Donegal Camino announces brand new route and fundraising target of €165,000

Donegal Camino opens registration for its annual seven-day walking festival with another exciting and brand new route.

Scheduled from Donegal Camino Sunday, August 30, to Saturday, September 5, Donegal Camino has selected seven magnificent walks, six of which are brand new to its itinerary and with a new and increased fundraising target of €165,000 Nett for Cancer Care West Support Centre, Donegal. It’s walking boots at the ready for the organisers.

The 2026 Donegal Camino will once again start its route in the beautiful peninsula of Inishowen, the birthplace of the founder Peggy Stringer who has recently been elected President of the Donegal Association in Dublin.

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Opening with a magical walk of the Isle of Doagh and a visit to the Isle of Doagh Famine Village, Donegal Camino will continue to walk in Inishowen for a second day. New to the itinerary for 2026, is Inishowen’s highest peak, Slieve Sneacht which will be a rigorous yet rewarding climb. As Slieve Sneacht is very weather dependent, organisers will have a suitable Plan B in place should it be required.

The Donegal Camino will then move west to the Rosguil Peninsula, staying two nights in the Carrigart area. Featuring in this region is a beautiful walk of Termon, Lough Salt with stunning views and an interesting points of history.

This will be a moderate walk which will be followed on Day four, by the Old Railway Walk, with magical views of Muckish. Starting out from the renowned Donegal Gaeltacht venue of Ionad Chois Locha, walkers will then take in a 22km on road and track, learning about the unique history of the railway that formed part of the landscape from Burtonport to Letterkenny.

Moving to the south of Donegal for the latter half of the week, Donegal Camino will overnight in Donegal Town and day five will take in the Bluestack Way, Glenties to O’Neill’s in Letterbarrow near Donegal Town on an 18km walk amidst the Bluestack peaks and valleys.

Day six of the Donegal Camino will take walkers further south to the Cashelard area, close to Ballyshannon when walkers will enjoy the lovely Breezy Hill before the annual finale on Europe’s Highest Seacliffs, Sliabh Liag. The organisers also offer an alternative to climbing Sliabh Liag, with the option to view the cliffs and walkers from the Sliabh Liag Boat Trip and Paddy Byrne will donate the ticket price to the fundraising initiative for Cancer Care West Support Centre, Donegal.

In true Camino ethos, the Donegal Camino combines an excellent choice of walks, each led by a professional team of guides which showcase the wealth of scenery and natural beauty of Donegal along with its world class walking and hiking trails. In true Donegal Camino style, there will be plenty of surprises along the way also. Bringing people together to walk, enjoy nature and share stories is always at the heart of this unique seven-day walking festival, with the ultimate goal of raising much needed funds for Cancer Care West Support Centre, Donegal.

Since its foundation, Donegal Camino has raised an incredible €432,552.82 for the charity and this contributes to supporting 350 Donegal people on a cancer journey annually and delivering essential Cancer Care West Donegal services along with 650 hours of counselling annually.

Donegal Businessman and CEO of Sendmode, John McNamara is the new incoming chairperson of the Donegal Camino committee: “I’m honoured to be part of this inspiring walking festival with founders Peggy Stringer, Deirdre McGlone, Noel Cunningham and a dynamic and progressive committee who enjoy walking but above all the continued development of a sustainable walking festival which is contributing to both the Donegal tourism sector and to Cancer Care West Support Centre, Donegal.

“Annually, we strive to innovate the Donegal Camino offering while staying true to its personality of friendship and fun and of course increasing our nett target for the vital services of Cancer Care West across Donegal.”

The Donegal Camino continues to be the flagship fundraiser for Cancer Care West, Donegal.

“The financial support of the Donegal Camino fundraising brings our total counselling hours to over 5,000 hours since we opened in 2017,” says Richard Flaherty CEO, Cancer Care West. “Importantly the event not only raises vital funds but also greatly increases awareness of the organisation and the free cancer support services available across the region, helping them to reach people who may not otherwise know where to turn.”

Donegal Camino’s website features the itinerary, elements of which will continue to be updated and registration is now open. It offers a number of different options from one, two, three or all seven days. The registration fee of €50 per day which covers fixed operational costs of guides, insurance, support and safety cars and vital operational costs.

Each walker is required to fundraise €100 per day for each day they walk, all of which goes directly to Cancer Care West Donegal. Businesses and organisations across Donegal are invited to fundraise, support or donate to the Donegal Camino fundraising initiative for Cancer Care West Support Centre Donegal by logging onto the website or following social media channels Facebook and Instagram. Check out the Donegal Camino website or @donegalcamino.

The organising committee of the Donegal Camino includes John Mc Namara, Sendmode, incoming chairperson, Peggy Stringer, Founder and President of the Donegal Association Dublin, Deirdre Mc Glone former owner of Harvey’s Point, Noel Cunningham, Donegal Camino Ambassador, Michael Cullinan, Harvey’s Point, Micky Coll, Tax Clinic, Niamh Walsh, TDL, Carl Gysling. Noreen D’Arcy, D’Arcy Marketing & PR, is Event and PR Manager for Donegal Camino 2026.