Lady's Bay, Buncrana
Caution
This spot is classified Sufficient — it meets the minimum bathing-water standard, but it's the lowest passing grade.
Checked against the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) · data last changed 30 days ago.
Sea conditions
Water temperature
13.7°C
Chilly — most swimmers want a wetsuit
Wave height
0.5 m
Significant wave height offshore; inshore conditions vary.
Tide
Going out
- Low water around UTC
- High water around UTC
Modelled values, not measurements — coastal water often differs from the open-sea model, and tide times are approximate to within about half an hour. Use official tide tables for anything that depends on precise timing.
About this spot
Lady'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. It is one of a series of beaches along the West of Inishowen. Lady's Bay beach supports a number of different plant and wildlife species. Important wildlife species include otters and Mallard, while important plant species include Lady's fern and wood sage. Lady's Bay beach is part of The Lough Swilly SAC which is of conservation importance and contains good examples of at least four habitats listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. Activities at Lady's Bay beach include swimming, boating, power boating, jet skiing and other land-based activities on the beach. The designated bathing area is approx. 0.02633 km2 and the extent along the water is approximately 550m. There is a medium gradient off Lady's Bay Beach continuing out at a medium slope before beginning to get gradually deeper until it reaches the channel.
This spot’s record
Lady's Bay, Buncrana is in Donegal, about 1 km from Buncrana. Lady's Bay, Buncrana was rated Sufficient in 2025 by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Its previous classifications were Poor in 2024, Poor in 2023 and Poor in 2022, so the rating here has moved rather than held. In the previous bathing season Lady's Bay, Buncrana was under a short-term pollution restriction on 14 days. That is last season's record and not a forecast for today. Across the 12 most recent samples published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), E. coli counts ranged from 10 to 6,867 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 18 August 2026. A classification is calculated from percentiles across four seasons, so no single reading decides how this water is rated.
Recent sample results
The last 12 bacterial samples published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), most recent on the right. Counts are per 100 ml of water.
Dashed line: 500 E. coli per 100 ml, the Bathing Water Directive guide value for coastal / transitional waters.
| Date | E. coli | Enterococci | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sept | 52 | 8 | Excellent |
| 10 Sept | 118 | 7 | Excellent |
| 9 Sept | 488 | 40 | Good |
| 8 Sept | 691 | 94 | Sufficient |
| 25 Aug | 171 | 26 | Excellent |
| 21 Aug | 272 | 13 | Good |
A bathing water's official classification is calculated from percentiles across four bathing seasons, not from any single sample — so one high reading doesn't mean a spot is unsafe, and one low reading doesn't mean it's clean today.
Quality over the last 4 years
- Poor2022
- Poor2023
- Poor2024
- Sufficient2025
This water has improved, from Poor in 2022 to Sufficient in 2025.
Facilities & access
- Lifeguard
- No
- Parking
- Yes
- Toilets
- Yes
- Accessible entry
- Yes
- Dogs
- Yes
- Public transport
- Yes
Official water quality
Classified Sufficient in 2025.
Lady's Bay, Buncrana is classified as achieving a Sufficient Water Quality rating in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Lady's Bay had a Poor Water Quality rating for the years 2022 to 2024. Significant improvement works carried out by Uisce Eireann at the wastewater treatment plant in Buncrana which has improved the water quality at Lady's Bay. Annual water quality ratings are generally calculated using monitoring results over a four-year period and are assessed against stringent bacterial limits to protect bather health.
Official bathing-water profileCommon questions
- Can you swim at Lady's Bay, Buncrana right now?
- Lady's Bay, Buncrana is currently marked "Caution". This spot is classified Sufficient — it meets the minimum bathing-water standard, but it's the lowest passing grade. This reflects the latest data published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Conditions change quickly — always assess the water yourself before entering.
- What is the water quality like at Lady's Bay, Buncrana?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Lady's Bay, Buncrana as Sufficient in 2025. Classifications are a rolling assessment of bacterial samples taken over four bathing seasons, measured against E. coli and intestinal enterococci limits set by the EU Bathing Water Directive.
- Is there a swimming ban or warning at Lady's Bay, Buncrana?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Lady's Bay, Buncrana. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Lady's Bay, Buncrana?
- No lifeguard cover is listed for Lady's Bay, Buncrana. Never swim alone at an unguarded spot.
- What facilities are there at Lady's Bay, Buncrana?
- Lady's Bay, Buncrana has toilets, parking, accessible entry. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).
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Nearby swimming spots
See all swimming spots near Buncrana — about 1 km away.