half hour gap for us despite our pleas.
We were so keen to support a community scheme, but we won’t be back as it is rundown and astonishingly overpriced.
Written 31 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LiamR
Donegal Town, Ireland4 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
1. Boat trip was good, very disappointed with the controlling of face mask wearing on the boat, face masks are required while on the boat, 10 adults took their masks off while my wife and I kept ours on for the duration, the Captain of the boat was probably unaware of this but my family felt very unsafe for the duration of boat trip, there was not sufficient ventilation on the boat especially at the front where windows are sealed closed.
2. There is not sufficient toilets, from what I could see, maybe more signage required but the signs pointed towards 2 toilets, that have no lighting, and seem to be communal and don’t appear to be deep cleaned considering the amount of traffic going in and out, and there was no hand sanitiser before entering to avail of, on leaving the playground area I saw one lady changing her baby’s soiled nappy on an outdoor dining bench with no mat, I doubt it was deep cleaned afterwards and I suspect the next customer would settle down to have lunch and may find a nice surprise.
3. This Centre has so much potential but on my first visit I was not impressed with the standard considering the cost of admission and more effort should be put into making customers feel safe.
The attractions need updating in order to move forward.
2. There is not sufficient toilets, from what I could see, maybe more signage required but the signs pointed towards 2 toilets, that have no lighting, and seem to be communal and don’t appear to be deep cleaned considering the amount of traffic going in and out, and there was no hand sanitiser before entering to avail of, on leaving the playground area I saw one lady changing her baby’s soiled nappy on an outdoor dining bench with no mat, I doubt it was deep cleaned afterwards and I suspect the next customer would settle down to have lunch and may find a nice surprise.
3. This Centre has so much potential but on my first visit I was not impressed with the standard considering the cost of admission and more effort should be put into making customers feel safe.
The attractions need updating in order to move forward.
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul M
2 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
After I read a few negative reviews from here I was apprehensive on whether to visit or not. I thought I'd judge it for myself and glad I did. We had a great fun filled day, with loads of things to do, a beautiful boat trip which was worth the value of the admission fee alone. Every single staff member were more than helpful and very friendly, you knew it was much than ' just a job' to them. They have the most beautiful scenery and it was a pleasure spending the day there. I would highly recommend this day out and no doubt we will be back.
Written 11 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cookieka
Templepatrick, UK130 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
The soup in the restaurant was delicious. The gift shop had a sale! The boat trip although short was entertaining although with hearing problems we could have done without the loud music. You also need to wear masks all of the time.
Written 24 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kerri W
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Potential to be a great attraction in a beautiful site in Donegal. Fails miserably. Unapproachable staff with hoods up and hands in pockets. We arrived early but they seemed to not be ready to open at all. Great playground for kids, Boat trip worthwhile. Soft play area very unsanitary. overall it's a good place but some people are letting it down..
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Orlichu
Belfast, UK18 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
Absolutely disgusting. I went here for the first time in 20 years at the weekend with my nephew. I used to love coming here every summer with my cousins, but it's barely changed since and absolutely no money is getting put into maintaining the place. The park is disgusting. The soft flooring is disintegrating and puddles coming up through it. The equipment is rusty, full of splinters and quite frankly dangerous looking. But the treatment of the animals is the most disturbing thing about this place. The birds are in filthy tiny and dark cages and look unwell. The peacock has hardly any of his beautiful feathers left. The pigs are the worst though. In the dirtiest filthiest enclosure I've ever seen. The were bucking around and clearly distressed. I left so upset. I can't believe that you are getting away with these awful awful conditions. From a health and safety point of view and animal welfare. I will be filing a complaint with animal welfare today and HSA today.
Written 27 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julialimavady
Limavady16 contributions
Sept 2015 • Family
I took some friends and children to the Dunlewey centre recently as had been there before and liked the place. Unfortunately this time around we had a very different experience. We checked the closing time online before leaving home and seen it closed at 5.30pm. We arrived at 4pm and were told at the front desk we wouldn't have time for the cottage tour, boat trip and play park because the centre closed at 5.15pm, earlier than advertised. I pointed this out and she said they start closing at 5.15pm to get out for 5.30pm. I didn't make a fuss over this and decided to take the boat tour which was scheduled at 4.30pm as that was the main reason of the visit and just spend the rest of the time in the park instead. At 4.25pm the receptionist informed us that the boat had broken down. We were disappointed, however I understand this was outside of their control. She was quite pleasant and offered us complimentary tickets for another day and said we would be welcome to take the cottage tour instead. I found my friends and walked up to the meeting point at reception. The first part of the tour is a short film and a demonstration of weaving and the second part is a talk and tour around an old Irish cottage. When taken to the cottage we were walked inside by the tour guide who promptly walked out again. We waited for him to return to go through the second part of the tour but when he returned some time later he looked surprised to see us just standing there and told us to go and have a look at the place ourselves, he clearly couldn't be bothered.
We then walked down to the park area to get my children ready for home and when walking back up my son wanted to see the rabbits whose pen was on the way out. It was exactly 5.10pm and there was another employee locking up the animals. I was leading my son by the hand whilst ushering him over to their pen quickly when the employee just glanced sideways at us before shoving them into their hutch. It was obvious we were rushing to see them, we were only about 4 feet away and why the man couldn't wait to let a 4 year old child look at them for a minute is beyond me, it was hardly putting him out considering it was 20 minutes before his shift finished. Clearly some of the staff in this centre don't value their customers, they need not only some customer service training but lessons in basic manners as well. I threw the complimentary tickets in the bin, I certainly won't be back and will not be recommending any of my guests to visit either. Save yourselves the money, there are many other parts of Donegal that are just as beautiful with pleasant, trained staff.
We then walked down to the park area to get my children ready for home and when walking back up my son wanted to see the rabbits whose pen was on the way out. It was exactly 5.10pm and there was another employee locking up the animals. I was leading my son by the hand whilst ushering him over to their pen quickly when the employee just glanced sideways at us before shoving them into their hutch. It was obvious we were rushing to see them, we were only about 4 feet away and why the man couldn't wait to let a 4 year old child look at them for a minute is beyond me, it was hardly putting him out considering it was 20 minutes before his shift finished. Clearly some of the staff in this centre don't value their customers, they need not only some customer service training but lessons in basic manners as well. I threw the complimentary tickets in the bin, I certainly won't be back and will not be recommending any of my guests to visit either. Save yourselves the money, there are many other parts of Donegal that are just as beautiful with pleasant, trained staff.
Written 15 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing