Registration is now open for anyone who would like to take part in this year’s Donegal Camino.
The 7-day walking festival is on from the 1st to the 7th of September, with 7 different vibrant walks and hikes planned across Donegal.
Rapidly growing to be Ireland’s and the Wild Atlantic Way’s leading walking festival the Donegal Camino combines excellent walking, hospitality, food, music and culture with a warm Donegal welcome and a true Camino spirit of friendship and camaraderie.
Along with the serenity and spiritual experience of a true Camino amongst walkers, there’s also the spontaneity of the Donegal Camino atmosphere with sing-songs, dancing, recitations and hearty laughs around every corner from morning until late at night. Combine this with famous Donegal faces who pop up along the route, walkers of the Donegal Camino have the ultimate walking holiday experience while generating much needed funds for Cancer Care West services across the county. The 2024 fundraising target is €100,000, while last year, the Donegal Camino donated the sizeable sum of €82,155 to Cancer Care West.
Interested walkers can choose to walk a day, 2, 3 or all 7 days or dip in and out as the week progresses, registration is €35 per walker per day and each walker is invited to raise €100 per day walked or as close to it as possible. Registration fees cover direct costs of excellent registered guides, insurance, back up and safety cars along with such fixed operational costs to ensure the safety for all walkers. The Donegal Camino also invite Donegal businesses to sponsor the event or features of the 7 day walking festival or to join in and walk.
The opening route will see walkers once again kick off the week at Ireland’s highest point Malin Head on the Inishowen Peninsula, taking in the delightful views of Lough Swilly, Five Fingers Strand, Bamba’s Crown and much more. Setting off from Lagg Church, the Donegal Camino will open with plenty of fanfare, music and early morning dancing to stretch the muscles ahead of a wonderful day and week.
Day 2 of the Donegal Camino will take walkers to the tranquil space of the picturesque Ards Forest Park. It offers a variety of landscapes, from the forest and woodland trails to sand dunes and beach. Donegal’s highest peak, Errigal awaits on Tuesday 3rd September and closer to the Donegal Camino opening, confirmation of Sunrise or a later morning hike will be made based on weather predictions.
New to Donegal Camino 2024 is the Gaeltacht island of Cruit or oileáin na Cruite. As its name suggests, the island is formed in the natural shape of the Irish musical instrument the Harp or Cruit. A very pretty island landscape, it is linked to the Donegal mainland by a bridge built at the time of World War 2. Starting out from St Mary’s Church in Kincasslagh, the home of Daniel O’Donnell, walkers are in for a scenic treat on Cruit Island.
Also new for this year is the Gay Byrne Trail or Cosán Gay Byrne which is scheduled for Thursday 5th of September, starting out from Ionad an Mháchaire or Maghery Community Centre car park, the Donegal Camino takes in the trail along Maghery in the Rosses. Renowned Irish broadcaster, Gay Byrne loved this walk for its majestic coastal views of Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way coastline and islands.
Donegal Town marks its historic celebration of 550 years and Donegal Camino 2024 will spend Friday 6th on the gorgeous Bluestack Way. Following a picturesque mountain, forest and road trail, walkers will then descend into Donegal Town. Finishing in the newly refurbished Diamond of Donegal Town, there will be lots more surprises to be revealed here!
The traditional Donegal Camino Finalé on Camino Saturday, 7th September is on Europe’s Highest Sea Cliffs, Sliabh Liag combining a traditional route of the Pilgrim’s Path and the unique One Man’s Path before achieving the spectacular summit of 595m above sea level. The views are simply breathtaking.
Chairperson of the 2024, Donegal Camino, TV and Donegal personality Noel Cunningham who’s also a Director of Cancer Care West says, “We’re beyond excited to get out and walk the 2024 Donegal Camino and raise much needed funds for our chosen charity. We’re growing year on year in every way and we’re keen to share our beloved Donegal and our Camino with new and familiar walkers and friends and invite Donegal businesses to join us and support our worthy cause this September.”
Peggy Stringer, founder of the Donegal Camino says, “It’s another stunning route for 2024, along which there will be many surprises for our walkers. We’re blown away by the growing support for this wonderful 7 day walking festival and of course our chosen charity, Cancer Care West. We’re very grateful to all who get involved.”
Richard Flaherty CEO, Cancer Care West says “The Donegal Camino is the flagship fundraising event for our Support Centre in Letterkenny. Our centre provides a range of individual, and group supports to cancer patients and their families. All the services at the centre are offered free of charge, and we rely heavily on this event to ensure we continue to provide these crucial supports to those who need them. Last year alone, the centre supported over 350 people affected by cancer. Given the increasing numbers of people accessing our centre year-on-year, it will be imperative that we increase our services in the future to meet this demand. The success of the Donegal Camino enables us to do this.”
The Donegal Camino voluntary committee is led by chairperson Noel Cunningham, founder Peggy Stringer, Deirdre McGlone, Michael Cullinan, John Mc Namara and Carl Gysling. Noreen D’Arcy has taken up the role of Event & PR Manager for 2024.
All details of the Donegal Camino 2024 itinerary and suggested accommodation and dining options along with how to register and fundraise are on www.donegalcamino.ie. Regular updates will feature across social media channels, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. All those who register for the Donegal Camino are CLEARLY advised to book their accommodation and dining early and directly as spaces will fill up fast.
You can check out www.donegalcamino.ie and follow @donegalcamino on social media for more details.
