Photograph 1 of 3 of Carrickmahon, Altnapaste, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal
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Carrickmahon, Altnapaste, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal

€8,000

BER A3

What you'll like:

  • Highly Accessible Pricing: With an asking price of just €8,000, this land parcel presents an exceptionally low capital entry barrier for recreational buyers or local landowners seeking incremental property expansion.
  • Compact Square Geometry: The plot is described as almost square in shape, which generally optimizes boundary management, fencing efficiency, and potential agricultural utilization compared to irregular slivers of land.
  • Scenic Mountain Vistas: The property offers commanding, panoramic views of the Bluestack Mountains, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and making it an inspiring spot for rural appreciation.
  • Dedicated Grazing Capability: Land quality is specified as all grazing type farmland, providing immediate utility for seasonal livestock grazing or keeping hobby animals close to nature.
  • Self-Contained Folio: Comprising all of Folio DL7424, the ownership boundaries for this specific block are straightforward, simplifying the legal conveyance process for your solicitor during purchase.
  • Upland Rural Environment: Situated in the scenic, upland townland of Carrickmahon, the location offers absolute peace, quietude, and freedom from urban congestion or heavy traffic noise.
  • Local Farming Proximity: Positioned within a traditional agricultural community near Ballybofey, the field integrates smoothly into a regional landscape surrounded by active farming operations.
  • Potential Outfarm Addition: Local farmers with existing landholdings nearby can easily absorb this 2.2-acre patch into an existing herd management plan or grazing rotation schedule.
  • Low Holding Costs: Given its small scale and agricultural classification, ongoing local property taxes and maintenance overheads should remain minimal, preserving long-term financial economy.
  • Clear Spatial Reference: The listing provides precise proximity markers relative to a nearby local house, making initial physical inspection and field identification relatively straightforward for interested parties.
  • Direct Public Road Proximity: Located approximately 100 metres off the main public road, the land balances close roadside nearness with enough internal seclusion to avoid heavy passing disruption.
  • Natural Landscape Preservation: As an undeveloped greenfield plot, it offers a blank canvas for buyers wanting to preserve local flora, enhance biodiversity, or support local honeybee foraging.
  • Flexible Future Options: Modest rural plots occasionally lend themselves to alternative hobby uses, seasonal camping retreats, or localized carbon offset projects depending on local planning rules.
  • Straightforward Transaction Scale: The minute financial scale minimizes exposure to complex financing contingencies, allowing cash buyers to execute a rapid and frictionless transaction closing.
  • Authentic County Donegal Setting: Owning a slice of the rugged northern Irish countryside connects the purchaser deeply with the unique cultural and natural heritage of County Donegal.
  • Informal Access Route: The presence of an existing laneway ensures you can physically reach the interior of the plot without needing to immediately construct heavy-duty infrastructure from scratch.
  • Nearby Market Towns: Ballybofey is within accessible driving distance for essential agricultural supplies, machinery maintenance, and contractor services required to manage rural property effectively.
  • Open Market Availability: All enquiries are currently welcome by the selling agent, indicating a transparent and accessible acquisition process for any motivated private buyer.
  • Manageable Scale for Novices: At just over two acres, managing this plot does not require heavy commercial farming equipment, making it approachable for novice rural landowners.
  • Landscape Integration: The field fits naturally into the rolling topography of Altnapaste, blending seamlessly with surrounding hills, pastures, and traditional drystone wall remnants.

But keep in mind:

  • Shared Laneway Rights: The property is accessed via a shared farm laneway that continues through the field to other lands, which could lead to potential right-of-way disputes or traffic conflicts.
  • Indeterminate Land Drainage: Buyers should investigate local soil saturation and drainage capacity, as upland grazing plots in Donegal frequently suffer from heavy waterlogging during wet seasons.
  • Lack of Independent Utilities: There are no electricity, water, or sewage connections on site, severely restricting any permanent residential development ambitions or intensive agricultural setups.
  • Strict Planning Restrictions: Securing local planning permission for a permanent dwelling on an isolated agricultural plot in rural Donegal is notoriously difficult under local county development guidelines.
  • Fencing Maintenance Obligations: The buyer should carefully check existing boundary fences and stock gates, as repairing or replacing perimeter fencing across two acres can incur unexpected capital costs.
  • Right-of-Way Encumbrances: Because the access lane continues past your field to other lands, third parties may legally traverse your property frequently, reducing privacy and security.
  • Restricted Commercial Viability: At only 2.2 acres, the parcel is too small to sustain an independent commercial farm enterprise, limiting its economic utility primarily to hobby or sideline use.
  • Unpaved Access Limitations: The grassy laneway leading from the public road may become impassable for standard motor vehicles or heavy machinery during prolonged periods of winter rainfall.
  • Title and Mapping Discrepancies: The buyer must instruct their legal representative to thoroughly verify that the OSI mapping boundaries perfectly match the physical extents of Folio DL7424.
  • Absent Frontage Rights: Situated 100 metres back from the public road, the property lacks direct road frontage, which typically diminishes long-term development value and site accessibility.
  • Potential Overgrazing History: Buyers should inspect the turf quality to ensure past livestock stocking rates have not degraded soil nutrients or encouraged heavy growth of unpalatable rushes.
  • Vulnerability to Weather Extremes: Being located in an exposed upland townland means the field is subject to harsh winds, heavy frost, and driving rain, impacting its seasonal usability.
  • Lack of Natural Shelter: Depending on existing hedgerows, livestock or visitors on the plot may have minimal natural protection against severe western Atlantic weather systems moving inland.
  • Limited Resale Liquidity: Small agricultural plots can sometimes take years to liquidate, meaning your invested capital might remain tied up if you decide to exit the investment quickly.
  • Absence of Official Surveys: The listing provides no formal topographical or boundary surveyor's report, placing the full burden of physical verification squarely on the incoming buyer.
  • Potential Trespass and Livestock Issues: Shared or open access routes can occasionally invite unauthorized entry, illegal dumping, or stray livestock wandering onto your portion of the land.
  • No Guarantee of Agricultural Subsidies: Payment entitlements or regional farm scheme allocations may not transfer with this specific folio, meaning it might generate zero passive income.
  • Maintenance Access Logistics: Bringing heavy tractors, excavators, or hedge-cutting equipment down a narrow grassy laneway requires careful coordination to avoid damaging adjacent soil structures.
  • Future Local Development Uncertainty: Changes in county zoning laws or forestry planting grants nearby could drastically alter the surrounding rural landscape character over the coming decades.
  • Transaction Friction Costs: Legal fees and stamp duty expenses for a very low-priced plot can disproportionately consume a significant percentage of the total acquisition budget.

Price positioning

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This comparison depends on limited public and listing evidence, which may be incomplete, outdated or not directly comparable. The score is not a percentage, professional valuation or guaranteed estimate. Ask an independent qualified valuer before relying on a property value.
The asking price appears broadly in line, with a slight undervaluation signal.
  • The property is an agricultural parcel spanning approximately 2.2 acres of upland grazing land located within the rural townland of Carrickmahon near Ballybofey.
  • The explicit asking price for this specific plot of land is registered at eight thousand euros, matching current marketing details for the entire folio.
  • Comparable small rural agricultural plots and rural land parcels in County Donegal frequently trade or list at levels closely aligned with this modest price point.
  • Given the specific upland location, access via a shared farm laneway, and grazing land quality, the asking price appears broadly in line with prevailing evidence.

Build Analysis

What we know from similar construction types

  • The property listing is for a 2.2-acre agricultural field rather than a built residential structure, despite an anomalous A3 BER rating listed in the data [1.1.4].
  • A buyer should verify the exact nature of the folio (DL7424) and confirm boundaries, land quality, and any potential restrictions on agricultural land use.
  • Access is provided via a shared farm laneway and a grassy laneway approximately 100 metres off the public road, meaning a buyer should investigate right-of-way documentation, maintenance responsibilities, and suitability for vehicular access.

Heating cost*

Estimated expense to heat this property every year

  • €0 per year
  • The property listing describes an open field or agricultural land rather than a habitable structure with a heating system, meaning there are no active home heating costs.

Pollution Safe

9/10

Environmental situation to investigate

  • The land is located in a remote, scenic upland rural townland with very limited exposure to major industrial facilities or waste incinerators.
  • Any historical or legacy contamination risks are minimal given the agricultural and grazing nature of the surroundings, though buyers should verify local agricultural chemical use.

Flood Safe

8/10

Water overflow reports to follow up

  • Situated in an elevated upland area overlooking the Bluestack Mountains, reducing susceptibility to widespread river or coastal flooding.
  • Local surface water accumulation or run-off during heavy upland rainstorms should be investigated by the buyer relative to specific field contours.

Recent Local Sales

Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years

Sales on the same street or estate

  • ALTNAPASTE MILL, ALTNAPASTE, BALLYBOFEY

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €600,000.00

Recent sales in the wider Ballybofey area

  • MULLINAHOSE, BALLYBOFEY, CO DONEGAL

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €155,000.00
  • 264 ARD MAC, BALLYBOFEY, CARRON

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €145,000.00
  • 2 GLENFIN COURT, GLENFIN RD, BALLYBOFEY

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €126,000.00
  • 104 THE BEECHES, NAVENNY, BALLYBOFEY

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €272,000.00
  • CORRAINE, BALLYBOFEY, CO. DONEGAL

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €50,000.00

Source: Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Residential Property Price Register (PPR).

Matching uses address information published by the PPR rather than measured map distance. It may omit nearby properties on differently named streets.

Last Sale

A confidently matched previous PPR transaction for this property

No confidently matched previous sale was found in the Property Price Register.

Buyer fees*

Associated expenses guide

  • Stamp duty: Estimated at 7.5% for non-residential or agricultural land purchases, or potentially 1% if residential rules apply; buyers should verify the classification and applicable exemptions such as young trained farmer relief (approx. €80 to €600 based on the asking price)
  • Solicitor legal fees: Generally ranges from €1,500 to €3,000 plus 23% VAT for conveyancing services and associated outlays
  • Land registration fees: Approximately €130 to €400 depending on the property value and registration type with Tailte Éireann
  • Property valuation fees: Around €150 to €300 for an independent valuation
  • Surveyor fees: Typically €350 to €750 or higher depending on the scope of the land or property inspection required
  • Annual home insurance: Not applicable as this listing is for an undeveloped plot or agricultural field rather than a habitable dwelling structure

Forum Talk

What people are saying about this area

  • Discussions in rural County Donegal focus heavily on agricultural land availability and forestry initiatives.
  • Locals often talk about planning permission dynamics for rural single-family housing and agricultural buildings.
  • Community commentary highlights scenic rural amenities near the Bluestack Mountains and River Finn valleys.
  • Infrastructure maintenance and local road network improvements remain common topics among rural residents.

LifeFit Assessment

How well this property may suit your lifestyle

Family

7 areas
  • Young Children

    This listing is for a vacant agricultural field rather than a residential home, making it completely unsuitable for young children to live in.

    1/10
  • Teenagers

    As this offering is solely an undeveloped parcel of grazing land, there is no housing or living space for teenagers.

    1/10
  • Multi-generational Living

    The property consists of a 2.2-acre field with no residential structures, preventing multi-generational families from living together here without substantial planning permission and construction.

    1/10
  • Single Buyers

    While the low asking price of €8,000 may appeal to budget-conscious single buyers, the asset is raw agricultural land and cannot be lived in.

    2/10
  • Couples

    Couples looking for a ready-to-move-in home or building project will find this is just an open field with access via a shared farm laneway.

    2/10
  • Empty Nesters

    Empty nesters seeking a manageable home or downsized property cannot occupy this rural grazing field.

    1/10
  • Retirees

    This property offers no retirement housing options, amenities, or residential facilities, consisting entirely of a rural field.

    1/10

Work

3 areas
  • Remote Working

    There is no dwelling, office infrastructure, or guaranteed broadband connectivity on this open piece of farmland.

    1/10
  • Hybrid Commuting

    The property cannot serve as a residence to commute from since it lacks any habitable structure.

    1/10
  • Retired

    While retired buyers might enjoy owning land for hobby farming, the absence of a home means it cannot support retirement living.

    2/10

Practical

8 areas
  • Ageing in Place

    With no home or facilities, ageing in place here is impossible without major residential construction.

    1/10
  • Low Maintenance

    An open field requires periodic agricultural management or grazing control, but lacks structural maintenance needs.

    5/10
  • Secure Gated Entry

    Access is via a shared farm laneway running through the field, offering little in terms of secure or private gated entry.

    2/10
  • Minimalist Design

    There are no architectural structures on the property to exhibit minimalist design.

    1/10
  • Flexible Floor Plans

    There are no buildings or floor plans associated with this plot of land.

    1/10
  • Heritage Home

    The property consists entirely of vacant grazing farmland rather than a historical or heritage building.

    1/10
  • Ecological Setup

    Comprising an all-grazing type farmland field in an upland rural area, it offers a natural, undisturbed ecosystem environment.

    8/10
  • Outdoor areas

    The asset is literally an outdoor area—a 2.2-acre nearly square field with commanding mountain views.

    9/10

Interests

9 areas
  • Horse Riding

    The 2.2 acres of grazing land could potentially suit keeping horses or livestock, supported by the rural setting.

    7/10
  • Gardening

    With 2.2 acres of grazing farmland, there is ample open space for large-scale gardening or agricultural hobbies, subject to local conditions.

    8/10
  • Walking

    The upland setting near the Bluestack Mountains provides great scenic backdrops for outdoor country walking, though access is via a shared grassy laneway.

    7/10
  • Gym

    There are no indoor fitness facilities or commercial gyms in this remote rural townland.

    1/10
  • Cycling

    The surrounding rural roads offer scenic routes for hardy cyclists, though the property itself is accessed via a rough farm laneway.

    5/10
  • Golf

    Proximity to formal golf courses is limited given the remote rural location of the land.

    2/10
  • Fishing

    The general Ballybofey and Co. Donegal region features various rivers and angling spots, though buyers should verify specific local fishing rights near this plot.

    6/10
  • Water Sports

    The upland inland location is distant from major water sports hubs, though regional rivers or lakes may offer limited scope.

    2/10
  • Entertaining

    As an open agricultural field accessed by a shared farm lane with no utilities or structures, entertaining guests here is entirely impractical.

    1/10

Lifestyle

5 areas
  • Quiet Living

    Located in a scenic, upland townland with commanding views of the Bluestack Mountains, the location offers maximum peace and isolation.

    10/10
  • Rural Living

    The property is a pure rural offering—a 2.2-acre grazing field surrounded by the countryside of Carrickmahon, Ballybofey.

    10/10
  • Village Living

    The land is situated remotely in an upland rural townland rather than within a vibrant village center.

    2/10
  • Coastal Living

    Co. Donegal has plenty of coastline, but this specific inland upland property has no proximity to the coast.

    1/10
  • Urban Living

    This is a remote rural field far removed from any urban environment or city infrastructure.

    1/10

Social

6 areas
  • Community Involvement

    The location is deeply rural with minimal immediate local community footprint outside of sparse neighboring rural properties.

    3/10
  • Café Culture

    There are no cafés or social spots within walking distance of this upland agricultural field.

    1/10
  • Nightlife

    No nightlife options exist in this remote rural townland.

    1/10
  • Health/Wellness groups

    Wellness or fitness groups are absent from the immediate upland surroundings.

    1/10
  • Networking Opportunities

    Professional networking is virtually non-existent in this secluded agricultural zone.

    1/10
  • Tech-Hub Connectivity

    The land lacks any digital infrastructure or tech-hub proximity.

    1/10

Listing information

Agent
Agent details not available.
Published on HouseDelve
3 September 2026
Correction
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Property reference: HD-CE3D66HouseDelve · Republic of Ireland

Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.