Portsalon
Portsalon is one of the waters the EPA tests and grades in County Donegal, 2.2 km south-east of Portsalon. The Environmental Protection Agency classified it good for water quality for the 2025 season. The register records a lifeguard, toilets, parking, bins, first aid, an information board and a beach wheelchair.
- Water quality
- Good, 2025
- Seasons before
- 2024 Excellent, 2023 Excellent, 2022 Excellent
- 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
- Awards
- None
- County
- County Donegal
- Managed by
- Donegal County Council
- Nearest town
- Portsalon, 2.2 km south-east of it, in a straight line
- From that town
- 4.6 km by road, about 5 min drivingor 4.7 km on foot, about 58 minutes at 4.8 km/h
- Lifeguard
- Yes, hours not recorded
- Toilets
- Yes
- Parking
- Yes
- Access
- A beach wheelchair is available. New boardwalk to beach through dunes.
- Dogs
- Dogs 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.
- Cars on the beach
- No
- Public transport
- No
- Protected area
- Recorded as a natural sensitive area
- Position
- 55.1909° N, 7.6075° W
- Record changed
- 2026-04-14
What the EPA says about it
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.
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.
Where it is
Portsalon, 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 Portsalon
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
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 Portsalon (12267), 2.5 km away in a straight line. Use the planner to check walking connections for your journey.
- Portsalon 2.5 km
bus 973Scheduled departures from this stop
Other places to swim in County Donegal
Questions people ask
Is the water clean at Portsalon?
Is swimming restricted at Portsalon?
Does Portsalon have a Blue Flag?
Is there a lifeguard at Portsalon?
How do you get to Portsalon 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