Chris Gunns
Photo: Chris Gunns CC BY-SA 2.0

Portsalon

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  • Water temp(satellite):
  • 11.5°C
  • 2024-11-19

Portsalon is a beach in Donegal. During bathing season, a lifeguard is on duty. The beach is equipped with toilets and a parking lot. Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Portsalon Beach is a sandy beach situated along the Swilly Estuary, bounded by Knockalla headland to the south and flat land to the north. The tidal phase exposes the rocks at times during the day. It is a vital habitat for numerous seabirds and wildfowl, and the nearby Horn Head to Fanad Head SPA is of high conservation value due to its unspoilt coastal habitats and wide range of plant and animal species. The catchment area is perfect for bird watching and ecological activities. Visitors can enjoy water-based activities like swimming, surfing, and wind surfing, as well as land-based activities like football and kite flying. The 0.588 km2 designated bathing area is approximately 3060 meters long, with water depth gradually increasing from 1 meter within 2 meters off the shore.
Facilities:Facilities available at the beach include car parking, toilets, information boards, recycling facilities (near golf club), refuse bins and lifeguards (seasonal). During the lifeguarded periods, extra facilities provided by the lifeguards include: emergency information, telephone access, first aid equipment and rescue equipment. There are shops, restaurants etc available in the village of Portsalon approximately 0.5km from the beach. Visitor Numbers: Visitor numbers to the beach vary throughout the season. The maximum number of visitors to the beach during a high season day has been estimated at approximately 500 people with approximately half of this number swimming. Throughout the season approximately 6,000 people have been estimated to visit the beach. Visitor numbers are representative of the visitors recorded by the lifeguards that are on duty during the bathing season. Activities: Activities at Portsalon Beach include swimming, surfing, wind surfing and other land-based activities such as football, kite flying etc.
Portsalon (Port an tSalainn) Blue Flag Beach is located close to the village of Portsalon which is located on the Fanad peninsula in northern Donegal. It is located in the Lough Swilly Coastal waterbody (NW_220_0000) within the North Western River Basin District. The bathing area is designated and is approx. 0.588 km2 and the extent along the water is approximately is 3060 m.
: Portsalon beach consists of a sandy beach along the Swilly Estuary. These are exposed at times during the tidal phase during the day. The beach is contained to the north by low lying land and sheltered to the south by the high rocky headland of Knockalla.

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Photos near Portsalon

Chris Gunns
Photo: Chris Gunns CC BY-SA 2.0
Ross
Photo: Ross CC BY-SA 2.0
Ross
Photo: Ross CC BY-SA 2.0
Kenneth  Allen 
Photo: Kenneth Allen  CC BY-SA 2.0
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Beaches close to Portsalon

Ballyhiernan, Fanad ⟼ 8.9 km away
Ballyhiernan beach is a beautiful sandy beach located in the north with stunning sand dunes. The beach boasts three bays - Carrickachurdin Bay, Kinlackagh Bay and Trabane Bay. It's a haven for wildlife lovers as the beach is home to a diverse range of birds, and even features two notable species - the Common Frog and Irish Hare. Furthermore, the beach is perfect for adventure enthusiasts as it offers a wide range of activities, both water, and land-based such as kayaking, surfing, power boating, and more.
Lady's Bay, Buncrana ⟼ 11.3 km away
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Rathmullan ⟼ 11.6 km away
Rathmullan beach, located in Lough Swilly, offers a sandy stretch extending from Rathmullan pier in the South up to the Glebe outcrop in the North. The area is home to a diverse range of plant and wildlife, including otters. A visit to the Rathmullan Wood Nature Reserve offers an opportunity to explore various tree species. The beach offers a range of activities, such as swimming, kayaking, boating, sailing, power boating, diving, and other land-based activities. The designated swimming area spans roughly 0.142km2, with the waterline extending along 1380m. The beach's steep gradient leads to a water depth of about 1m approximately 10m from the water line.
Lisfannon ⟼ 13.1 km away
Lisfannon Beach is a beautiful sandy beach located along the Swilly Estuary that offers shallow water and intertidal sand and mud flats. These habitats are home to many different plant and animal species, including otters, and are quite valuable for conservation purposes. Visitors to Lisfannon Beach can enjoy various activities, such as swimming, surfing, football, or kite flying. The bathing area is a designated spot that covers approximately 0.6217 km2, and the water depth gradually increases from 0.5 meters within 2 meters off the shore. Overall, Lisfannon Beach is a lovely destination that offers natural beauty and plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun.
Downings ⟼ 14.9 km away
Downings beach is a sandy beach located in Sheephaven Bay, bounded by Downings pier to the west and Maslack headland to the south. At low tide, a sea cave in the Maslack headland is exposed. The surrounding Peninsula boasts diverse coastal habitats, including high rock cliffs, offshore islands, sand dunes, salt marshes, a large intertidal bay, and rocky shingle and sandy beaches, which support various wildlife and vegetation. The beach offers a range of activities such as swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, surfing, power boating, jet skiing (outside the designated area), diving, and other land-based activities. The designated bathing area covers an area of approximately 0.273km2, with a water line of approximately 687m. The beach slopes very gently, with the water depth reaching 1m about 50m away from the water line.
Marble Hill ⟼ 18.6 km away
Marble Hill beach has a sandy coastline with two rock formations towards the east, visible during certain tidal phases. Its sand dunes support an array of plant species and the beach is home to various wildlife, making it a significant part of the Sheephaven SAC. Aside from land-based activities like football and kite flying, water activities such as swimming, kayaking, boating and windsurfing can be enjoyed in its designated 0.4415km2 bathing area. The water depth increases gradually from 2 meters off the shore to greater than 2 meters along the sloping shoreline.
Portnablagh ⟼ 20.3 km away
Portnablagh beach is a small sandy beach in Ireland, confined by Portnablagh pier and a headland. It supports wildlife including birds and shellfish, making it a part of a Special Protection Area under the E.U. Birds Directive. Due to rare species, it holds special conservation interest. The beach offers various activities like swimming, kayaking, boating, windsurfing, sailing, surfing, power boating, jet skiing, diving and land-based activities. It is located beside a small working pier and slipway, however, the water off the beach gets deep quickly, with depth reaching 1m around 10m from the water line, and continuing further out in a deep slope.
Killahoey ⟼ 21.9 km away
Killahoey beach is a diverse coastal site comprising of sandy beaches, mud flats, sand flats, dunes and a brackish lake. It is a proposed NHA and part of a SAC, supporting various wildlife species. The bathing area is around 0.6707km2 and 1570m in length. Water depth gradually increases from 2 meters off-shore to greater than 2 meters with the shoreline slope. Activities include swimming, kayaking, boating, windsurfing, football, horse riding, kite flying, etc.
Drumnatinny ⟼ 30.6 km away
Drumnatinny beach is a north-facing sandy stretch, with Ballyness Bay to the West and Crockagarran and headlands to the East. The dunes here have several plant species and the beach has a variety of bird and animal life. Low tides expose expansive mud and sand flats in Ballyness Bay. Popular activities include swimming, kayaking, surfing, and power boating. The beach has a designated bathing area of approximately 1.317km2, sloping evenly to a depth of 1m about 10m from the water line.
Culdaff ⟼ 31.4 km away
Culdaff beach is a sandy beach with two rock outcrops located in the southeast. The beach is bordered by sand dunes to the west and the Culdaff River to the northwest, offering ample opportunities for ecological exploration and bird watching due to its unspoiled coastal habitats that are home to various plant and animal species. The beach is perfect for water-based activities such as swimming, kayaking, boating, windsurfing, and surfing. Shore angling and land-based activities such as walking, kite flying, and rock climbing are also popular around the location.
Beach Guide Ireland Source for water samples and information: the Environmental Protection Agency, users of the site and local municipalities.
Source for weather data: Met Éireann© (CC BY 4.0) Disclaimer: Met Éireann does not accept any liability whatsoever for any error or omission in the data, their availability, or for any loss or damage arising from their use.
Source of satellite-read water temperature: Copernicus Sentinel satellite data from the European Space Agency.