Tramore strand is a bit of a hidden gem in Loughros Bay, Co. Donegal. The long sandy beach, (Tramore means big beach in Irish) is one of the best and most scenic in Donegal. We used to go there on holiday for a week every Summer as a child, courtesy of some family friends who had a caravan on the nearby campsite. It remains one of my favourite places. Apart from the beach itself, there are great walks over the headlands either side. To the South there are great views towards Ardara, Maghera, Slievetooey Mountain and Tormore Island. To the North, is Rosbeg harbour and Dawros Head. There used to be a cave at this end of the beach too, but it is now completely filled with sand. Behind the beach are a series of huge sand dunes that provided hours of fun as children. We used to see lizards there often. The beach has numerous rock pools to explore, and some pools in the sand at the foot of the rocks were big enough for me to be able to learn to swim in. Caution should be used in the water at the beach however, as it is fully exposed to the Atlantic, and there can be currents, and sometimes a very strong undertow.
Looking towards Maghera, Slievtooey and Tormore Island on an overcast day.
Rosbeg harbour in stormy weather.
Looking across the headland on the southern side of the beach towards Ardara
View of the beach from the southern headland.
Looking across to Maghera.
Towards Slievetooey and Tormore Island.
The remains of a stone wall drawing the eye inland towards the distant Bluestack Mountains.
Six-spot Burnet Moths
The huge sand dunes behind the beach.
Some shots taken on the beach over a few Summer days.
The rocks at the ends of the beach are good for close-ups and views of the twisted shapes they have assumed, many of them covered in mussels.
More Summery views of the beach.
Banded patterns in the rocks.
A final shot of some great cloud formations.
Beautiful shots, Aidy. There are some real gems around our coastline for sure.
Thanks John. You can’t really go wrong anywhere around Donegal.
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I love those stripey rocks. I can’t imagine how I managed to by-pass this place – however, the guide book made it sound like Blackpool so I didn’t visit it earlier this year when I went to the Copper Coast.
A different Tramore Jessica, this one is Donegal. Its a common name for beaches in Ireland, basically just meaning “big beach”. Having said that, the one in Waterford that you would have been near has its attractions too. It has some some very colourful pebbles, and a great dune system.
That would account for it then. I didn’t know there was more than one beach with the same name – although I should have paid attention as you did say “Rosbeg” in the title.
Our placenames are designed to confuse Jessica, and I can think of several using the same name. In Donegal alone there are two pretty big mountains both called Slieve Snaght. And if you can figure it all out, the road signs are impenetrable.
I must post a few photos from the other Tramore beach in Waterford that you were near Jessica, just so you can have a little look at it too.