July 2008

A lovely beach in a lovely location

Tra na Rossan is located off the impressive Atlantic Drive on the Rosguill Peninsula. A huge growth in holiday homes in this area has spoiled its wildness but when you get to the beach it’s just the sea, surrounding hills and the wide expanse of the open fields behind you.

This beach is wide, sandy and good for swimming. Lots of room for children to play and some protection from the wind if you move up into the small dunes at the back of the beach. We have swam here with seals watching from a safe distance.

If you are adventurous and fit you can walk to the far end of the beach and from there climb the hill behind the hostel. From the top the views are spectacular (most of the photos were taken on this route).

There’s a reasonable sized car park, which was spoiled last time we were there by derelict caravans in a nearby field. However, once you get onto the beach they are out of sight and, hopefully, out of mind.

Directions

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This beach is on the Rosguill Peninsula, beyond the towns of Carrigart and Downings. When you get to Carrigart you take the R 248 for Downings and then you branch off onto the sign-posted Atlantic Drive. Follow this twisty road until you come to a junction with a left turn for the Drive and straight on should be sign-posted Melmore Head . You go straight on toward Melmore and after a short distance you should see a signpost for a left turn to the beach. (The reason for the ‘shoulds ‘, as any driver in Ireland knows, is that signposts have a habit of disappearing).

Ordnance Survey Discovery Series Map No. 2