Icy Lough Mardal

Frozen lake from Sauna

Snowdog, Lough Mardal

Sauna at Snow Sunrise

Frozen Lake & Sauna

Snowy Shepherd's Hut

Rolling in the Snow

Swan Pushing through Ice

Goose & Swan in frozen lake, Lough Mardal, Donegal

Lough Mardal Lodge blanketed in Snow

Icy Lake Reflections

Snow covered jetty

Snowy Yurt

It's been a very icy start to 2026 which brings its challanges to this remote neck of the woods. The hilly boreens that lead to us are white-knuckle rides, the wood-burning stoves need topping up 24/7...and, well that's actually it really. The lovely guests who happened to be here, waking up to a white transformation, really appreciated the Lodge with its giant fireplace and underfloor heating all the more after their snowy rambles.

When we are blanketed in snow it is one of the most beautiful times of the year here. It's like the busy everyday gets paused and the days are filled with walks and rambles, moments soaking up the white landscape, toboggan-improvising with the kids and, this year, saunas which turns out are pretty epic in this weather, especially the icy plunge in the lake. (Check out Marcus on our Reel on Instagram!)