Day Out in Donegal Town and Murvagh Beach
With A “woohoo” I shot out of this shop on Thursday morning for a whole day to myself. I waved goodbye to the wonderful Teresa, knowing that my shop was in safe hands. Off to Donegal town I went.
I parked up in the Harbour Carpark and ran to the ticket office for the Donegal Bay Waterbus. I just had time for a quick hello at the Failte Ireland Tourist Office. I was warmly greeted by Lorraine, a Belleek native and got some great advice on beaches to visit.
By the skin of my teeth I made it onto the big boat for a tour of Ireland's largest bay with barely a cloud in the sky.
The commentary was entertaining and there was plenty of wildlife to be seen from the boat.
This beautiful heron was a joy to watch
What a pose!
He was everywhere we went
So majestic!
Did I mention the heron we saw?!
The seal colony was a real treat.
We were lucky to see all the babies with their mammies.
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A cormorant taking a break.
But not for long
We were even treated to a family of ducks as we joined in with the sign song on the way back.
Once back on dry land I made my way to Murvagh beach for an afternoon swim and picnic.
The tide was out, so I lounged with my book and sandwiches enjoying the heat.
When the tide came in again I went for a swim where I met a lovely lady called Geraldine. We floated in a warm water for over an hour, chatting about our lives people we knew in common. It was lovely to make a new friend and I'm sure I'll bump into Geraldine in the sea some evening soon.
Fun facts and further information:
Donegal Bay Waterbus sailing times change daily according to the tide. Check the website for times and to book tickets. If you can, I'd recommend bringing along binoculars for a closeup on the wildlife.
Donegal Town Tourist Office is a great starting point for information and maps. It is open Tuesday - Saturday 09:00 - 17:00 and open on Sundays from June to September.
Tel. +353 (0) 1800 230 330
Murvagh beach is a 2km long sheltered beach with dunes and a forest. It is a blue flag beach with life guards during the summer months. The Atlantic ocean at Donegal is warm enough for swimming in the summer months and wetsuits are not necessary. Pay attention to signage information and stay in view of the life guard. Important safety information before swimming at the beach.
Tide Times for Murvagh Beach