Overview
Magheroarty Pier is the mainland jumping-off point for the passenger ferry to Tory Island, and one of the 39 official Wild Atlantic Way discovery points on the Donegal coast. It sits below the Gaeltacht village of Magheroarty (Machaire Rabhartaigh), a few miles by road from Gortahork and Falcarragh, in an area where Irish is still the everyday language. Two crowds share the car park: the ferry queue and the beach. Behind the harbour wall a three-kilometre strand of pale, almost pink sand runs out under some of the largest dunes in the country.
The ferries
Two boats leave from the pier, and the Tory crossing is the main reason most people come. It runs year-round, roughly 45 minutes each way, with several sailings a day. The boat is passenger-only – no cars – so travel with hand luggage. The catch is that Magheroarty Pier is tidal, which means sailings get rescheduled or cancelled at short notice: ring the operator before you set out or use the Tory Ferry app, and get to the pier in good time. If you only do one thing here, take the Tory boat. The island keeps a round tower, a strong traditional-music scene and a genuinely unusual custom of choosing a ‘king’ by consensus of the islanders.
A separate service, the Boffin Ferry, runs the short hop to Inishbofin Island – about 10 minutes across, with several sailings a day in season.
Beach and water sports
The beach is largely undeveloped, which is most of its appeal. A natural reef just to the left of the pier throws up a surfable break year-round, and the steady north-westerly wind makes this a reliable spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing; local instructors run seasonal courses on the sand. Kayakers and swimmers use it too, though there are no lifeguards, so you’re in at your own risk against strong currents. The dunes at the northern end give families a quieter, more sheltered corner away from the boards.
One thing worth the walk: heading back off the beach through the dunes you pass a scatter of abandoned fishing boats, half-sunk in the marram – the most photographed sight here after the strand itself.
Walking and views
A path runs along the base of the dunes from the car park to the beach. On a clear day Muckish Mountain fills the southern skyline, the headland of Bloody Foreland sits to the north, and Tory and Inishbofin lie out to sea. Expect seabirds along the shore and grey seals hauled out on the rocks or riding the swell offshore.
Facilities
- Parking: A large free car park sits right at the pier and takes cars, campervans and caravans. It fills fast on July and August weekends, with beachgoers and ferry passengers leaving cars all day.
- Toilets: Public toilets are by the car park, though they are sometimes locked; there is a baby-changing station.
- Food: A seasonal café and surf school (Narosa) operates near the pier, and there is a bar. Shops are limited, so bring your own food and drink.
- On site: Benches and a playground near the beach access. No lifeguards on the beach.
- Accessibility: The pier area and car park are level and paved and generally accessible; the beach itself is soft sand and hard going for wheelchairs.
Getting there
The pier is on the R257, roughly 45 km north-west of Letterkenny, and well signed from the main road. Public transport is limited, so come by car, especially if you’re pairing the beach with a day on Tory. Nearby, Bloody Foreland gives you a dramatic run of headland to the north, while Gortahork and Falcarragh have the pubs, shops and slower pace of the Gaeltacht.
The pier is tidal, so the one thing to check before you leave home is the sailing – ring the operator or open the ferry app, because a timetable that worked last week may not float today. Pack a windproof layer whatever the season; the wind that makes the surfing good makes standing on the pier cold.