Associated with Bruckless House is Sallows Farm, situated in the Blue Stack Mountains. Sallows farm provides year round grazing for the Connemara herd as well as 25 hectares of planted forestry.
The farm, with its cabin-like two-roomed house, was a family home when the Evanses bought it in 1977. Almost "open range" the property was fenced and drained making it possible to run a small flock of sheep for several years. Later, the bulk of the land was planted with conifers and 20% deciduous trees under a scheme funded by the government. The land in general is poor for pasture but with several parks around the house: the trees have flourished. In recent years a difficulty has arisen because of red deer that have migrated from the extensive Glenveagh National Park, which is to the north and over the Blue Stack Mountains. These animal, graceful though they are, are anathema to good woodlands management and development as they feed off young trees, killing them in the process. This is an on-going problem without an acceptable solution at this time.
A harvesting road was constructed in 2007 which allows easy access right through the woodlands giving a walker every opportunity to see the wildbird life and glimpses of the deer that live there. The cottage on the farm is equipped with basic necessities: an open barn has been added for the storage of fodder and to give the ponies some shelter from the heavy rainfall that occurs in this mountainous region.
The Blue Stack Mountains provides the farm with a picturesque backdrop, adding to the wild nature of the landscape. It is a part of Donegal seldom visited by guests who, when they venture there, are entranced by the natural beauty of the mountsin, trees and the bubbling Eany River which forms the western boundary. It is found 5kms north of the village of Frosses, in the townland of Letterfad and is a favourite spot for the Evans family.
Clive and Joan Evans, Bruckless House, Bruckless, Co. Donegal, Ireland
phone: 074 9737071
email: bruc@bruckless.com