Shepherd’s Hut Claimed

With a stunning lake view, our Shepherd’s Hut comfortably sleeps 2 adults. Interiors are luxuriously furnished with a large king size bed with a 5* grade mattress, crisp white bed linen, fluffed pillows, sheepskins and cosy Donegal woollen blankets. With a little wood-burning stove and superior insulation, the Shepherd’s Hut stays warm and cosy when the chill of the evening air draws in. On sunnier days, relax on the porch with a glass of wine and soak up lake views as you listen to the background hum of nature and wildlife. Adding to the sense of escape and adventure, our Shepherd’s Hut is completely off-grid. Guests of our Shepherd’s Hut have full use of all the amenities in the Lodge communal eco-building, which is equipped with a very large self-catering kitchen, toilets and wet room showers (no shared changing areas), as well as the huge lounge area, the Reciprocal Room; which has panoramic windows with stunning views. A huge fireplace and underfloor heating makes it the cosiest of spaces in the winter evenings. The Lodge communal building is a natural building – made as eco as possible using almost all natural materials, such as roundwood timber, strawbales, lime for the external walls, and cob (earth, grass and mud) for the internal walls. On top, the grass roof comes alive with daisies and wildflowers in the summer months, attracting a host of insects including ladybugs, bees and butterflies. This strawbale building, with its low carbon footprint and sustainable properties; is a biodegradable building (when the time comes) and its high-insulation thermal mass makes it excellently energy efficient. Our Shepherd’s Hut is located just 20 minutes from Donegal Town, with two of Donegal’s best beaches on its doorstep, as well as the magnificent Wild Atlantic Way – surf lessons and horse beach rides can be arranged on request. Our on-site activities include wild swimming, hiking and fishing. As an Intermediary Member of Sustainable Travel Ireland, we believe passionately in the importance of protecting our natural environment. There is a Sustainability Policy in place at Lough Mardal Lodge which staff and guests are asked to respect. We do not claim to tick every sustainability box, but little by little, we are trying to offer a more responsible holiday experience to the ever-increasing number of people who now wish to holiday more conscientiously.