Buncrana

Buncrana Beach Resort Guide

Introduction

The coast of Ireland gets most spectacularly wild to the northwest, and Buncrana is one of the most breathtaking beaches on the stretch. It's set on Lough Swilly, a 40km (24 mile) long flooded river valley, which is a thousand shades of blue at the centre of rippling mountains, laying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal and the Fanad Peninsula.

Where in the world?

Buncrana is located in the northwest of Ireland in County Donegal. It is 10km (6 miles) from Derry and 43km (26 miles) from Letterkenny.

When to go?

The climate is temperate with warm summers and cool wet winters. The hottest months of the year, and the best time for hitting the beach, are from June to September, with temperatures reaching an average high of 26°C (78°F) in August. However, summers are often unreliable and rainfall can be frequent throughout the year, so always remember to pack a jumper in case skies become overcast.

Beach

The beaches edging this sea inlet haul in the summer hoards, being a mere 10km (6 miles) from the large northern town of Derry. It's an important wetland area for birds and oak, hazel and rowan trees make up nearby Fahan Wood. Blue Flag Lisfannon beach is a lovely sandy stretch, with lifeguards in summer.

Beyond the beach

At low tide it's possible to walk across the causeway to Inch Island. This peaceful small island is a haven for migrating birdlife, and has a castle dating to the 15th century. There's a fine sandy beach on the southwest shore.

Family fun

Lough Swilly is a wonderful place to spot wildlife (dolphins, porpoise, sea birds, migratory geese and swans). Look out for the Arctic Tern in summer and the Great Northern Diver in winter. You can also go diving to explore the numerous ship wrecks off the coast, including the SS Laurentic, sunk by a German mine. It went down with 3211 ingots of gold of which 3191 were recovered, so you might even find some gold.

Buncrana means ‘mouth of the river', as it lies next to the river Crana, so there are some lovely riverside walks in the area. You can also horse ride or play golf. If it's raining and you need to entertain the kids, Wainsworld (www.wainsworld.ie), in Buncrana, is a lifesaver; a huge indoor adventure playground, which will keep them happy for hours.

A night on the town

Buncrana is a stronghold of traditional music, so this is a good place to try to catch a session. There are plenty of pubs in town, which give it a lively feel, and many regularly host live gigs - usually traditional, jazz, blues or rock - at the weekends. Places such as the 18th century Atlantic Bar (Upper Main Street) are a good place to try if you'd like to hear traditional Irish music.

Eating out

Buncrana is well served for restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets, as it's a large town, popular with tourists. Fresh fish is to be recommended, and oysters and salmon are farmed in the area, so are a good bet. Best among the restaurants is the Beach House (the Pier), which has a magical setting overlooking the Lough from Buncrana's pier, with superb sea views that melt into misty hills, and food that lives up to the panoramas. Another recommendation is the Railway Tavern & Firebox Grill, which is set in the old station house at Fahan, just south of Buncrana, and has great steaks.

Getting around

Buncrana is not all that large, so you can get around the centre on foot. There are buses between here, Derry and Carndonagh, and other local towns. The ferry over to Rathmullen, on the other side of the Lough, runs from around June to September, and takes cars and foot passengers. It's not only a beautiful journey, but also saves a lot of time if you're travelling to Dunfanaghy.

Flying in

Belfast International Airport (BFS)

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