Narin / Portnoo Beach (Naran)

This expansive beach is one of the most beautiful on Ireland’s Atlantic coast. Stretching over a mile, this golden-white sand beach is backed by low dunes. Beyond these are a couple of caravan sites which have very little impact on the beach and provide a range of facilities.

As a Blue Flag beach you are assured of clean water and safe swimming within the summer months as the beach has lifeguards on duty during the summer.

The views from the beach at Portnoo are panoramic. A little way off the coast of Narin beach is the island of Inishkeel (Inis Caoil). At low tide it is possible to walk from Narin out to the island where you will find the remains of two churches. It is said the island was where the 6th century St Conall Cael founded a monastery.

The dunes along this part of the coast are designated a Natural Heritage Area (NHA) owing to the particularly diverse range of both coastal and terrestrial habitats.

Also known as:

Naran

Type of beach

Sandy

Lifeguard service

Yes

Dogs friendly beach?

We do not have information on this beach but restrictions may apply (usually from Easter until the end of Summer)

County Donegal dog friendly beaches »

Activities

Swimming/bathing

Facilities

Cafe/restaurant
Toilets
Disabled facilities
First aid point
Shop

Nearest town

Ardara

OS grid ref.

Awards

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Narin / Portnoo Beach Reviews

Narin, Portnoo, both beautiful

Siobhan

Jul 06th 2020

I’ve been visiting this beach since childhood and now my children love swimming there, racing round the sand dunes and walking out to Inishkeel island at low tide. The smaller Portnoo beach is gorgeous too with rocks to climb, pools to explore and the Fairy Caves.

Family perfect

Anne Marie

Aug 16th 2022

Safe, flat, sandy, clean ocean water makes this perfect for young kids to spend all day messing about in waves. The beach itself is a 1 mile walk to the rocks at the end; an ideal daily walk in stunning surroundings with views that include Arranmore and Mount Errigle.
It’s a much-loved and cared-for place of local pride, quite rightfully, with excellent facilities for anyone with disabilities; while they have a beach wheelchair, the local community are currently raising funds to buy Ireland’s first floating wheelchair.

Undiscovered gem

Daniel

May 17th 2022

Portnoo has a beautiful clean beach and thoroughly deserves its Blue Flag status. Amazingly, there are even better beaches nearby that remain mostly undiscovered by tourists, such as Dooey.

Gorgeous

Emily

Apr 23rd 2022

Beautiful sandy beach, clean water, no rubbish whatsoever. Been visiting the strand since 2001 and now three generations of our family have been able to enjoy it along with our dogs. Some seaweed…. obviously, it’s the North Atlantic, be a bit weird if there wasn’t! Highly recommend. Gorgeous views.

Beautiful

Carmel

Aug 02nd 2020

Really beautiful beach. Locals are always so friendly.
Lovely town of Glenties nearby not to be missed for tasty meals & the craic. Social distancing applies.

Nicky Humphreys

Jul 14th 2020

Fantastic safe beach for swimming! Beautiful!

bad

Clay

Aug 02nd 2021

-3

jellyfish and seaweed and dirty rubbish from BBQs