Pollan Bay

Sitting towards the northwestern tip of the Inishowen Peninsula, just shy of Malin Head, is Pollan Bay. This generous stretch of golden sand gently curves for nearly 3 kilometres along the coast northwards from the village of Ballyliffin.

Access to the beach is generally from the carpark in Ballyliffin. If there was any chance of this beach ever becoming crowded things will quickly thin out as you head northwards. The slightly more sheltered southern end has the facilities of the village behind. The rest of the beach though offers some excellent, and often bracing, walking.

Exposed to the brunt of the Atlantic weather, and without a lifeguard, care should be taken if you choose to swim here. It can be good for surfing but generally the conditions favour windsurfers and kite-surfers.

Behind the beach, among the dunes is the Ballyliffin golf course. Apparently the often stiff breeze doesn’t put off the more avid golfers!

Pollan Bay marks the east coast of the Isle of Doagh. This patch of land was once actually an island but these days it is firmly joined to the rest of Donegal. However, there is still water on three sides with the Atlantic out front and the tidal expanses of Trawbreaga Bay wrapping around behind.

Glashedy Island is a real island off the northern end of the beach. Abruptly rising 30 metres out of the sea this rock is surrounded by hidden reefs making it treacherous to shipping.