Beaches

Crowded Beach Near Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal

A crowded beach near Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal.

© Stephen Roulston

Crowded Beach Near Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal
© Stephen Roulston

Crowded Beach Near Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal

A crowded beach near Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal.

© Stephen Roulston

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The Donegal coastline is the longest in the country at 1134 kilometres. It has some of the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in Ireland. In 2007, Donegal had 11 blue flag beaches.

Beaches are used for recreation and access to the sea. Different factors influence the kind of activities which take place on a beach. Which direction does the beach face? What direction does the wind blow? Is it a sandy beach or a rocky beach?

Swimming and sand castle building are always popular. Walking and horse riding are also common. Beaches with small surf are suitable for scuba diving and fishing. Beaches with big surf are suitable for surfing, wind surfing and kite surfing.

Safety is the number one issue on beaches. Lifeguards are recruited each year to watch bathing areas.

ICON:Wildlife at Rossnowlagh

A poster depicting wildlife at Rossnowlagh beach in Co. Donegal. The animals, birds and plants shown here are typical of the wildlife which can be found on Donegal's beaches.

© Donegal County Council

ICON:Wildlife at Rossnowlagh
© Donegal County Council

ICON:Wildlife at Rossnowlagh

A poster depicting wildlife at Rossnowlagh beach in Co. Donegal. The animals, birds and plants shown here are typical of the wildlife which can be found on Donegal's beaches.

© Donegal County Council

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The beaches of Donegal are not just places where humans go to have fun. Many animal and plant species make the shoreline their home.


 

This poster shows the animals, birds and plants that can be found at Rossnowlagh, one of Donegal's blue flag beaches. Most of these species can be found at the other beaches in the county.