As planning permission receives the green light from Donegal County Council, a new eco-tourism venture is set to make a splash along the Donegal-Derry border. The “Water and Wildwood” outdoor activity park, brainchild of founder Marie Wylie, has secured conditional approval to transform the picturesque Gortcormacan area near Burnfoot into a haven for wild swimming enthusiasts and paddleboard aficionados alike.
The development—nestled between forest and lake near Muff and Barr’s Quarry—promises a decidedly non-chlorinated alternative to traditional water parks. Rather than garish waterslides and wave pools, visitors will immerse themselves in nature’s own playground, where the only background music comes from rustling leaves and lapping water.
The Council attached 17 conditions to the permission—bureaucracy’s way of saying “yes, but not too enthusiastically.”
Accommodation options run the gamut from rustic to slightly less rustic: a single-story cottage for those unwilling to fully commit to the outdoor experience, plus chalets, tents, and yurts for the more adventurous souls. An agricultural shed—likely having housed more sheep than humans in its lifetime—will undergo a dramatic career change to provide office space, kitchen facilities, and showers.
Environmental consciousness permeates the project’s DNA, with plans for a reed bed and wetland wastewater treatment system that transforms human waste into something decidedly less offensive. The proposed septic tank system will ensure minimal environmental impact while supporting the park’s ambitious facilities. The existing entrance will receive a much-needed facelift to accommodate the inevitable influx of city dwellers seeking Instagram-worthy “connecting with nature” moments.
The park’s strategic location on the Donegal-Derry border positions it perfectly to capitalize on cross-border tourism, potentially becoming a shared space where visitors from both sides can unite in the universal experience of awkwardly changing into swimwear in public.
It complements the region’s growing reputation as an eco-tourism destination and aligns with PeacePlus-funded initiatives promoting regional development. The project embraces economic resilience through its year-round attraction potential, moving beyond the traditional summer-only tourism model. Similar to the €16.7m Riverine Community Park project, this development emphasizes cross-border cooperation and shared community spaces.
For a region historically divided, there’s something poetically fitting about people coming together to collectively brave the bracing waters of the Irish northwest—sharing goosebumps knows no borders.
