Donaghadee

The 'Beacon on the Coast', Donaghadee, pronounced Don-a-ga-dee, is one of our main towns in the Borough. Located on the eastern shores of Northern Ireland, County Down, it is the closest point to Scotland, and on most days the Scottish coast is visible to the naked eye. The town is a hub of activity with many shops, restaurants, and it is reputedly home to the oldest pub in Ireland. With a history centuries deep and iconic landmarks, Donaghadee makes for an all round great destination, whether you are looking for a short break, or incorporated into a longer itinerary, the town will surely capture the heart of many. 

Iconic Donaghadee Sights

Donaghadee’s iconic lighthouse stands guard on the harbour keeping ships right in times of trouble with its beam.  This was a critical factor in the development of the town. Up until the middle of the 19th century Donaghadee was the province’s principal port before Belfast became the major city.

As Belfast grew, the increasingly prosperous merchants of the city were attracted to the idea of holidays by the sea. So as the 19th century progressed into the 20th, Donaghadee became established as a major holiday resort.

One of the most prominent features of the town is the Motte, or the Moat as it is known. This small building dates back to 1818 but the site may have been used as a defensive position as early as the Bronze Age and later by the Anglo Normans. Local stories claim it was used as a gunpowder store during the construction of the Harbour in the early 19th century. Today the Moat is part of a park, giving views across the town, seawards to the Copeland Islands and, on clear days, to the Scottish coast and the Isle of Man, and it houses the island's only accessible camera obscura.

Ulster-Scots in Donaghadee

At the beginning of the 1600s Donaghadee was acquired by Sir Hugh Montgomery and an important port developed. It is reputed that Grace Neill’s in the town is the oldest pub in Ireland, founded in 1611. The historic Manor House in High Street is believed to stand on the site of Sir Hugh’s original dwelling.

Explore the influence of the Ulster-Scots in Donaghadee.

Donaghadee aka Port Devine

The town has become internationally recognised at Port Devine of the BBC One Series Hope Street which first hit our screens in late 2021, and has since been broadcast worldwide. Fans of the hit police drama are flocking to the thriving town to see it's seaside beauty. Amongst the many recognisable sights is Pier 36, a long established family run bar and restaurant, with accommodation, which plays the part of the Commadore Pub in the series. Find out more about Hope Street and the real Port Devine.

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Eat and Drink in Donaghadee

Donaghadee has become renowned for its eateries and pubs. We have already mentioned that it is reputedly home to Ireland's oldest pub, Grace Neill’s and to the now internationally famous, Pier 36, but these establishments sit in good company, surrounded by restaurants serving fresh local ingredients, farm to fork, as well as coffee shops from which to watch the world go by, and the town has its very own Distillery - Copeland Distillery right near the harbour.

Find out more about Food and Drink in the Borough

Make more of your stay

Discover ways to enrich your stay in our place, immersing yourself in the warmth of our people amongst the landscapes where the countryside meets the seashore with events, experiences and things to do.

Highlights of Donaghadee

• Walk the coastline taking in views of the Copeland Islands
• Better still, you can take a seasonal boat excursion out to the islands!
• Take a Guided Walking Tour and learn of the centuries deep history of this place
• Donaghadee is a foodie haven, brimming with delicious eateries, cosy cafe's and lively pubs. 
• If you are into golf, why not take a turn on the course at Donaghadee Golf Club
• Take a tour of Copeland Distillery in the centre of town
• Visit the Sir Samuel Kelly Project, located just round the corner from Copeland Distillery, where you can see the RNLI Lifeboat up close and learn all about her history, and about the bravery of her crew.
• Find out when the next Donaghadee Market Fresh is on for local makers selling artisan produce and crafts

Self Guided Town and Village Walking Trails

Learn more about the area through our Walking Trail guides which help you discover the rich history of this place, by walking in the footsteps of Normans, Vikings and Saints amongst others.

Comber | Newtownards | Donaghadee

Other Walking Trail guides include:

• Bangor | Crawfordsburn and Helen's Bay | Holywood 
• Village Trails of the Ards Peninsula

Click for detailed Maps and Guides.

Homegrown Donaghadee Talent

Donaghadee is the birthplace of a few global stars. Bear Grylls, adventure, writer and television presenter was born in the town as well as members from the band, Two Door Cinema Club.

One Aquatic Star associated with Donaghadee is Tom Blower, a decorated Second World War hero, who became the first Briton to swim the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland taking 15 hours and 26 minutes to accomplish the feat. 

...to name just a few famous faces.

Visitor Information Centres

Our Visitor Information Centres in Bangor and Newtownards have a knowledgeable team who would be delighted to help offer tips and suggestions for how to make the most of your time in the city and the wider borough.

Each of our centres has a gift shop - pick up a memento of your trip from a range of items including souvenirs, locally crafted jewellery, ornaments, books of local interest and so much more.

Bangor Visitor Information Centre | Ards Visitor Information Centre

Getting to Donaghadee

Easy to get to 

Travel to us by land, sea or air with major airports and seaports close by. Sail into our ports via Liverpool and Cairnryan, Scotland. From George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast Docks, you can reach Donaghadee in under 30 minutes, and Belfast International Airport is just 35km away from gateway to Ards and North Down, Holywood.

If travelling from Portaferry direction, gateway to the Borough from Strangford, in the south, it will take approximately 40 minutes by road.

Short travel times direct from major cities 

We are located only 2 hours from Dublin by road and 90 minutes from London and Amsterdam by air. With great public transport links, getting here is straight forward. Or, hire a car for the freedom to explore the stunning landscapes, coastal walks and even more of our towns and villages nearby to Donaghadee.

Best accessed by road and by using Translink public transport (bus only).

See Sat Nav details and Distance Guide at the bottom of the page.

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Sat Nav details

Latitude 54.6413 Longitude -5.5359

Driving distances (approx, depending on route):
Belfast - Donaghadee | 40 minutes
Bangor - Donaghadee | 15 minutes
Comber - Donaghadee | 25 - 30 minutes
Newtownards – Donaghadee | 15 minutes
Portaferry - Donaghadee | 40 minutes 

Find out even more about Donaghadee at visitdonaghadee.com.