Lisfannon
Lisfannon is one of the waters the EPA tests and grades in County Donegal, 1.1 km north-west of Fahan. The Environmental Protection Agency classified it good for water quality for the 2025 season. The register records a lifeguard, toilets, parking, bins, first aid and an information board.
- Water quality
- Good, 2025
- Seasons before
- 2024 Good, 2023 Good, 2022 Good
- Water testing
- Tested by the EPA sampled through the season and given a water quality grade
- Season restriction
- None in place
- Pollution after rain
- Prone to short term pollution, closed 10 days last season
- Awards
- None
- County
- County Donegal
- Managed by
- Donegal County Council
- Nearest town
- Fahan, 1.1 km north-west of it, in a straight line
- From that town
- 1.6 km by road, about 4 min drivingor 1.6 km on foot, about 20 minutes at 4.8 km/h
- Lifeguard
- Yes, hours not recorded
- Toilets
- Yes
- Parking
- Yes
- Access
- Recorded as accessible, with no detail given
- Dogs
- Dogs are not permitted in the proposed Blue Flag Area of the beach from 12 pm to 7 pm (1st June to 15th September annually). Dogs are permitted on leads outside the Blue Flag Area at all times.
- Cars on the beach
- No
- Public transport
- The register records some
- Protected area
- Recorded as a natural sensitive area
- Position
- 55.0975° N, 7.4815° W
- Record changed
- 2026-04-08
What the EPA says about it
Lisfannon beach consists of a sandy beach along the Swilly Estuary. Lisfannon is estuarine in character, with shallow water and intertidal sand and mud flats being the dominant habitats. These are exposed at times during the tidal phase during the day. These habitats support a wide variety of plant species and wildlife, including otters. 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. Activities at Lisfannon Beach include swimming, surfing and other land-based activities such as football, kite flying, etc. The bathing area is designated and is approx. 0.6217 km2 and the extent along the water is approximately is 2020 m. The depth of the water on the shoreline increases within 2 meters off the shore to a depth of 0.5 meters and gradually increasing.
Lisfannon is classified as achieving Good Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Lisfannon has achieved a Good Water Quality rating for the four consecutive years 2022 to 2025. 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.
Where it is
Lisfannon, and the other places to swim in County Donegal. Share your position and the map will show how far each one is from you.
Getting to Lisfannon
About these directions
Public transport times come from National Transport Authority. Timetables cover 2026-09-18 to 2027-09-19. These are scheduled services; check with the operator for cancellations and changes before travelling.
Walking and driving times are estimates. A town search starts at its centre; choose your location or a point on the map for a more precise starting point. Eircode search is not available.
How journey planning worksDestination, access and nearby stops
Lisfannon is in Fahan, County Donegal. Routes here end at the point the map records for this place. The entrance has not been verified, so the last few metres are for you to judge.
The nearest scheduled stop is Fahan (11264), 1.9 km away in a straight line. Use the planner to check walking connections for your journey.
- Fahan 1.9 km
buses 976, 959 and 951Scheduled departures from this stop
- Luddan 2.4 km
bus 976Scheduled departures from this stop
Getting to Fahan covers the journeys into the town itself.
Other places to swim in County Donegal
Questions people ask
Is the water clean at Lisfannon?
Is swimming restricted at Lisfannon?
Does Lisfannon have a Blue Flag?
Is there a lifeguard at Lisfannon?
How do you get to Lisfannon without a car?
Where does this come from?
Water quality, awards, lifeguards, toilets, parking and access are the Environmental Protection Agency’s own fields, from its bathing water register, read 2026-09-20. The classification covers four years of sampling and is not a reading for today: after heavy rain the water can be worse than the classification suggests, and the EPA and the local authority post notices when it is. Positions are the EPA’s grid references, projected to latitude and longitude. Journeys are the National Transport Authority’s published timetable.
Beaches and bathing waters in Ireland·Beaches in County Donegal