A Day at Dronagiri

People often ask us what there is to do at Dronagiri….

The honest answer is that there can be as much or as little as you like. Some guests arrive with a list of places they want to visit. Others barely leave the cabin for the entire stay. Most find a balance somewhere in between.

One thing we do hear regularly is that people underestimate how much they need a few days with nowhere to be and nothing much planned.

The cabins are a great place for watching what’s happening outside. We’ve often spotted deer in the fields, hares passing through and all sorts of birdlife.

Most mornings start simply. Put the kettle on. Sit outside if the weather allows. Watch the light move across the hills. Read a few pages of a book you’ve been meaning to get back to for months. Breakfast doesn’t need to be rushed because there isn’t really anywhere you have to be.

Afterwards, you might wander around the nature track. The nature path loops through the land, passing the pond, young woodland areas and meadows. Depending on the time of year, you’ll find different flowers, medicinal herbs, insects and wildlife going about their business. The pond is quite a nice place to sit as we often have a heron or some ducks visiting.

If you’d like to explore further, East Clare has plenty to offer.

We’re fortunate to be located in an area often described as Ireland’s lake district. Lough Derg is only a short drive away and offers beautiful lakeside walks, opportunities for wild swimming, kayaking and some lovely places to stop for lunch. Not to mention all the other small lakes dotted around including Rosslara (5 minutes drive), Lough Grainey (15mins drive), Kilgory (12 minutes drive), Clondorney (10minutes) and many others.

Mountshannon is one of our favourite villages nearby. It’s small, friendly and sits right beside the lake. Flagmount is another lovely spot (beside Lough Grainey), particularly if you’re looking for walks like the Caher Murphy Loop walk or other walks along the East Clare Way..

Many guests also take a day trip to the Burren. It’s one of those places that’s difficult to explain until you’ve seen it. The landscape is completely different to anywhere else in Ireland and every season brings something new to discover. It’s amazing for wildflowers from Spring until Autumn and worth visiting any time of the year.

Of course, plenty of people decide not to go anywhere at all.

We’ve had guests arrive with plans for long days of sightseeing who end up spending most of their stay sitting around the cabin, reading books and watching the weather change.

If you’re looking for a little extra support in switching off, you can book an Ayurvedic treatment or consultation at our clinic. Many guests enjoy combining a treatment with a sauna session as part of their stay.

Later in the day is often when the sauna comes into its own.

Our wood-fired panoramic sauna looks out across the countryside and is particularly lovely in the late afternoon as the light begins to soften. If saunas aren’t your thing, the wood-fired Uforo hot tub offers another way to unwind while spending time outdoors.

As evening arrives, it’s usually time to light the Kadai.

Some guests cook a simple meal over the fire while others use the cabin kitchen and then sit outside afterwards with a cup of tea or hot chocolate.

One of the things we’ve deliberately tried to create at Dronagiri is a place that feels calm. There are no parties, no loud music and no pressure to be doing something all the time.

As darkness falls, the stars begin to appear.

On clear nights, the sky here can be spectacular. We still find ourselves looking up, even after all these years. Living in the countryside, you never quite get used to seeing so many stars.

And then that’s pretty much a day at Dronagiri. Nothing particularly dramatic. Just birdsong, fresh air, nature, good food, maybe a sauna, a walk, a book and a decent night’s sleep.

Sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed.