Lake of Shadows Hotel

Hotels
8.4 (145 reviews)
Grianan Park , Buncrana , ie

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Room service
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly staff
Clean rooms
Delicious food
Cons:
Gloomy rooms
Dated decor
Cleanliness issues

Categories

Cleanliness
7.99
Rooms were clean but some mentioned issues with dirty crockery and cutlery.
Service
8.96
Consistently friendly and helpful staff noted throughout reviews.
Location
9
Located centrally and convenient for exploring Buncrana.
Room Quality
7.95
Rooms generally nice but some felt gloomy and dated.
Amenities
8.48
Adequate breakfast and tea & coffee making facilities provided.
Value for Money
7.94
Value reflects overall experience but slightly dinged due to cleanliness issues.
Food and Beverage
8.49
Food variety and quality were praised, though breakfast selection was deemed adequate.
Overall Experience
8.36
Mostly positive experiences, with some stated issues offset by friendly service.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-06 11:44

Property Description

Convenient Location
Located just a 5-minute walk from both Buncrana town centre and the beautiful beach of Lough Swilly, The Lake of Shadows Hotel offers the perfect blend of convenience and relaxation.

Cozy Accommodations
The warmly furnished rooms at The Lake of Shadows provide a comfortable retreat, each equipped with modern amenities including a flat-screen TV/DVD player and tea/coffee-making facilities. The en suite bathrooms add an extra touch of convenience to your stay.

Delicious Dining Options
Start your day with a full Irish breakfast cooked to order, and later enjoy hearty meals prepared with local, seasonal produce and daily specials at the on-site restaurant. For a more casual dining experience, lunch is served in the bar.

Ready to experience the charm of The Lake of Shadows Hotel? Book your stay now and indulge in a memorable getaway.

Important information:

A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:30 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 0 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 145 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.99
Service: 8.96
Location: 9
Room Quality: 7.95
Amenities: 8.48
Value for Money: 7.94
Food and Beverage: 8.49
Overall Experience: 8.36
S
Susan • couple • ie
8
2026-06-12 • via Nuitee
J
James • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-06-12 • via Nuitee
R
Reiner • extended_group • de
10
2026-06-11 • via Nuitee
D
david • couple • gb
9
Excellent stay and we look forward to returning
Pros:

Very comfortable beds, well appointed facilities. Friendly staff especially Gemma who went above and beyond to make sure our stay was comfortable

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-11 • via Nuitee
D
Dominique • solo_traveller • fr
8
2026-06-09 • via Nuitee
D
Dominique • solo_traveller • fr
8
2026-06-09 • via Nuitee
D
david • couple • gb
9
2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
C
CPM • solo_traveller • ie
9
Pros:

Staff were friendly and professional food was amazing. This hotel is simple but elegant all in one we only stayed the one night to visit family

Cons:

The ensuite was quite cramped but I'm on the pudgy side so can't fault the hotel... I'm a bit more pudgyier after eating all the lovely food too🫣

2026-06-03 • via Nuitee
S
sarahmarie • extended_group • ie
10
2026-06-02 • via Nuitee
N
Nathan • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Room was clean and comfy, all the staff are great and friendly.

Cons:

Nothing at all was a perfect stay.

2026-06-02 • via Nuitee
S
shane • solo_traveller • ie
10
2026-05-14 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-04-18 • via Nuitee
P
PATRICK • couple • gb
8
100
Pros:

we were made welcome with a smile and very good greeting.

Cons:

breakfast was hot i would like a pot of tea in the morning.

2026-04-18 • via Nuitee
A
Aisling • extended_group • gb
10
2026-04-14 • via Nuitee
• couple • gb
10
2026-04-12 • via Nuitee
D
Doherty • couple • gb
8
2026-04-12 • via Nuitee
B
Breege • family_with_children • ie
10
Pros:

The hotel was lovely ....very clean, lovely friendly staff, breakfast very good 👍

2026-04-08 • via Nuitee
S
Sebastiana • extended_group • it
10
Pros:

I went into my stay with meh expectations after reading some of the reviews, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. From the moment we walked through the doors, we were welcomed by a warm sense of coziness, cleanliness and genuine hospitality. The hotel is incredibly charming, with a lovely touch of nostalgia that makes it feel special rather than outdated. My room was spacious, super clean and had the most comfortable bed I experienced during my entire trip to Ireland.
The staff were kind and welcoming, with a special shout out to the woman at the front desk and the fellow who stayed late at the bar.
I really hope I’ll have the chance to return one day to lovely Buncrana and the delightful Lake of Shadows Hotel.

2026-04-02 • via Nuitee
K
Kelly • couple • gb
10
we had a very relaxing and enjoyable stay. Everything within walking distance.
Pros:

Breakfast was excellent. great value for money.

Cons:

Everything was just perfect.

2026-03-29 • via Nuitee
S
Samanthafe • couple • gb
5
Excellent location
Pros:

Good location

Cons:

Breakfast was tasteless

2026-03-08 • via Nuitee