Staying at the Swallow's Nest was perfect for what I wanted: a rustic, peaceful setting in a beautiful part of Ireland. Allaye was warm and welcoming. She is truly interesting and a delight to talk with. She made fresh scones every morning, served with butter and some homemade preserves.
The location is just outside of Glenties and not far from Ardara...both nice towns with pubs and shops. Not far away is Mahera Strand (beach). The tide was in when I went, so I didn't get to explore the caves there, but hopefully will get to later. A little farther is the Port: a cove nestled amidst tall cliffs with a stunning view of the ocean and coastline. I really felt like I was at the edge of the world there. The whole area has miles and miles of lavender heather-strewn bog and you can see where people still cut the peat to use as a heat source. Also stopped at Glencolumbkille which is a cute little village with exhibits about life in the area across 4 centuries (I highly recommend the hearty soup and brown bread).
The weather was a bit rainy (in late Sept), interspersed with moments of not-rain and even a little sunshine. That seems to be the norm for the area and it didn't appear to stop anyone from going about their business. I found the sound of rain on the roof of the shed soothing ...especially when it's dry and cozy inside!
The Swallow's Nest was very comfortable. I was impressed that it had modern electrical wiring, hot water for the shower, a regular toilet, and a gas stove. I wasn't sure about the loft part, but it was just fine. There is a beautiful view from the large loft window to the valley and hills across. The amenities were simple and provided most everything I needed. Wifi would've been icing on the cake, but I was able to get cellular access through my phone most of the time to check email and some travel sites. Anything else not present was more than compensated for by the overall tranquility and the coolness factor of the stone shed. n.b. This really is a renovated stone shed from who-knows-what-year, so I think it's useful to temper expectations accordingly. Example: if your tolerance for sharing the space with a few insects here and there is low, you might want to consider a place in the city. For me, this location was perfect.