Swimming spots in Donegal
22 swimming spots in Donegal — 21 designated bathing waters monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). 2 carrying a caution. 20 with no current pollution alert.
- Ballyhiernan, FanadBallyhiernan beach is a north facing, long sandy beach consisting of sandy dunes.Good to go
- BundoranBundoran beach consists of a sandy beach in a sheltered bay facing Donegal Bay and the Atlantic.Good to go
- CarrickfinnCarrickfinn is an extensive sandy beach with a good dune system.Good to go
- CuldaffCuldaff beach consists of a sandy beach with two rock outcrops at the south-east of the beach.Good to go
- DooeyDooey is located close to the towns of Glenties and Dungloe which are located on the western coast of County Donegal.Good to go
- DowningsDownings beach consists of a sandy beach in Sheephaven Bay that is confined by Downings pier to the west and a small headland called Maslack to the South.Good to go
- DrumnatinnyDrumnatinny beach consists of a long sandy north facing beach; confined by Ballyness Bay to the West and by Crockagarran and a small series of headlands to the East.Good to go
- FintraFintra beach consists of a long sandy beach; confined in a small inlet to the West of Killybegs Harbour, with hills and small cliffs to the west and the estuary of the Fintragh…Good to go
- KillahoeyKillahoey beach consists of a sandy beach with a large inflowing estuary including a large mud flat at the east of the beach.Good to go
- Lady's Bay, BuncranaLady's Bay beach consists of a sandy beach in Lough Swilly confined by Buncrana pier to the South and a small rocky outcrop 550m to the North.Caution
- LisfannonLisfannon beach consists of a sandy beach along the Swilly Estuary.Good to go
- MagheraroartyMagheraroarty is located in a rural area on the North Coast of Donegal, approximately 9 km from the town of Falcarragh.Good to go
- Marble HillMarble Hill beach consists of a sandy beach with two rock outcrops at the east of the beach.Good to go
- Murder Hole Beach (Boyeeghter Strand)An isolated strand on Donegal's Rosguill peninsula, reached on foot, where swimming is not advised.Caution
- MurvaghMurvagh Beach is a long shallow, sandy beach containing sand dunes.Good to go
- NaranNaran beach is a sheltered cove beach approximately 2km long on the Atlantic coast of Ireland.Good to go
- Portarthur, DerrybegPortarthur beach is a north facing, long sandy beach; confined by a rocky outcrop east of Inishmeane Island to the North and a small estuary to the south.Good to go
- PortnablaghPortnablagh beach consists of a small sandy beach; confined by Portnablagh pier to the North and a small headland to the South.Good to go
- PortsalonPortsalon beach consists of a sandy beach along the Swilly Estuary, sheltered to the south by the high rocky headland of Knockalla and contained to the north by flat land.Good to go
- RathmullanRathmullan beach consists of a sandy beach in Lough Swilly, which is confined by Rathmullan pier to the South and runs up past Kinnegar to the Glebe outcrop to the North.Good to go
- RossnowlaghRossnowlagh is west facing consisting of a long sandy beach confined by the Coolmore cliffs to the South and extends up to Inishfad at Durnesh Lake to the North.Good to go
- StrooveStroove beach consists of a small sandy beach.Good to go
Common questions
- How many swimming spots are there in Donegal?
- 22 in Donegal, Ireland, 21 of them officially designated bathing waters with published water-quality monitoring.
- Is it safe to swim in Donegal right now?
- That depends on the spot, and it changes. Of the 22 listed here, 2 carry a caution, 20 have no current pollution alert. Check the individual spot before you go — and note that bathing-water monitoring covers bacterial quality only. Tides, currents, swell and cold-water shock are not part of it, and nothing on this site is a clearance to swim.
- Who monitors water quality in Donegal?
- The Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) publishes the bathing-water data for Donegal. Everything shown here comes from that published data.
- Which beaches in Donegal have a Blue Flag?
- Bundoran, Carrickfinn, Culdaff, Downings, Fintra, Killahoey, Marble Hill, Murvagh, Naran, Rossnowlagh, Stroove. The Blue Flag is an annual award and can be withdrawn, so it describes a standard the beach met rather than the state of the water today.