The Rusty Mackerel
4.4
Excellent(1,245 Reviews)Nature lodge in County Donegal
Reasons to book
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
Includes essentialsGarden, Pets allowed, Internet / Wifi and more
About this nature lodge rental
With Slieve League reachable in 2 km, The Rusty Mackerel provides accommodation, a restaurant, a garden, a terrace and a bar. Complimentary WiFi is featured throughout the property.
Amenities
Pets allowed
Internet / Wifi
Smoking allowed
Parking
Balcony or Patio
Wheelchair accessible
Garden
Family friendly
Map of County Donegal
Available Rooms
1 Double • 129 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
1 Bunk • 129 ft²
Sleeps 3
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
$$$$
Reviews
4.4
Excellent(1,245 Reviews)100% verified reviews
4.4
The pub was lovely great atmosphere. The food was excellent.
The rooms were bright modern and spotless but the space was very tight. Fine for a very short stay. No chair one locker and one side of the bed right up to the side of the wardrobe.
The staff in the restaurant were efficient but not at all friendly.
4.4
Location. Nice pub. Friendly staff
Breakfast was very good.
Dinner was blah! Overrated.
4.4
The Welcome was very nice. The staff in the Bar was very attentive an frendly. We liked the food for Dinner and for breakfast. The room behind the main building is simole but nice. It has everything you need, even a hairdryer is in the room. We would stay here again when in the region.
4.4
Arrived on a day the power went out and took hours to fix, despite this inconvenience the staff were great and very accommodating, making the best of a situation out of their control. Music was great, did not eat as kitchen closed due to power issue.
na
4.4
Breakfast super lovely lady looking after us.
4.4
Such a fabulous, friendly place. Lovely staff, music was really good and a great atmosphere. Second time to visit and will be back again.
Walls very thin .
4.4
We liked the bar and food and most of the staff
The price of food and drink and whilst bedroom was nice and modern it was so small .
4.4
very authentic, clean, modern, and amazing place. live music in evenings is an add on.
4.4
Great pub and amazing food, had a great night's craic. Amazing entertainment. Breakfast was amazing, defs worth adding on if not in package.
Wished I had of booked 2 nights, not 1 lol
4.4
Well situated, Very comfortable bed. A staff/Manager member Sennin was so kind and attentive. He gave us plenty of advice of where to go and what to do. He was so friendly. The guy who was singing (Can't remember name, sorry.) He was fab and his song choices were just wonderful. Very enjoyable stay and we will be back in the Spring/Summer. I am recommending to friends.
We did wake up with our neighbours having a party in the small hours. I am vegetarian. I chose the tai green Curry and the sauce was delicious but the vegetables were very scarce. I would suggest another couple of vegetarian dishes be added to the menu. My friend had a fish dish which was plentiful and also delicious.
4.4
Breakfast was the best I ever had class!!!
Love it all
4.4
The food ,staff ,facilities and the craic also you can bring your dogs with you.
4.4
Location and staff
Sheets were dirty
4.4
Great atmosphere, great food and drink and great accommodation.
N/A
4.4
The service was superb, the best I can remember in a long time, the staff are a credit to themselves and know their stuff. The food was great, especially the breakfast
4.4
La chambre était propre avec tous les équipements nécessaires. Il y avait un groupe de musique typique irlandais qui nous a mis dans l’ambiance. Le dîner et petit déjeuner étaient copieux et très bons. Bon emplacement pour aller voir les Slieve league.
4.4
The staff were excellent, very accommodating and helpful. The Guinness was great, some great logos added by Mark and the other bar staff.
N/A
4.4
Quintessential irish experience, really rustic and fun place to stay. Beds were extremely comfortable. Location was great if you want to be remote, you need a car to access the area
The room was a little small
4.4
The Pub
The missing windows in the rooms.
4.4
Phenomenal pub near the Slieve Leagues, easily one of my favorites during my three weeks in Ireland. Great live music and atmosphere in the evening with very friendly staff and other customers. My partner and I used the Rusty Mackerel as our base for hikes to Slieve League. Super easy to walk from the pub/room to the visitor center and take the shuttle from there to the starting point of various hikes. Would come back in a heartbeat.
No window in our room (triple room) made it very stuffy and warm despite cooler temperates outside, felt this should be advertised. Dinner a bit pricey but the food was good.
4.4
We had one great night at the Rusty Mackerel. The rooms were donga-style out the back with a pleasant out door sitting area. The meal at the pub was great, but the atmosphere with live music was what made our night. A mix of locals and tourists made it lively.
The rooms were a little tight for two large ( long travelling) suitcases.
4.4
The staff is very friendly, professional, and helpful. Had inner there and the service/food was very good. There was a band playing in the pub in the evening, really good atmosphere. I had the tastiest smoked salmon ever at breakfast - it was melting. There is a green area at the back which you can enjoy in a sunny day, it offers a nice view on the mountains.
n/a
4.4
Fantastic Dog-Friendly pub stay in a stunning location, ideal for visiting the cliffs
Both Dinner and breakfast the next morning were fantastic with great quality ingredients.
It was great that the rooms also had tea-making facilities.
As the room had no window, it did get a bit hot, but the fan provided was great
4.4
It's a jewel the food 😋 the location everything you need in one spot, the staff were amazing the food was excellent 👌. Sennan our waiter was excellent it's a very well ran pub/restaurant the food was delicious and not to mention we sang the night away with Eunan Mcintyre absolutely loved it, I will be back 😀 😊
4.4
Great pub with good food and live music, friendly and welcoming staff.
Situated in a beautiful part of the world.
4.4
very clean and modern room exactly everything you need to put head down for night
4.4
The staff were brilliant and the food was pretty good especially the breakfast.
Music every night.
The rooms were quite small and didn’t have much storage and we were staying for a week. But it was clean so it wasn’t a big deal.
4.4
Accomodation excellent,Staff very friendly and helpful. Joe Byrne and the
Gaelige . Food top notch.
Could have done with bedside tables. And coat hooks.
4.4
Great location to slieve league.
Room's were tiny and thin walls. I could hear the guy snoring next door.
4.4
The food was lovely, and you can bring your pet and dine with them which was great.
On the night I stayed, a woman with blonde hair (I asked a staff member and they said she was part of management) but I’m not sure - late in the evening when I was out with my dog outside the bar, I was heavily insulted about how I raise my dog and that I’m cruel to my dog by this woman. I tried to walk away but she persisted in following after me to keep going insulting me. I was very disappointed and extremely annoyed to come all that way, pay the money to stay over only to be insulted about how I raised my dog (which never once caused damaged, barked at other dogs/humans, or misbehaved - he is fully trained and well mannered).
Although great to have a pet friendly place, it wasn’t worth it and it put me off the place or returning in the future.
4.4
Everything the staff were great with mighty attention to detail and a laugh . The food was very good also I will be back 😋
FAQs
How much does this nature lodge cost compared to others in County Donegal?
The average price for a rental in County Donegal is $158 per night. This rental is $14 less expensive than the average.
Is parking included with this nature lodge?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at The Rusty Mackerel. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this nature lodge?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this nature lodge. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is The Rusty Mackerel pet friendly?
Yes! This nature lodge is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.
What amenities are available at The Rusty Mackerel?
We found 8 amenities for this rental. This includes pets allowed, internet / wifi, smoking allowed, parking, and balcony or patio.
Explore similar vacation rentals in County Donegal
Explore all rentals in County DonegalCounty Donegal travel inspiration
Read our blogGuides
Top Things to Do in Miami: From Beaches to Culture
Guides
The Best Things to Do in Orlando: Attractions, Food, and Family Fun
Guides
Things to Do in Galveston, Texas
Guides
Top Things to Do in Myrtle Beach
Guides
Ski Trip Packing List: What to Bring Skiing or Snowboarding
Trends
VacationRenter Holiday Travel Trends 2023
Featured Rentals
Architectural Vacation Rentals: Experience the Beauty of Unique Properties
Featured Rentals
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Vacation Rentals Around the World