
The Fanad Lodge, Ballyhiernan, Kindrum, Letterkenny, County DonegalF92Y300
€200,000
10 Bed~8 Bath~BER D2
What you'll like:
- Established going concern: Operating as a hospitality venue since 1976, this property gives buyers an existing business foundation and immediate operational history within a picturesque rural coastal setting.
- Full publican licence: Inclusion of a full seven-day publican licence offers substantial commercial versatility, enabling the new owner to potentially revive bar operations and generate diverse hospitality revenue streams.
- Extensive guest accommodation: Featuring eight bedrooms alongside multiple reception areas, the layout provides excellent capacity for bed and breakfast operations or large-group holiday bookings throughout the tourist season.
- Self-contained apartment: The additional two-bedroom apartment provides flexible living quarters for resident owners, staff accommodation, or an extra rental income stream to support the main business.
- Spectacular coastal vistas: Breathtaking views over the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding countryside enhance the visitor experience and make the property highly attractive for holidaymakers seeking authentic scenery.
- Tourist hotspot proximity: Located near the famous Fanad Head Lighthouse and beautiful regional beaches, the premises sits directly amid high-demand visitor routes along the scenic Wild Atlantic Way.
- Commercial kitchen setup: The dedicated commercial kitchen space comes equipped with stainless steel extraction and cooking appliances, reducing initial setup hurdles for prospective hospitality operators.
- Ample private parking: Generous off-street parking areas accommodate numerous vehicles conveniently, ensuring ease of access for patrons visiting the bar, restaurant, or bed and breakfast facilities.
- Multiple dining rooms: Separate dining spaces with seating for significant numbers allow for structured guest breakfast service or private functions while maintaining a welcoming lounge atmosphere.
- Substantial utility space: A large dedicated utility room equipped with multiple washing machines, tumble dryers, and chest freezers supports efficient on-site laundering operations for busy hospitality providers.
- Gas-controlled heating: Gas-fired central heating controlled throughout the main structure ensures consistent thermal comfort for guests staying across the various bedrooms and communal zones.
- Accessible Letterkenny link: While enjoying a tranquil rural escape, the property remains connected to Letterkenny via regional roads and local bus links for major retail and healthcare access.
- Private ensuite facilities: Several guest bedrooms feature fully tiled private ensuites with modern electric showers, elevating the comfort and privacy expected by paying overnight visitors.
- Outdoor appeal: Positioned within the scenic Fanad Peninsula, the location attracts outdoor enthusiasts interested in walking trails, water sports, and exploring rugged coastal landscapes.
- Flexible building use: The expansive floor plan allows an enterprising buyer to pivot between a traditional hospitality venue, a boutique guesthouse, or a sprawling private coastal family residence.
- Auction flexibility: Offering the asset via an online auction process gives motivated buyers a clear timeline to secure the property through transparent bidding procedures.
- Stable asking price: The asking price has remained stable at two hundred thousand euros during tracking, indicating consistent seller expectations ahead of the scheduled auction event.
- Established local reputation: Operating for decades within the local community provides baseline brand recognition that new owners can leverage through modern digital marketing campaigns.
- Natural light features: Double-aspect living areas in the independent apartment maximise natural daylight and enhance the enjoyment of the surrounding coastal scenery for occupants.
- Proximity to golf: Being located within reach of local golf courses adds another demographic attraction for visiting tourists seeking leisure activities alongside coastal sightseeing.
But keep in mind:
- Subpar energy rating: The property holds a D2 energy rating with a high energy performance indicator, which could mean elevated heating costs and necessitate future insulation upgrades.
- Unverified appliance condition: The selling agents explicitly note that all commercial equipment, fixtures, and services are untested, requiring buyers to fund professional inspections prior to purchase.
- Substantial renovation needs: Operating a hospitality venue established in decades past may require capital expenditure to modernise decor, furnishings, and facilities to meet contemporary tourist expectations.
- Online auction terms: The requirement for an immediate ten percent deposit and signed contracts upon successful bidding demands rapid financial readiness and legal preparation from interested buyers.
- Undisclosed reserve price: The property is subject to an undisclosed reserve price, introducing uncertainty regarding the minimum acceptable bid required to secure ownership at auction.
- Rural isolation challenges: Situated approximately forty-four kilometres from Letterkenny, the remote location might pose logistical hurdles for staffing, supply deliveries, and year-round trade.
- Limited public transport: Local bus services between Fanad and Letterkenny have lengthy journey times, making reliable personal vehicle transport essential for residents and staff alike.
- High maintenance overheads: Managing a large ten-bedroom, eight-bathroom structure involves significant ongoing upkeep, cleaning demands, and compliance costs for commercial hospitality operations.
- Seasonal market dependency: Reliance on regional tourism along the Wild Atlantic Way means revenue may fluctuate significantly between busy summer months and quieter winter periods.
- Wastewater infrastructure check: Buyers must independently investigate the capacity and condition of private septic or drainage systems, as municipal connection details are not specified.
- Water supply verification: Due to the rural coastal location, purchasers should verify the reliability, source, and quality of the local water supply servicing the establishment.
- Roof and structure inspection: The older nature of the building necessitates a thorough structural survey to check for dampness, roof integrity, and weatherproofing against Atlantic gales.
- Fire safety compliance: Operating a commercial B and B and licensed premises requires strict adherence to current fire safety regulations, which may mandate costly upgrades.
- Commercial rates liability: Acquiring a licensed going concern brings potential liability for local authority commercial rates, which must be factored into ongoing operational business forecasts.
- Limited local amenities: Immediate daily conveniences are sparse within the immediate village, requiring travel to larger towns for extensive retail, banking, or medical services.
- Staff recruitment hurdles: Attracting and retaining skilled hospitality and kitchen staff in a remote peninsula location could prove challenging for a new business operator.
- Broadband connectivity limits: Rural high-speed internet availability should be verified to ensure guests and modern point-of-sale systems can operate without connectivity disruptions.
- Insurance cost volatility: Securing commercial liability, public house, and guest accommodation insurance in a coastal location may involve higher premiums and strict policy conditions.
- Unverified floor area: The total floor area is not provided in the listing details, making it harder to calculate precise per-square-metre values without physical measurements.
- Planning permission review: Any intended changes to the commercial use, layout extensions, or apartment configuration will require careful verification of past planning permissions.
Price positioning
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- The asking price appears attractively positioned given the extensive scale of the eight-bedroom hospitality premises, self-contained apartment, and established publican license located within a major coastal tourism destination.
- The valuation signals are influenced by the property being offered via an online auction format with an undisclosed reserve price, which often indicates an intention to generate competitive bidding and accelerate a transaction.
- Potential factors supporting this price include strong seasonal tourism appeal along the scenic peninsula, while factors that could undermine it involve significant commercial refurbishment costs and remote rural positioning.
- Relevant considerations also include the D2 energy rating, substantial ongoing maintenance requirements for a multi-room commercial setup, and the flexibility to adapt the extensive floor space into a residential dwelling.
Build Analysis
What we know from similar construction types
- The property is a substantial mixed-use commercial and residential building incorporating a bar, restaurant, 8-bedroom Bed & Breakfast, and an adjoining 2-bedroom self-contained apartment.
- Buyers should investigate the structural condition of the roof, exterior walls, and plumbing systems, particularly given the coastal exposure on the Fanad Peninsula.
- Verify that all commercial elements, including the 7-day publican licence, commercial kitchen equipment, gas boilers, and fire safety compliance, meet current commercial building regulations and licensing standards.
- Inspect the property for any signs of dampness or weather-related wear typical of properties situated directly along the Atlantic coast.
Retrofit Cost*
Possible renovating / insulating expenditure
- The property has a D2 BER rating, indicating that a deep retrofit would be required to bring the building to a modern energy efficiency standard.
- A deep retrofit for a large commercial and residential property of this scale would likely range from €80,000 to €150,000+, depending on the extent of works needed for external wall insulation, window upgrades, heating system modernization across multiple zones, and commercial-grade energy management.
Heating cost*
Estimated expense to heat this property every year
- Estimated annual heating cost is between 3,500 euro and 5,000 euro.
- Given the D2 BER rating, large footprint spanning a commercial bar, restaurant, 8-bedroom B&B, and a separate 2-bedroom apartment with gas-controlled heating, energy consumption will be substantial and vary significantly based on occupancy levels and business operations.
Environmental checks
Area-level evidence and things to investigate
Air quality
Nearby sites
Landfills
None foundWaste facilities
None foundIndustrial facilities
None foundNearby infrastructure
Mobile phone masts
None foundOverhead electricity lines
None foundUnderground electricity cables
None foundFlood Safe
7/10Water overflow reports to follow up
- The property is situated within a picturesque coastal setting on the Fanad Peninsula, meaning exposure is primarily linked to coastal and marine weather rather than river systems.
- Official mapping indicates no recorded flood zones immediately impacting the site, though coastal locations inherently require consideration of severe storm surges and extreme weather events.
- The terrain and layout of the surrounding coastal community provide a degree of natural separation from potential marine hazards, supporting a generally favourable flood risk profile.
Recent Local Sales
Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years
Sales on the same street or estateExtra effort was used to find nearby sales here
BALLYHIERNAN, KINDRUM, FANAD
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €150,000.00
Recent sales in the wider Kindrum area
16 SOLOMONS MANOR, LETTERKENNY, DONEGAL
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €410,000.00
ROSEMOUNT HOUSE, LETTERKENNY, DONEGAL
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €292,000.00
90 THE GREEN, THORNBERRY, LETTERKENNY
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €210,000.00
174 ST MARYS TERRACE, RAMELTON, LETTERKENNY
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €232,000.00
4 CRUACH NA CILLE, BALLYRAINE, LETTERKENNY
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €129,000.00
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
- Estimated stamp duty: €2,000 — 1% of €200,000.
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Based on the asking price shown on this page, using standard residential stamp-duty rates. No adjustments are made for VAT, reliefs, mixed-use property or additional land. The final purchase price and your circumstances may change the amount payable.
- Solicitor legal fees are estimated to range between 1,500 euro and 3,500 euro plus VAT, depending on the complexity of the commercial and residential mixed title.
- Land registration fees typically range from 400 euro to 800 euro based on the property value and Land Registry banding.
- Property valuation fees generally cost between 150 euro and 300 euro.
- Surveyor fees for a comprehensive inspection of a large multi-room commercial and residential building are estimated between 600 euro and 1,500 euro.
- Annual home and commercial liability insurance for a property of this size and usage is estimated to range from 1,200 euro to 3,000 euro, subject to underwriting.
Forum Talk
What people are saying about this area
- Local community groups and tourism forums frequently highlight the Fanad Peninsula as a premier destination for scenic drives and coastal exploration along the Wild Atlantic Way.
- Discussions on regional boards often mention the strong seasonal influx of tourists visiting the nearby Fanad Head Lighthouse and local beaches such as Portsalon.
- Residents and business owners in rural Donegal regularly discuss the challenges and opportunities of running hospitality ventures in remote coastal locations.
- Community threads occasionally note the importance of local infrastructure and regional bus links connecting smaller settlements like Fanad to Letterkenny for broader amenities.
LifeFit Assessment
How well this property may suit your lifestyle
Family
7 areas- Young Children3/10
The property is a large commercial hospitality venue and B&B rather than a conventional family home, making it less practical for raising young children without significant adaptation.
- Teenagers4/10
While there is ample space with multiple bedrooms and an adjoining apartment, the remote rural coastal location offers limited independent social outlets or amenities for teenagers.
- Multi-generational Living7/10
The combination of an 8-bedroom B&B setup and a separate 2-bedroom self-contained apartment provides strong potential for multi-generational living or live-in family support.
- Single Buyers2/10
Managing a massive former bar, restaurant, and B&B operation alone would present an overwhelming maintenance and operational burden for a single buyer unless operating a business.
- Couples5/10
Suits couples specifically looking to take on a hospitality venture or hospitality business going concern, but less practical as a standard residential couple dwelling due to its scale.
- Empty Nesters4/10
The sheer scale of the 10-bedroom commercial property requires ongoing upkeep, which may be burdensome for empty nesters seeking a manageable retirement lifestyle.
- Retirees3/10
The remote rural location and substantial commercial layout offer limited convenience for standard retirement living, requiring significant effort to heat and maintain.
Work
3 areas- Remote Working5/10
The property offers plenty of independent spaces like the 2-bed apartment, but buyers should verify local broadband speeds and tech-hub connectivity for remote working.
- Hybrid Commuting1/10
Letterkenny is roughly 44 km away (around a one-hour drive), making regular hybrid commuting highly impractical.
- Retired4/10
While retirees could live in the 2-bed apartment, the main building is a commercial B&B, which is unsuited for a standard retirement lifestyle unless run as an active business.
Practical
8 areas- Ageing in Place4/10
The sprawling multi-level layout of an 8-bedroom commercial lodge is poorly adapted for ageing in place without major architectural modifications.
- Low Maintenance1/10
Featuring a commercial kitchen, 8 ensuite bedrooms, a bar, a restaurant, and a separate apartment, this property demands intensive maintenance and upkeep.
- Secure Gated Entry3/10
The listing notes ample private parking but does not specify secure gated entry, which buyers should verify.
- Minimalist Design2/10
The interior features traditional commercial carpeting, tiled finishes, timber floors, and extensive fitted hospitality inventory rather than minimalist design.
- Flexible Floor Plans8/10
Offers high flexibility with multiple dining rooms, an 8-bedroom accommodation wing, a commercial kitchen, bar, and a detached 2-bedroom self-contained apartment.
- Heritage Home4/10
Established as a B&B in 1976, it has long-standing local roots, though it is a commercial hospitality building rather than a traditional period residence.
- Ecological Setup3/10
Heated via gas boilers throughout, and holding a D2 BER rating, indicating potential room for energy efficiency upgrades.
- Outdoor areas8/10
Benefits from ample private parking, scenic coastal views, concrete walkways, and proximity to the natural amenities of the Fanad Peninsula.
Interests
9 areas- Gardening6/10
Ample outdoor areas and rural positioning provide scope for landscaping and gardening projects, though the plot is largely dedicated to parking and hospitality access.
- Walking10/10
Fantastically positioned for walking enthusiasts with stunning coastal landscapes, local walking trails, and nearby beaches on the doorstep.
- Gym2/10
There are no dedicated fitness facilities on site, and commercial gym amenities are located considerable distances away in Letterkenny.
- Cycling7/10
The scenic local roads of the Fanad Peninsula offer great cycling routes, though hilly terrain and rural isolation should be factored in.
- Golf8/10
Located close to regional golf courses and coastal attractions, making it appealing for golf enthusiasts.
- Fishing9/10
Proximity to the Atlantic coastline, coastal waters, and local angling spots provides excellent opportunities for fishing.
- Horse Riding7/10
The rural and coastal environment of the Fanad Peninsula offers a picturesque backdrop well-suited for equestrian interests.
- Water Sports9/10
Outstanding access to the Wild Atlantic coastline, beaches, and swimming areas makes it ideal for water sports.
- Entertaining10/10
Features a fully equipped commercial bar area (36.8ft x 26.2ft) with seating for 50, multiple dining rooms, and extensive seating, offering unmatched entertaining capacity.
Lifestyle
5 areas- Quiet Living10/10
Situated in the picturesque coastal community of the Fanad Peninsula, the property offers exceptionally peaceful countryside surroundings and quiet living.
- Rural Living10/10
Deeply embedded in a scenic rural setting in County Donegal, surrounded by countryside and coastal views.
- Village Living7/10
Set within the heart of Fanad Village, providing a close-knit community atmosphere with local amenities nearby.
- Coastal Living10/10
Enjoys breathtaking sea views, panoramic coastal scenery, and close proximity to beaches like Portsalon Beach and the Wild Atlantic coastline.
- Urban Living1/10
Located roughly 44 km from Letterkenny, offering no elements of urban convenience or city-center proximity.
Social
6 areas- Community Involvement7/10
As an established former bar, restaurant, and B&B in Fanad Village, the property has historically served as a central community hub.
- Café Culture3/10
Local café options are sparse given the rural village setting, requiring travel for a broader café culture.
- Nightlife4/10
While the property itself contains a fully licensed public house and bar area, external nightlife options in the immediate rural surroundings are extremely limited.
- Health/Wellness groups3/10
Formal health, wellness, and pilates & stretching groups are minimal locally and generally require traveling toward Letterkenny.
- Networking Opportunities3/10
Professional networking opportunities are scarce locally, though running the hospitality business would provide local commercial connections.
- Tech-Hub Connectivity1/10
There are no tech hubs in the immediate rural vicinity, and buyers should verify digital infrastructure.
Listing information
- Agent
- Glen Estates
- Phone
- +353 (86) 3853312
- Current status
- active
- Published on HouseDelve
- 11 November 2026
- Correction
- Report an issue
HD-8F9BE7HouseDelve · Republic of IrelandReport checks
Sources used: Public marketplace, Property Price Register, and grounded web research where available.
Automated quality checks: Passed
* Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.