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Beach · County Donegal

An Fhearthainn

Naran

Water quality: Excellent (2025)Blue FlagLifeguards in seasonToiletsParkingWheelchair accessDogs on a lead

Can I swim here? Outside the bathing season

The bathing season runs from 1 June to 15 September. Outside it the water is not tested weekly and lifeguards are not on duty. The last sample, on 9 September 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.

Naran beach is a sheltered cove beach approximately 2km long on the Atlantic coast of Ireland. Naran beach is an extensive sandy beach with a majestic sand dune system. It has a highly diverse range of both coastal and terrestrial habitats. Naran beach is a designated National Heritage Area and a Special Area of Conservation. The catchment area is an idyllic location for bird watching and ecological activities having a wide diversity of both plant and animal species. Activities at Naran Beach include walking, swimming, kayaking, boating, windsurfing and other land-based activities such as football, kite flying, etc. The bathing area is designated and is approx. 0.9685km2 and the extent along the water is approximately is 2120m. The depth of the water on the shoreline increases within 2 meters off the shore to a depth of 1 meter and gradually increases to greater than 2 meters with the slope of the shore.

Excellent (2025): The highest standard: results over four years were consistently very clean.

The record, year by year

YearEPA classificationSamplesExcellentGoodSufficientPoor
2026—1111000
2025Excellent1111000
2024Excellent1111000
2023Excellent1111000
2022Excellent1111000
2021—1111000
2020—1111000
2019—1111000

Facilities

LifeguardsYes
ToiletsYes
ParkingYes
Wheelchair accessYes
Beach wheelchairYesAvailable all year round. Contact Mary Nicholson 074 9545216 or Paul Dawson 083 1800253.Facebook page Narin Beach motorised wheelchair
Public transportYes
First aidYes
LifebuoyNo
Information boardYes
Activity zonesNo
Litter binsYes
RecyclingYesBottle banks available in car park.

Dogs and cars

  • Dogs on a leadDogs 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.
  • No cars on the beach

Latest sample (2026-09-09): E. coli <10, intestinal enterococci 1 (cfu/100 ml).

The EPA's bathing water profile

Outdoors in County Donegal this week

Best day outdoors: Sun, 11 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 13°C

Status Yellow - Rain warning for Donegal

From Thu, 8 Oct, 09:00 until Fri, 9 Oct, 04:00

Heavy spells of rain. 

Be aware of potential impacts:

  • Difficult travelling conditions
  • Localised flooding possible

Issued by Met Éireann · met.ie/warnings

  1. Fri, 9 Oct12° / 10°Medium rain showersWeather warning in force
  2. Sat, 10 Oct12° / 9°Medium rain showersGood day outdoors
  3. Sun, 11 Oct13° / 11°Sun with grey cloudGreat day outdoors

Make a day of it

The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.

Trails & walks

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Parks, gardens & islands