Destination Guide - Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort

Rosapenna is the proud home to two of the finest links in the world, with a 3rd opening soon. The Old Tom Morris Links designed by Old Tom Morris of St. Andrews in 1893 and a modern great in the Sandy Hills Links laid out by Pat Ruddy of The European Club fame and open for play since 2003. The new kid on the block will be the Tom Doak designed St Patrick's Links, opening this coming summer.

The Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort is one of Ireland's premier 4 star luxury hotels, and has been since 1893. It sits in an 800 acre estate on the edge of the Atlantic ocean, where the bays of Mulroy & Sheephaven meet on the coast of Donegal. 

A beautiful resort in a rugged beautiful setting offering not only great golf but also all the amenities and activities you would expect rom a world class resort, this is definitely a resort worth exploring.
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The Resort

Rooms

There are a wide variety of room options at Rosepanna ranging from classic, spacious rooms all the way to deluxe suites with sweeping views of Sheephaven Bay. Warmly decorated rooms and suites have en suite bathrooms, as well as satellite TV, free WiFi, minifridges, and tea and coffeemaking equipment.

Classic Rooms

• Comfortable en-suite rooms with double beds (some with an additional single bed). Family rooms are also available.

Deluxe Rooms

• Spacious & elegant en-suite rooms with a 5ft double bed & a single bed. Ground floor deluxe rooms are available and all benefit from beach views. Room Size from 350 sq. foot.

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Junior Suites

• Rosapenna’s Bayview Junior Suites offer the best in comfort and style. They combine classic elegance with a contemporary twist, all having private balconies with stunning views overlooking Sheephaven bay. Room Size from 450 sq. foot.

​Dining

Vardon Restaurant

• Named in honour of the great Harry Vardon, winner of a record six Open Championship titles and also the 1900 US Open at Chicago Golf Club. Harry Vardon along with another great, James Braid, visited Rosapenna in 1906 and added length and bunkering to the original Old Tom Morris design. Striking views of Sheephaven Bay and spectacular evening sunsets are experienced from the restaurant. The restaurant specialises in local seafood with fresh fish arriving to our kitchen daily. Shellfish is caught off the headlands on the Atlantic Drive with lobster, scallops and crab regularly on the menu. Our meats are all sourced from a long established family butcher. We are happy to accommodate any special dietary requirement you may have.

 
James Braid Bar

• The hotel’s bar was named after James Braid winner of the Open Championship on five occasions and renowned course architect who along with Harry Vardon added length and bunkering to Old Tom Morris’s original design in 1906. Known by most as the 19th hole, golfers share in tales of victory and woe of their day on the links while indulging in a traditional pint. You can also admire the history that surrounds Rosapenna with beautiful old photography of the original Rosapenna Hotel and the Old Tom Morris Links. Our bar stocks a large range of liqueurs, spirits and beers and a fine range of single malt whiskies and brandies.

Activities

Amenities include a 9-hole academy course, an indoor pool and a whirlpool tub, plus a spa, a steam room and a sauna.
 
Practice Ground 

• There are extensive golf practice facilities here at Rosapenna, with a driving range located next to the first tee of the Old Tom Morris Links, and it has both indoor and outdoor teeing areas. They also have a 12-hole Pitch’n’Putt course located at the driving range which is ideal for beginners as well as a Foot Golf course for the soccer enthusiast!

Snooker

• Billiards has been played at Rosapenna since the end of the 19th century taking pride of place in the old Rosapenna Hotel which burnt in 1962. To carry on old traditions, they have a billiards room with one full size snooker table measuring 12 × 6 ft with all the accessories.

Swimming

• The leisure facilities at Rosapenna include a 14” x 6” indoor heated swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room. The leisure facilities are exclusive to hotel residents.

Walking

• Donegal offers some of the most unspoiled landscapes in Ireland. The walking enthusiast can choose from a variety of walks from Marked Trails, Looped Walks as well as Coastal and Forest walks. In Downings we have some breathtaking walks with the beautiful 4 miles long Tramore Beach on the doorstep of the Rosapenna Hotel. We also have the world famous Atlantic Drive which is 8.5 miles in length. These are just a few of the many routes to walk in the Sheephaven Bay Walking Guide which is available at the hotel reception as part of our walking breaks. If you’re planning on making a day of it, the kitchen can provide a packed lunch.

Cycling

• Rosapenna is the ideal place to park the car and cycle along the miles of coastal roads, with dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Wherever you cycle, you are guaranteed to find scenic beauty, friendly villages, generous hospitality and a warm welcome

Surfing

• With the mighty Atlantic waves crashing into the miles and miles of coastline, it's no wonder that the west coast of Ireland has become a top destination for surfing. County Donegal in particular has become a top holiday location for surfing enthusiasts, as there are plenty of surf beaches and surf schools to be found here.

 
Diving / Sea Tours / Angling Trips

• Mevagh Dive Centre is Donegal’s only dive centre which offers a variety of courses from scuba/sea dives to power boat training. They also have a 3.7 metre purpose built indoor dive pool which offers training in a safe, warm environment

Rosepenna Resort offers something for everyone and if your adventures are taking you to North West Ireland, it should be high on your list of places to visit. 

If the North West of Ireland is an area you want to explore, give us a call and we would be happy to help you set up the perfect trip.