Tra Na Rossan Beach: Parking, Swimming + Map

Donegal is home to more exceptional strands than you can count, but few are as glorious as Tra Na Rossan Beach.

Sandwiched between two green hills with a penchant for spectacular sunsets, it’s easy to see why photographers love this spot so much.

One of the more popular stops on the Atlantic Drive, this beach gets very little footfall during the autumn and winter, but it comes alive during the warmer months.

Key things to know about Tra Na Rossan Beach

Although a visit to Tra Na Rossan is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

You’ll find Tra Na Rossan in one of County Donegal’s more remote spots, near the northern end of the Rosguill Peninsula. It’s a 10-minute drive from Downings, a 30-minute drive from Dunfanaghy and a 40-minute drive from Letterkenny.

2. Parking

There’s a small car park at the end of the nearest road leading up to the beach (here on Google Maps). Just keep in mind that this is one of the more popular beaches in Donegal during the summer months, so the car park fills up fast.

3. Swimming

Although I’ve tried (trust me!), I can’t find any official information about whether or not it’s safe to swim at Tra Na Rossan Beach. There are definitely no lifeguards on duty, though. So, either keep your feet on dry land or ask locally.

About Tra Na Rossan Beach

Thanks to its unique location between those imposing rocky hills on either side, Tra Na Rossan has its own character and looks a little different to Donegal’s more popular beaches.

On the slopes of these hills grow lush green fern, wildflowers and purple bloom heather, while the sand is soft and golden. 

Tra Na Rossan looks out towards a small island in the bay, but beyond that, it’s just the wild expanse of the North Atlantic Ocean.

In fact, due to its remoteness, northern location and lack of light pollution, you might even get a glimpse of the Northern Lights in Ireland while you’re there!

Things to do at Tra Na Rossan Beach

So, there’s a handful of things to do in and around Tra Na Rossan Beach, including one of my favourite walks in Donegal.

Here’s some suggestions for you:

1. The viewpoint

There’s a tiny place to pull in (here on Google Maps) but you need to be EXTREMELY CAREFUL. There’s space for one car but it’s right at a bend, so park here at your own risk.

There’s some stunning views of Tra Na Rossan Beach from here.

3. The Murder Hole Beach hike

You can hike to Murder Hole Beach from the hill at the end of Tra Na Rossan, as you’ll see from the map above.

Now, the only tricky part with the walk is that there’s no clear trail, so you’ll need to use your wits.

This is a steep climb that takes around 40 minutes. The easier route is via the new trail on the opposite side.

Places to visit nearby

One of the beauties of Tra Na Rossan 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 Tra Na Rossan!

1. Downings Beach (10-minute drive): It boasts gorgeous golden sand and beautiful scenery right beside the town
2. Ards Forest Park (30-minute drive): A 1200-acre park with walk trails that take you through woodlands and along beaches
3. Glenveagh National Park (35-minute drive): The second biggest park in Ireland and it’s crammed with forests, pristine lakes and cascading waterfalls
4. Errigal (40-minute drive): The tallest and steepest of Donegal’s Seven Sisters mountain range, Errigal soars up to an impressive 2,464 ft