The Garden Cottage & Carriage House:
Luxury Self-Catering in Donegal
Stay at The Garden Cottage & Carriage House, a luxury self-catering cottage in Donegal near Carrickfinn Beach and Donegal Airport. Book your Wild Atlantic Way escape directly.
A stylish two-bedroom self-catering cottage in Donegal, located beside Donegal Airport and perfectly positioned between two stunning Wild Atlantic Way beaches. The Garden Cottage & Carriage House is the most spacious and versatile of the three Cobblestone Cottage stays, custom-designed for families, friends, musicians, artists, design-conscious travellers, and guests seeking a stylish coastal base from which to explore Donegal.
Just minutes from Donegal Airport and close to some of the region’s most beautiful beaches, this lovingly restored Irish cottage combines traditional character with bold interiors, antique details, contemporary comforts, and generous outdoor living spaces. Inside, the cottage is warm, colourful, and thoughtfully curated, featuring a romantic open fireplace, antique furnishings, books, art supplies, and musical instruments, including a guitar and violin. Outside, guests can enjoy peaceful garden seating, outdoor dining, a private fire pit, a hot outdoor shower, and beautiful views of Lake Mullaghderg.
The adjacent Carriage House adds extra character and flexibility, making this an ideal Wild Atlantic Way cottage for families, small groups, creative retreats, or longer stays in Donegal.
At A Glance
Everything you need to know for your stay at our most versatile coastal retreat. Here are the essential highlights of The Garden Cottage:
Location: Coastal Donegal, Ireland, just minutes from Donegal Airport and close to two stunning Wild Atlantic Way beaches.
Capacity: Accommodates up to 4 guests comfortably.
Key Amenities: Two-bedroom cottage, private Carriage House, garden with sculpture, firepit, hot outdoor shower, and lake views.
Best For: Families, friends, musicians, artists, design-conscious travellers, beach holidays, and outdoor adventures.
Standout Features: Stylish interiors, antique furnishings, an open fireplace, outdoor living spaces, and a garden sculpture by British artist Will Carr.
Key Features
Our premium holiday rental provides everything needed for a relaxing coastal escape, blending modern convenience with the soulful charm of a traditional Irish home.
Beach Access
Perfectly positioned for coastal walks and sea swimming.
Airport Convenience
Located just minutes from Donegal Airport for seamless arrivals.
Design-Led Interiors
Curated spaces featuring a beautiful blend of heritage and contemporary style.
Creative Inspiration
Includes books, art supplies, a guitar and a violin for creative retreats. (A wider selection of classical and traditional Irish instruments, such as bodhráns, banjos, and flutes, is available to borrow upon request).
Hot Outdoor Shower
Ideal after a day of water sports, paired with peaceful views towards Lake Mullaghderg.
Modern Essentials
High-speed WiFi, central heating, a fully equipped self-catering kitchen, and dedicated laundry facilities.
Inclusions & Luxury Services
To ensure your stay feels personal and seamless, every booking at The Garden Cottage includes our signature luxury hospitality services.
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Welcome Hamper: A curated selection of local treats and essentials on arrival.
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Concierge Service: Personal recommendations and assistance with dining reservations,
local activities, and tailored experiences. Food, wine, spirits, and special requests can be
arranged in advance. -
Transportation Assistance: Airport pick-up and drop-off arrangements available upon
request, along with local transport support. -
Outdoor Equipment: Complimentary access to selected outdoor gear, including
paddleboards, kayaks, bikes, and dive equipment, subject to availability.
Rooms & Layout
Our cottage layout is thoughtfully designed to provide both communal space for gathering and private nooks for rest and creativity.
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Master Bedroom – The Green Room
A Queen-sized bed wrapped in luxury linens, offering a calm, cosy atmosphere for a restful night's sleep.
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Guest Bedroom – The Blue Room
A Queen-sized bed with premium luxury linens, ideal for family members, friends, or additional guests.
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Living & Dining Areas
Living Area: Comfortable seating, a romantic open fireplace, vintage décor, curated books, a guitar, and a violin.
Kitchen: Fully equipped with modern appliances, cookware, and dining essentials, ideal for self-catering and longer stays.
Bathroom & Laundry: Elegant bathroom featuring a shower, soft towels, and curated toiletries; dedicated laundry space with a washer and dryer.
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Carriage House
The Carriage House is a charming, self-contained retreat with its own sense of privacy—an inviting place to unwind and enjoy a relaxed stay.
Policies
From Our Guests, With Love
23rd August 2026
Dear Frank & Deana,
Thank you for all of the lovely touches in your beautiful cottage.
All the personalised little things really made this the best weekend of our lives (and the sparkliest!! 💍)
We will remember this weekend and this stay forever and already can't wait to come back!
Iñaki & Niamh
Here is the transcription of the guestbook review:
Dear Frank + Deana,
You've really thought of everything here! The robes are such a delightful cosy touch + made things truly feel like home. The rain got us for the last two days, but the fire here made that a treat, rather than a spoiler.
Thank you for a lovely experience in this glorious county of extremes! From our first day on Carrow beach, swimming in pools to some very soggy castles + viewpoints – Donegal has got it all!
We'll definitely be back! Thank you!
All the very best,
Zöe, Rob, George + the girls
x x x
Dear Deana,
Thank you for a lovely stay in this cosy cottage! It was a lovely 'home away from home' to explore the beauty of Donegal.
We have fallen in love with the county; especially the warmth of the people will stay with us as a lasting souvenir. This includes Frank; thank you for your tips and warm welcome.
See you again at Cobblestone Cottage; no doubt we will return!
Warmest, Sabine, Evert & Sacha
14/8/26 – Provence (France) & Amsterdam
Thank you for a wonderful stay!
The cottage is lovely in an excellent location with great hospitality. If we visit again we will be back!
We had a wonderful stay at this beautiful cottage in Ireland. Everything was perfect – the house was clean, cozy, and exactly as described. What really stood out was the communication, which was exceptional from start to finish. Our host was incredibly helpful, friendly, and always quick to respond. We would happily stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area!
July 2026
Thank you for a beautiful few days in Donegal. The cottage is just gorgeous, very calm and relaxing. Perfect.
Grainne, Gareth & David
xx.
14th June 2026
We had a wonderful stay in the garden cottage, felt like home. The carriage house is gorgeous ♡. Thank you for having us here. Thank you so much, Frank, for the best recommendations and great conversation.
Anja + Carsten from Munich
19-27 June 2026
A wonderful and welcoming retreat! Staying here while attending an chursa Gaeilge gave me just the rest I needed when my brain hurt — is an teanga deachair ach is an teanga álainn freisin.
Even in a wild and very loud storm the wee cabin was cosy!
Thank you Sal (Aberdeen, Scotland)
This is the most beautiful place yet. Thank you for everything ♡ Nell
Very nice cottage, exactly as in the photos Equipped with everything you need Thank you very much for the initial supplies of milk, bread, eggs and butter …… we were very pleased with that Many thanks to Frank for his warm welcome, the great tips and the interesting stories We would be very happy to come back at any time
May 22 - 25 • 3 nights
Entire Cottage on Bunbeg Harbor
we really enjoyed our stay in this historic cosy cottage...we had cosy evenings in by the log fire and cooked in the lovely kitchen, lit the candles and soaked in the bath with the locally produced bath salts provided.
so many little thoughtful details made this a stand out stay.
we would definitely recommend to anyone seeking a place to chill out. there are coffee shops,good pubs and decent food shops all within a few minutes drive.
Dear Deana,
We had a relaxing stay in your lovely cottage – we really appreciated all the little details... wood for fire, candles, bath salts...
It was blustery and cold outside but warm inside. It was good to simply chill out after a few weeks of travelling the WAW.
Kim and Michael, Kingston, Surrey
P.S. Glenveagh Castle and National Park worth a visit.
Thank you so much for the most wonderful stay. We loved your home and the close proximity to everything locally. We have had the best holiday with our family and will definitely book again on our next summer trip home from Sydney.
Thank you to the wonderful Rita and Deana for looking after us so well.
Adam, Maeve, Fearghal & Éimhear xx
And of course Aodhán ♥