Hiking

Reviews of Áras BnB and Self Catering Accommodation

2 out of 5
Áras BnB and Self Catering Accommodation
Malinmore, Glencolmcille, Donegal

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 38 out of 79 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 31 out of 79 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 7 out of 79 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 79 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 79 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Alan, Vancouver

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful, quiet place in a beautiful location!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Response from Leon on 22 Jul 2022
This guest had a complaint as there were other guests making a noise. I quieted them down as soon as i was made aware. I refunded one of the 3 guests who were affected, but this guest left without checking out, so i had no chance to do a corrective action. Unfortunately there was nothing else i could do.

8/10 Good

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ricardo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Scrambled or fried eggs?
A beautiful house facing hills, farms and a scenic bay, where I got inspiration to write songs at the comfortable large lounge; a perfectly sized room, spotless place, full-equipped kitchen, dainty irish breakfast. Natural scenic spetacular attractions nearby, but most of all the lovely amazing owners who run the place, making your stay unforgettable.
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Vincent

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hosts have created a little bit of a haven here. Worth visiting the area just to stay. A well run but very communal accommodation and Gill and Leon make you feel very much at home. Huge credit to them and their small team. I will return just for a slice of tranquility.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

On

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great bnb - location is amazing. Really close to amazing beaches and gorgeous mountain range scenery. Just about 20-25 mins from Slieve League. Staff are friendly and will give you great advice on where to eat and things to do around the area.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Andrius

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wow. For such an affordable place to stay, I was blown away by the level of care and attention that Leon, Gill, and everyone at Aras provided. They looked after me as if I were family. The views around here are fantastic, and Leon was a fantastic guide. I would love to stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from leon on 28 Aug 2021
Thank you Sir! it was a pleasure hosting you.

10/10 Excellent

Betty

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Quick visit in Knock
Lovely stay! Host very accomodating! Many thanks!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely area hosts were friendly and helpful and gave us great information about the area. Would definitely stay again
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Leon and Gillian are lovely together. Fair play running the busy place. It's very remote, we didn't have reception or data so using the WiFi option was good and reliable. The hosts gave us many great tips of what to do in the area. It's handy to use the kitchen and although lots of people do it's usually never an issue by having to wait or so. The surrounding area is gorgeous and the Silver Strand Beach is just around the corner. Just make sure to stop at a supermarket on your way as the bigger shops like Lidl are 1 hour drive away but there's local smaller shops which have usually most of the things a person need without special dietary requirements.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tony

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent
One of the best places I've ever stayed in, due to its location, affordability and the professionalism of host Leon. Excellent kitchen facilities, and we were upgraded from a shared bathroom to an ensuite, which was a lovely touch and much appreciated. Room was fabulous and spotless. I can't thing of a single thing worth complaining about
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mladen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best place to stay 🍀
It’s a perfect place for relaxing your mind and enjoying the nature. Jill and Lion made us felt at home, they’re a fantastic couple, very warm and welcoming. We loved the human interaction with others, and talking with Jill&Lion too. There are quite few attractions nearby. The room is very clean and the kitchen is spacious and you can find everything. Hope to see you. We will definitely visit you again! Thanks a million for your amazing hospitality. One of the best hosts we met on our European journeys. Alicia and Sukru :) 🍀
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Helena

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A wonderful stay
We where as a group for one night and had the place to ourselves. The owner’s are husband and wife and where so friendly warm and engaging I will definitely be back. Thanks Leon & Gillian
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Darryl

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Friendly and comfortable
Very enjoyable stay. Beautiful part of the country. Leon was very friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2020
Response from Leon on 28 Jul 2020
We love the area and are privileged to share it with lovely people!

10/10 Excellent

Liam

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very atmospheric
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020
Response from Leon on 28 Jul 2020
Aras does have a lovely atmosphere. many guests have called it home from home and regularly return.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
In a beautiful part of the country, very helpful and let me be, I wanted down time on my own and I got it but it is also possible to socialize in their beautiful kitchen dining room area
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019
Response from leon on 31 Dec 2019
Thanks you for your kind words and I am keeping you to your promise to return in the summer! :-)

10/10 Excellent

Aloke, Navan, Meath

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The place is at perfect location for Slieve League, Silver Strand Beach and and many more beutiful places on Wild Atlantic Way. Leon is very friendly and welcoming host. He told us about all beautiful places nearby and also provided lot of information you can't find on internet. The place has a big shared kitchen to cook your own food. I will stay here again in summers.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Response from Leon on 29 Dec 2019
It was our pleasure to host you. Lovely guests makes our job so much easier. And i will hold you to that promise to come back in the summer!! :-)

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great quiet location in the hills. Plenty of hiking or biking options from the premises and only 3 miles from the town. Nice property and great hosts. Walls a bit thin but staff helpfulness and knowledge of the area is 1st rate
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019

8/10 Good

David

Liked: Staff & service
Great experience
A little out of the way but leon the owner was kind enough to bring us into the village in his car apart from that a great experience
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Guests have the option of self-catering. Very nice kitchen facilities. Owners are friendly and helpful. Optional cooked breakfast cooked to order, and tasty.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The helpful nature of the owner and the great kitchen.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

8/10 Good

Cdseattle, Seattle

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Leon was a helpful informative host. The place is a bit dated but Leon is working on updates. The kitchen is a nice, comfortable meeting place to talk with other guests and relax with a nice cup of tea at the end of a long day of hiking & exploring.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Really enjoyable stay
Stayed 1 night in May 2019
Response from Leon on 21 May 2019
its a pleasure and thanks for the good review!

8/10 Good

Will

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Away from it all
Stayed just one night. But this is a lovely place to stay. The hosts were very pleasant and friendly, always willing to help. The facilities were very good with a fully equipped kitchen to use if you felt inclined. The room we had was large enough and had an ensuite shower room (this could do with a refurb). Big car park, spectacular coastline on the doorstop. Would def stay again if in this beautiful area.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019
Response from Leon on 26 Apr 2019
Hi Will, thanks for the lovely review. You reported a problem with the water flow in the shower to me on checkout. It was a blocked water filter and took 2 minutes to fix. Its a pity you did not report it to me immediately. Anyway, next time you visit, breakfast is on me one morning! Just remind me when you get here please. leon

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Trip to see the Northern Lights
We came to Donegal on the chance of seeing the Northern Lights. We didn't really see them, but the trip was still really well worth it - largely due to the host at the BnB. Great conversation over breakfast about what to see and do. We wouldn't have seen a lot of places without that in the time we had, or found them without the provided maps! And being me, I left something in the room behind which was very quickly returned to me. Thank you! Nice room, warm, clean, comfortable. There were three of us + one large dog, so quite a gathering. Very pet friendly place, our dog was made to feel very welcome too! I'm looking forward to returning for further wanderings around Donegal.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019
Response from Aras on 16 Apr 2019
Hi James, thanks so much for these kind words. Glad we could be of assistance and we hope to see you and the boys soon again! Leon and Gillian

10/10 Excellent

Gabriela

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Pet friendly and welcoming holiday accommodation
Our host were very welcoming and friendly to us and, the most important, to our dog. Stunning scenery surrounding, the Atlantic shore within walking rich could be admired while having a cup of tea/ coffee at the hostel. It was a lovely escape from day to day life. The free wifi enabled us to stay in touch with those left home and to browse for pkaces to visit during our stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2018
Response from Leon on 10 Oct 2018
Thanks Gabriela, it was a pleasure hosting you guys and the doggie!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location. Leon’s tips for local food and things to see was excellent
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Leon and his family are super star hosts. Couldn’t ask for nicer kinder helpful generous people
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2018
Response from leon on 20 Jun 2018
Thanks. We just love our guests. So many interesting people!

10/10 Excellent

John, Pennsylvania

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hotel and area.
Having just finished my third consecutive stay at Aras, i am still stunned by the local beautifu scenery and the fabulous friendly residents.The owner , Paul has always been a great host........I also had an opportunity to meet the new owners (effective Oct, 1st) who are South African natives and very friendly A good breakfast is available each morning and the kitchen is fully equipped to provide self-catering.
Stayed 12 nights in Sep 2017

8/10 Good

Sheila

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Home Comforts
Great experience all round. Lovely staff, full use of kitchen facilities and very helpful sightseeing information.

10/10 Excellent

Suwimol

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
clean and friendly
friendly and clean BEAUTIFUL LOCATION

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie Moore, saskatchewan canada

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
One of the best places I have ever stayed
Wow! The room was adorable, simple, yet very worth the low price! The staff were wonderful, the breakfast delicious, and the surrounding scenery amongst the most beautiful in the world! My only regret is that I didn't spend my whole time in Ireland here! I will most definitly be back!

6/10 Okay

Sara, Vancouver

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Great Hostel
We stayed here for 2 nights with the sole purpose of having a base for hiking the Slieve League. Paul was very friendly and helpful and the breakfast was great.
Slieve League

10/10 Excellent

tracy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
amazing views
We loved this location . A fantastic taste of Ireland and a lovely welcome . This spot is pretty rural but well worth the effort to get to for the amazing views . Well stocked kitchen for refreshments after a day out . Clean and comfortable . And very busy . You will meet a lot of people from around the world here . And the price is brilliant . You can also have a fully cooked breakfast for just €5 !!!! So glad we found this spot . The area is beautiful . Thank you for a lovely stay

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely views
Just an overnight stay but staff were helpful. Kitchen well equipped and room comfortable.

10/10 Excellent

Faisal, navan

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
very lovely staff
good

10/10 Excellent

Owen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Family Overnight
Comfortable enjoyable hotel

8/10 Good

jacinta, killygordon, Co Donegal

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Family break to Glen Colmcille.
Lovely place to stay for sightseeing the west of Donegal, the owner Paul is a very obliging and friendly man.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best hostel
Paul was a great host. He did everything within his means to give us a great and wonderful stay. When we asked for an ensuite, he let us have a bigger room that was available then. We have never stayed in a hostel before but our experience there changed our mind towards hostel and we love our stay there very much.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice place to stay in the countryside
The hotel was great, the room was clean and spacious and the communal kitchen/dining room was kept really well. The manager was very attentive and professional.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place very cozy
I was very happy very family like everyone was so nice . Guests and staff were fantastic . Staff went out of there way to help .. It was great can not say enough about the place. Very reasonable priced so you may be able to go on more tours stay longer whatever. Great breakfast..

8/10 Good

kirk, huntsville, ontario

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
excellent value.
would love to return for longer. great staff, lots of food for breaky, staff have alot to contribute to make your stay fullfilled and infomative as well.

8/10 Good

Jason, Cleveland Ohio

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place to stay
A great inexpensive option off the beaten path. The owners are super friendly and helpful and the town is charming. Best of all, the scenery from the hotel is incredible as is the surrounding area

8/10 Good

Tisha, uk

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It was an awesome experience for me and my friends
The view was fantastic. The experience was very different for all of us and the host was brilliant.

8/10 Good

Sean, Malahide, Dublin.

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A pleasant, friendly hostel - great value.
I stayed with my family in this hostel for a short break. Though it is in a remote part of Donegal, there was plenty to see in the surrounding area.. Facilities were basic, but our family room was comfortable and very clean, as was the en-suite bathroom. Although we had the option of self-catering, using the well-equipped kitchen, we went for the buffet breakfast instead, and were not disappointed - it was excellent. Our hosts, Paul and Sharon, were very welcoming, friendly and helpful.

10/10 Excellent

Peter, Oswestry UK

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The place where time passes it by.
Hotel actually closed so transferred to Gleann Dobhl in village - a B&B. A relaxing gentle time where the pace of modern life passes this area by. BUT an area of astonishing natural beauty, with a coastline exposed to the ravages of the Atlantic Ocean. There is much scope for walking, and the Slieve League mountains will tax the most eager hill walker. This is area is worth re-visiting time and time again.

8/10 Good

Heather, Bangor NI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Quirky
I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the hostel. It is a great place to stay with children as the family rooms are a good size. Paul, who runs the hostel is very friendly and accommodating. You have to remember however it is a hostel so bring your own hand wash etc. great value for money.

10/10 Excellent

trish, wicklow

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
excellent
very good all round, hosts very good, beautiful location, fantastic scenery would go back again.

8/10 Good

anthony, belfast

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
great value for money
very quiet area but very good price for accomodation