by Brian Kenny | Oct 10, 2010 | Donegal
October 2010
Rossnowlagh is a popular holiday location, but its attractiveness has been spoilt by too many holiday homes and caravan parks. Some of these overlook the beach, but if you can ignore them then you will find this to be a lovely swimming spot.
Rossnowlagh is well known as a surfing location, so expect waves when you visit. Having said that if you are careful you can manage a swim, even if you don’t fancy riding the waves.
The beach is wide and impressive. It is a bit open, but there are some rocks for shelter. At one end children, and parents, will find rock pools to explore.
There is a large car park with a long timber ramp giving access to the beach. This is suitable for buggies, but doesn’t look ok for wheelchairs. However, there are a couple of slipways which look as if they give better access to wheelchair users. We were disappointed to see that people can drive their cars onto the beach, but hopefully this doesn’t happen in the summer.
Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months and there are also some picnic tables near the car park.
Blue Flag beach.
Directions
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Rossnowlagh is located off the N15 between Donegal town and Ballyshannon. From Donegal town watch out for a right turn onto the R231 which will take you to Rossnowlagh
Ordnance Survey Map No. 10
by Brian Kenny | Oct 10, 2010 | Donegal
October 2010
The pub in Portsalon has a newspaper article on the wall which makes the case for Portsalon being the nicest beach in the world. We aren’t experts on world beaches, but Portsalon is an absolutely beautiful beach and must be one of the nicest in Ireland.
Portsalon seems to have everything – long stretches of sand to walk on, clear water to swim in, plenty of waves for the surfers, sheltered coves when you want to get out of the wind. The beach is divided by rocks into sections, which gives shelter and privacy.
The swimming itself is good, with lovely clean water combined with waves for the more adventurous when it gets windy. All in all this is just a great place to play, rest and swim
There is a decent sized parking area which has toilets and a couple of picnic tables. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer.
Blue Flag Beach.
Directions
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From Letterkenny follow the twisty R247 coast road all the way beyond Rathmullan and it will bring you to Portsalon. There are a number of great viewing points along the way which you shouldn’t miss. The one overlooking Portsalon beach is well worth stopping for.
Ordnance Survey Discovery Series No 2
by Brian Kenny | Oct 10, 2010 | Donegal
October 2010
Three connected beaches and swimming spots run alongside the road into Buncrana and beside the town itself.
The first is Lisfannon Beach which is located a few kilometres before the town. This is a wide open expanse of sand, quite open and exposed. The big thing to watch for here is the tides, because when the tide is out you will need a taxi to get to the sea.
Apart from that this is a nice location, with plenty of room for walking and playing after your swim. You will also get some shelter from the wind in the dunes at the back of the beach.
Lisfannan has a large tarmacadam car park. Near the entrance there are a couple of narrow access points onto the beach, but they look too narrow for wheelchairs.
Check with Donegal County Council about lifeguards.
Not far past Lisfannan is The White Strand, another long stretch of beach, this one crescent shaped. We were on it at full tide and the beach gets almost fully covered, so there is no problem with a long wade in for your swim if you time it right. The water here is soft and fresh and you get into your depth gradually.
There is a reasonable sized car park which has a ramped access to the beach. It looks fine for buggies, but wheelchair users would need to be careful. This beach has the road into the town running alongside it, so that can be a distraction.
Then there is what we call, for want of a better name, The Town Beach, located just beyond the Lough Swilly ferry terminal. This is a nice beach, smaller than the other two but more sheltered. The water here is of the brown, sandy variety, but good to swim in. Even when the tide is low, as it was for us, you don’t have to go out too far to get into your depth.
The Town Beach has a tarmacadam path with a slipway access onto the beach. It appears suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. There is a good sized car park and a couple of seats overlooking the beach.
Directions
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Coming from Derry or Letterkenny , follow the signposts for Buncrana and pick up the R238. Lisfannan and The White Strand are signposted with left turns as you approach the town. The Town Beach is best located by following signs for the ferry. When you drive past the ferry entrance you will come to a large tarmacadam car park on your left hand side. The beach is just at the car park.
Ordnance Survey Map No. 3
by Brian Kenny | Oct 10, 2010 | Donegal
October 2010
Murvagh is a blue flag beach located a few kilometres outside of Donegal town. This is another of the county’s wide and long stretches of sand. Again you really have to watch the tides here. When we arrived the tide must have been at least a kilometre out, so it can be a long trek to the water.
The beach is also quite exposed. You will find shelter in the dunes, but you might bring your windbreak if you are planning to stay. After your swim there is plenty of room for a long walk and any amount of room for children to play.
Murvagh has a decent car park and access to the beach is via a sandy path which isn’t wheelchair accessible. You will manage a buggy with an effort. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months.
Blue Flag beach.
Directions
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From Donegal town take the N15 toward Sligo. A few kilometres outside the town watch out for a right turn signposted for the beach. Follow the not very good signposting and it will lead you to the car park
Ordnance Survey Map No. 10
by Brian Kenny | Oct 10, 2010 | Donegal
October 2010
Port Bán is a lovely beach, in a quiet location. It can be a bit hard to find, but it’s well worth the effort.
The beach here is sheltered at either end, so it won’t get too windy. The water is nice and clear and you can get into your depth gradually. Sections of the beach are a bit stony as you get into the water, so you might want to move around to get the right access point.
Access to the beach is via a grassy track which is definitely not wheelchair accessible. You will also be carrying your baby and buggy for a fair distance.
Directions
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From Buncrana you go through the town on the R238. Then as you leave the town watch for a left turn signposted for Dunree Fort museum. Follow these signposts for about 10 kilometres. Just before the last turn left to the fort, you turn right and you will see a small area to park at the road side.
Before or after your swim the Fort is well worth a visit and the views from it are spectacular.
Ordnance Survey Discovery Series Map No. 2
