Portsalon
Good to go
No current pollution alerts — always assess conditions yourself.
Checked against the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) · data last changed 30 days ago.
Sea conditions
Water temperature
14.0°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
Portsalon 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. These are exposed at times during the tidal phase during the day. Portsalon beach supports a wide variety of seabirds and wildfowl. The Horn Head to Fanad Head SPA is situated near to this beach. This site is of high conservation value because of the extensive area of relatively unspoilt coastal habitats and the range of plant and animal species that these habitats support. The catchment area is an idyllic location for bird watching and ecological activities. Activities at Portsalon Beach include swimming, surfing, wind surfing and other land-based activities such as football, kite flying, etc. The bathing area is designated and is approx. 0.588 km2 and the extent along the water is approximately is 3060 m. The depth of the water on the shoreline increases within 2 meters off the shore to a depth of 1 meters and gradually increases.
This spot’s record
Portsalon is in Donegal, about 12 km from Buncrana. Portsalon was rated Good in 2025 by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Its previous classifications were Excellent in 2024, Excellent in 2023 and Excellent in 2022, so the rating here has moved rather than held. Across the 12 most recent samples published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), E. coli counts ranged from 10 to 68 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 8 September 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Sept | 68 | 20 | Excellent |
| 25 Aug | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 18 Aug | 10 | 4 | Excellent |
| 11 Aug | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 28 Jul | 10 | 6 | Excellent |
| 14 Jul | 31 | 14 | Excellent |
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
- Excellent2022
- Excellent2023
- Excellent2024
- Good2025
This water has declined, from Excellent in 2022 to Good in 2025.
Facilities & access
- Lifeguard
- Yes
- Parking
- Yes
- Toilets
- Yes
- Accessible entry
- YesNew boardwalk to beach through dunes.
- Dogs
- YesDogs are not permitted in the Blue Flag Area of this beach from 12 pm to 7 pm (1st June - 15th September annually). Dogs are permitted on leads outside the Blue Flag Area at all times.
- Public transport
- No
Official water quality
Classified Good in 2025.
Portsalon is classified as achieving Good Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Portsalon has achieved a Good Water Quality rating in 2025 and Excellent Water Quality rating for the three consecutive years 2022 to 2024. 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 Portsalon right now?
- Portsalon is currently marked "Good to go". No current pollution alerts — always assess conditions yourself. 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 Portsalon?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Portsalon as Good 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 Portsalon?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Portsalon. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Portsalon?
- Yes — Portsalon has lifeguard cover. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Portsalon?
- Portsalon has toilets, parking, accessible entry. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).
This spot is also in
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Nearby swimming spots
See all swimming spots near Buncrana — about 12 km away.