On the Sunday of our little trip into the west, we decided to head north along the Fanad Peninsula in Donegal to Portsalon.
Portsalon Beach
Having barely looked at the route, we set off from our hotel in Rathmullan and followed the road signs. It was only as the coastal road wound higher along Knockalla Mountain, with steep drops towards the sea, that we realised quite how dramatic the drive would be.
Thankfully, the road soon descended, revealing beautiful views of Portsalon Beach.
Once named the second most beautiful beach in the world by The Observer, Portsalon is a long sweep of golden sand with panoramic views across the sea. When we arrived, shortly after 11am, we had the beach almost to ourselves. With the bracing wind in our faces, we walked along the shore, feeling rather fortunate to have discovered such a remarkable place.
The beauty of Donegal
It was the view behind us, however, that stayed with me most. As we turned to walk back to the car, mist drifted across the hills and rain swept over the mossy green fields. This was the Donegal I’d imagined: raw and beautiful, enchanting and unforgiving in equal measure.
I didn’t mind the rain. I just wanted to capture the scene and remember the moment.
We returned to the car wet and windswept, but grateful we’d made the journey. Even now, I feel I left a little piece of my heart there, and I’d love to return.
“I stopped on a lonely bog road one winter’s afternoon to ask the way of a man who was stacking turf at the road’s edge. ‘Where will this road take me?’ I asked. ‘This road,’ he said, ‘will take you wherever you want to go.”
— Mike Harding, Footloose in the West of Ireland
Paula
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Oooh, beautiful! It doesn’t seem to matter what the weather’s doing, Donegal always looks amazing. Glad you enjoyed your trip! 😀
Oh it was lovely. Thanks. Everything I had hoped for 🙂
Glad to hear it… And isn’t it lucky you went when you did? I’d say getting around will be difficult there this weekend!
Yes so lucky. I wouldn’t fancy driving up there this weekend. Hope you are surviving ok.
Yes thanks… It was a good excuse to stay inside and get some work done! 😀
Sounds like a beautiful beach to visit, it looks so peaceful. I sometimes think the mist rolling over the hills makes the landscape look more dramatic and atmospheric than it does in the sunshine. X
Yes, I think that’s very true. Remind me again what sunshine is ? Lol
☺️ It’s been a very long, dark and cold winter, hasn’t it? It’s not stopped snowing here all day, and met office just issued a red warning for our area. X
These photos have captured my heart 🙂
Oh thank you. I tried to capture it as best as I could to show the beauty of the place 😉
That looks just perfect. I so need to go there 😊
Yes, I would definitely recommend a visit 🙂
Very nice pictures of a great piece of scenery – and seen at its best in rain and mist!Portsalon beach was one of our frequently visited “happy hunting grounds” in Donegal. At one end (now probably vanished into the sand) were the remains of a four-engined bomber which did a forced landing there during the war. At the other end was the famed Edwardian Portsalon Hotel.=- a place full of atmosphere. Is it still there? Des.
Hi Des. No, the hotel wasn’t there. From checking on Google, it looks like it was demolished sadly in 1991. Looks like it was a great hotel.
Thanks for your reply. In that case were lucky to see it on our last visit in 1990. My earliest memories of the hotel go back to visits there in the 1950’s with the North West Mountaineering Club (NWMC). The owner, Mr. Barton I think was his name, was a formidable man (postmaster and harbourmaster as well) who set his own standards but did not object to our draping our wet gear over the large fireguards as we waited for dinner at the end of an outing. There was a bookcase in the lounge, the most recent item being an “Army and Navy Stores” catalogue of 1910. It was all too quaint to survive into the present century Des.
It’s a shame though..it looks wonderful in the old photographs.