Located just outside Emyvale, Emy Lough is an attractive location for anyone looking for a swim along the N2 between Derry and Dublin. It would provide a welcome break and chance to stretch, splash and play on a family journey.
The lake itself is well maintained with a short wooded walkway leading to a swimming area with a couple of benches and a children’s slide.
There is a dark sandy area here where you wade in and it is soft underfoot. You are gradually into your depth and it seems to be a good place for children to splash around. However, like all lakes you need to be careful and beware of rocks under the dark water. We can’t vouch for the cleanliness and there is a sign at the car park warning of algae.
A decent sized car park, along with a couple of picnic tables and a well kept grassy area makes Emy Lough a good place for a swim, a picnic and a stroll.
Emyvale is about 6/7 kilometres before the border on the N2 between Dublin and Derry. Coming from Dublin , as you enter Emyvale, watch out for a right turn signposted Emy Lough. A couple of kilometres along this road will bring you to a left turn signposted for the lake.
Photos of Emmy Lough by Brian KennyPhotos of Emmy Lough by Annette Vaucanson Kelly, 2020
Culdaff is a real gem and not far behind Portsalon in the ‘best beach in Donegal’ league table.
Nestling in Culdaff Bay, with a pier at one end and Dunmore Head at the other, the beach here is well sheltered. When we visited, the water was clear and lovely for swimming. There was a gradual wade in and the sand underfoot added to the whole experience.
While the beach is long, there are a couple of smaller sections at one end sheltered by rocks and good for children to play in and be watched. For any one with energy there is plenty of room for walking and running.
Overall, this is one of Donegal’s best beaches.
Blue Flag beach with lifeguards in the summer months. The first car park you come to has basic toilets and a concrete ramp which then runs into soft sand. It is fine for buggies, but very difficult for wheelchairs. The second car park has a children’s play area beside it.
Directions: From Moville take the R238 signposted Gleneeely. At Gleneeely take a right turn signposted Culdaff . You then have to watch carefully for a sharp right turn signposted ‘ Tra’.
Pollan Bay appears to be a popular holiday beach and there were plenty of surfers in the water when we were there. The water is lovely and clear and sandy underfoot. The Bay is sheltered and seems to be a good place for swimming.
The beach itself is sandy at the car park end but stony further on. There are rocks for shelter at one end along with the dunes to the rear. The car park is a good size and there is both wheelchair and buggy access from it to the beach. Near the car park there is also a children’s playground.
Directions: From Carndonagh take the R240 for Buncrana. After about 1 kilometre you turn right onto the R238 for Ballyliffin. In this village watch out for a right turn signposted for Pollan Bay.
We are ashamed to admit that this is the only swimming spot we have visited in Derry, but if you like your beaches wide and long you will enjoy a visit here.
The information notices at the entrance describe Benone as one of the largest dune systems in Ireland or the UK. Stretching from Magilligan point at one end to Downhill at the other, Benone must be nearly 10 kilometres of soft, but good to walk on, beach. With that length, there is plenty of room for walking, running and even horse riding.
And, of course, you can swim here as well. When we visited it was a bit windy but the water wasn’t too choppy. There was a gradual wade in and it does appear to be suitable for children.
The beach itself is quite open and a windbreak will help if you are planning to stay for a while.
Facilities at Benone are quite good. It’s a Blue Flag beach and there are lifeguards in the summer. As well as toilets there is also a tap for drinking water and a shower. The beach is wheelchair and buggy accessible, but unfortunately cars are allowed on as well. At the Magilligan end there is an army camp so don’t ignore the red flags and signs warning you about the firing range.
Directions:
From Derry take the A2 to Limavady. You remain on the A2 after Limavady in the direction of Downhill. A couple of kilometres before Downhill watch out for a left turn signposted for a caravan park and the beach.
<h2 class="style2">Ballinakill Outdoor Pool</h2> <p>August 2011</p> <p>Ballinakill pool looks like a fantastic community facility in a county not renowned for its swimming locations but, unfortunately, it was closed on a dull, but dry August day when we arrived. </p> <p>We are unclear who runs the pool. It looks like a local, community effort although it is also mentioned on the Laois County Council website. It is open during the summer but when we were there the notice on the locked gates said it was closed due to the 'inclement weather'.</p> <p>From what we saw looking over the wall the pool is about 25 metres long and with a shallow toddlers pool at one end. The water looks lovely and clear and the whole site appears to be well maintained. And, according to the County Council website, the water is heated, which must be an important added attraction.</p> <p>The pool is a great credit to the local community, just make sure you check that it's open before you go there.</p> <p><b>UPdate June 2014</b></p> <p><b>weve just been informed that the pool is to reopen on July 6th which is good news for local swimmers. check locally for opening times. </b></p> <p> <br /><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=52.876415,-7.30653&num=1&t=h&vpsrc=0&sll=52.877134,-7.303333&sspn=0.009739,0.0421&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=52.87567,-7.306488&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></p> <p><i>Directions</i></p> <p><i> From Dublin take the M7 as far as Exit 17 and then get onto the N8 for Abbeyleix. In the middle of Abbeyleix there is a left turn onto the R430 signposted Carlow. You travel on this road for a couple of kilometres and watch out for a right turn onto the R432 signposted Ballinakill. As you come intoBallinakill watch for a signpost for the swimming pool</i></p> <p align="center"> <img src="https://outdoorswimming.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ballinakill_pool_1.jpg" class="magnify" width="500" height="375" /></p> <p align="center"> <img src="https://outdoorswimming.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ballinakill_pool_2.jpg" class="magnify" width="500" height="375" /></p> <p align="center"> <img src="https://outdoorswimming.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ballinakill_pool_3.jpg" class="magnify" width="500" height="375" /></p> <p align="center"> <img src="https://outdoorswimming.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ballinakill_pool_4.jpg" class="magnify" width="500" height="375" /></p> <p align="center"> </p>
