Ardara

Ardara sits where several valleys meet in south-west Donegal and was the market and collection point for the region's hand-weaving. Donegal tweed is woven from wool dyed in flecked colours drawn from the landscape, and it was cottage industry in the strict sense - weavers worked at home on hand looms and brought the cloth to town on fair days. Some of that survives: a handful of hand-weavers still work in and around the town, several shops sell locally made tweed and knitwear, and the Ardara Heritage Centre has a working loom with demonstrations. The other reason people come is music. For a town of a few hundred, Ardara has an unusually strong session culture, with several pubs running traditional music through the week and a Cup of Tae festival in spring that draws players nationally. It also sits at the junction of the Glengesh Pass, the Maghera caves road and the coast.

What you'll find

• The hand weaving - Donegal tweed still made on hand looms locally.
• The heritage centre - a working loom and demonstrations.
• The sessions - traditional music in the pubs most nights.
• The junction position - Glengesh, Maghera and the coast all from here.

When to go

April to October; the Cup of Tae festival is in late April or early May. Sessions run year-round but are most reliable in summer and at weekends.

Practical notes

A small town with limited accommodation and services. Weaving demonstrations depend on the weaver being there. Much of what is sold as Donegal tweed is mill-made; ask if hand-loom matters to you.

Nearby

Glengesh Pass is west; Assaranca Waterfall and Maghera beach are on the coast road.