Lisfannon Beach (aka Fahan Beach) is a fine spot for a ramble.
With its naturally deep waters allowing boat entry and a history of smuggling, Lough Swilly in County Donegal has seen a fair amount of action over the years!
But those days are in the past and Lisfannon Beach is a place to relax and admire beautiful views of islands, hills and shores.
Some quick need-to-knows about Lisfannon Beach
Photos via Shutterstock
Although a visit to Lisfannon Beach is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
You’ll find Lisfannon Beach about midway down Lough Swilly on its eastern side in the southwest of the Inishowen Peninsula. It’s a 10-minute drive from Buncrana, a 25-minute drive from Derry and a 50-minute drive from Malin Head.
2. Parking
The Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Point is found at the very north of the beach and this is where you’ll find some handy parking (here on Google Maps). Look out for the Wild Atlantic Way signs on the R238 and once you pull in you’ll see that you’re almost on the beach itself!
3. Swimming
Although we tried, we couldn’t find any official info online in regards to swimming at Fahan Beach. So, if you fancy a dip, we’d recommend checking locally about the conditions here.
4. Part of the Inishowen 100
Scenic drives are one of the best ways to see a location in a short space of time and the Inishowen 100 is no exception! With some beautiful sights on the way around the Inishowen Peninsula, it’s a great journey with Lisfannon’s picturesque spot on Lough Swilly one of the many gorgeous stops.
About Lisfannon Beach
Sitting at the heart of Lough Swilly, you’ll be greeted with some wonderful views of the surrounding scenery from Lisfannon Beach.
From the nearby Inch Island to the distant village of Rathmullan across the lough and the rising quartzite shape of Knockalla Mountain, there’s loads here to feast your eyes on!
Along with Inch Island, the area is a key wetlands site for birds and an important natural heritage area.
Along with tons of waterfowl, you’ll also get a glimpse of lots of bird species including Lapwings, Smiles, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, Chaffinches, Robins and gulls.
Fahan Beach tends to be one of the busier beaches in Donegal during the summer due to it’s proximity to Derry City (25-minute drive).
The walk
Gently curving around Gollan Hill, Lisfannon is a large beach and there’s plenty of room for heading out for a morning or afternoon ramble.
The car park location means you’ll start on the northern end of the beach, so take your time strolling south towards Inch Island and enjoy the soft golden sands.
The views here are properly panoramic thanks to the shape of the beach so just soak it all up!
Places to visit near Lisfannon Beach
One of the beauties of Fahan Beach is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Donegal.
Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Fahan!
- Grianan Of Aileach (15-minute drive): A Neolithic hillside fort that dates back to 1700 BC
- Wild Ireland (15-minute drive): Ireland’s most unique animal sanctuary, home to brown bears, wolves and more
- Mamore Gap (20-minute drive): A steep road that leads to a magnificent viewpoint
- Glenevin Waterfall (25-minute drive): Take the easy-going trail to discover a wonderful 40ft waterfall