Ards Forest Park, County Donegal: Address, Phone Number, Ards Forest Park Reviews: 4.5/5
Ards Forest Park
Ards Forest Park
4.5
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4.5
119 reviews
Excellent
91
Very good
20
Average
5
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Seamus Murphy
Letterkenny, Ireland711 contributions
Ards is more than a Forest Park
Jan 2021 • Family
Ards is a Forest Park but by the sea and at the moment it is free or was up to recently. You have a nice long scenic run in through a forest and then you meet the sea as it comes into the land.
There is a nice car park with public toilets and they are free too. There are lots of different walks you can take through the woods or around the headlands above the many coves and beaches.
You can ramble over the hills to Ards Friary for a bit of time with the Franciscan Friars. They not only look after your spiritual needs they feed you at their coffee shop. Returning to the car park there is a playground for those not keen on walking too far. Their parents can have coffee at a wee coffee shop.
A great place and we'll run.
There is a nice car park with public toilets and they are free too. There are lots of different walks you can take through the woods or around the headlands above the many coves and beaches.
You can ramble over the hills to Ards Friary for a bit of time with the Franciscan Friars. They not only look after your spiritual needs they feed you at their coffee shop. Returning to the car park there is a playground for those not keen on walking too far. Their parents can have coffee at a wee coffee shop.
A great place and we'll run.
Written 23 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David G
Belfast, UK155 contributions
Stunnig place to spend a day
Sep 2020
Just a beautiful area, forest, sea and sand. I trip round to the friary is also very worthwhile. Great walks and amazing beaches.
Written 30 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
UpperClareElite
Lurgan, UK93 contributions
Amazing wee find!
Aug 2020 • Friends
We kind of stumbled upon this park and it was the best 5e ever spent! It is a, GEM! the beaches are breathtaking! I honestly was mesmerised, the park was great for our daughter and then we took a lovely trek followed by coffees etc it was such a special day.
Beware : its 5 euro in correct change only no card payment! I will 100% return to this park again and again
Beware : its 5 euro in correct change only no card payment! I will 100% return to this park again and again
Written 25 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BGillman-202
Dublin, Ireland52 contributions
Hidden gem
Aug 2020 • Family
This is a really great park. It has loads of trails along the sea shore with some great views as well as forest trails. There is plenty of parking and a nice little coffee shop to get yourself a well done prize for finishing.
Along the walk there are some lovely sandy beaches. The locals arrive by boat so some activity at these.
All in all one of the best parks we found in Donegal. The only negative is that there is a €5 charge for entry which must be paid in coins (no cards no notes) which with Covid is a real pain as we have stopped carrying cash. There is a petrol-station shop about 5km away that we went back to for change and it looked like they were used to people asking for change with the shopping. If they took cards this would be well worth the five stars.
Along the walk there are some lovely sandy beaches. The locals arrive by boat so some activity at these.
All in all one of the best parks we found in Donegal. The only negative is that there is a €5 charge for entry which must be paid in coins (no cards no notes) which with Covid is a real pain as we have stopped carrying cash. There is a petrol-station shop about 5km away that we went back to for change and it looked like they were used to people asking for change with the shopping. If they took cards this would be well worth the five stars.
Written 16 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GavinLynam
Dublin, Ireland596 contributions
Great day out
Aug 2020 • Couples
Perfect for all ages and all levels of fitness. A wealth of trails and well worth the €5 entrance fee!
Written 4 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karen M
County Mayo, Ireland40 contributions
A Great Family Day Out
Jul 2020 • Family
Absolutely loved our visit here, beautiful walks, fantastic scenery and a great little playground and picnic area. An absolute gem, highly recommended 👌
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sean F
Limerick, Ireland302 contributions
Lovely Trails
Jul 2020 • Couples
We spent a lovely afternoon here.We went on the trail that led to the lake and it was an easy walk.
The park could do with having some leaflets obout the trails available.
I would advise people to pay the €5 entry fee as it is a 3km walk from the road to the start of the trails.
The park could do with having some leaflets obout the trails available.
I would advise people to pay the €5 entry fee as it is a 3km walk from the road to the start of the trails.
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PaulG
Kilkenny, Ireland131 contributions
Gorgeous forest park
Jul 2020 • Family
Lovely park, and fairly unusual in Ireland to have a forest park that runs right to the sea. Beautiful walks along the coast with amazing scenery. Plenty of great trails as well. It's worth paying for entry because it's a long way in. Coffee and ice cream available in the car park, just a short stroll from the sand dunes trail.
Written 26 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
S.Ward
1 contribution
BEWARE OF TICKS!
Jun 2020 • Family
Lovely place, but €5 to park?! Not enough bins around.
Plus, BE AWARE!The place is INFESTED with TICKS!!!
Please take measures to protect your dogs, children, and yourselves 🙏🏽
Plus, BE AWARE!The place is INFESTED with TICKS!!!
Please take measures to protect your dogs, children, and yourselves 🙏🏽
Written 23 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emily G
1 contribution
Corona Virus safety
Jul 2020 • Family
I was disgusted at the disrespect in Ards. It’s of course such a lovely and beautiful place. But tourists were everywhere and there should be a person limit in this outdoor forest park. There was no respect from the visitors and were running past me and my family. Second, the toilets were very dirty. During this pandemic you’d expect cleanliness and hand sanitizer. What was left to wash your hands is a dirty bar of soap. Which is so unhygienic. The amount of germs and bacteria you could imagine is awful. It was my family’s first drive out of the house since 12th, March, 2020. We didn’t expect to be upset and so worried/scared around all these people and lack of respect.
Written 14 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joanne R
Crumlin, UK0 contributions
Can you cycle through paths here?
Seamus Murphy
Letterkenny, Ireland711 contributions
No problem, jut bear in mind the other park users please.
Abdul Ghafoor S
0 contributions
Is it OK for me to make kebab or BBQ near the beach?
Michelle B
10 contributions
Yea we've done that many times there's benches for sitting etc.
Jacqueline D
Ardee, Ireland575 contributions
Do you pay to go to the this forest park , how much coin operated ?
Michelle B
10 contributions
€5
jurgitelef
Navan, Ireland0 contributions
Is the dog allowed to come for a walk?
ArdsCoffeeTree
7 contributions
Yes. Just pick up after the dog and keep on a leash.
