Pollan Bay, Ballyliffin: Where the Road Ends and the Sheep Laugh at You

The Road to Nowhere (and Back Again)

Pollan Bay Ballyliffin is one of those places that makes you wonder why you haven’t visited sooner. So there we were – me, Mrs. M, and the van – chasing the ghost of Ned’s Point, armed with little more than a dodgy memory and a Google Maps signal weaker than Mrs. M’s sense of direction. Ended up deep in the Donegal hills, where the sheep looked at us like we were the strange ones. Driving a motorhome on single-track roads that seem to only exist on local folklore maps? Yeah, that’ll test your nerves. And your clutch. Thankfully, the lighter nights saved us from doing it all under full beam, but I won’t lie – there were a few moments where I thought we might end up as a cautionary tale on some random blog post.

Pollan Bay: The Accidental Gem

When we finally stumbled across the car park at Pollan Bay, it felt like winning a game of hide and seek. The beach is stunning – a 2.5 km stretch of sand with turquoise waters, framed by big, jagged rocks and an old castle ruin for a bit of drama. The O’Dohertys once ruled here, and Glashedy Island sits offshore like a big lump of rock daring you to swim out (don’t – the currents here aren’t for messing).

There’s a real sense of space at Pollan Bay – you feel like you’ve found a corner of the world that hasn’t been Instagrammed to death, though I did try my best. Those rocks make a great phone stand for a couples selfie – nailed it, as you can see.

A Blast from the Past (and a Blast from a Generator)

This spot holds a bit of nostalgia for me. Back in the day, when I was shooting weddings at the Ballyliffin Hotel and Spa, they’d lay on a fancy Rolls Royce for the newlyweds. After the ceremony, it was off to Pollan Bay for photos – me snapping away while the happy couple tried to stay composed in the Donegal breeze. It’s funny how some places stick with you.

Fast forward to now – we parked up for the night, joined by a few other vans. Some stayed over, some didn’t. Woke up to the dulcet tones of yet another coffee pod enthusiast hammering their generator to life at 10 AM. These bloody generators – I swear, there’s more noise pollution from those things than a rave in a field. Everyone bangs on about motorhomes ruining the peace, but can we talk about these petrol heads and their portable power stations? Let’s just say the birds weren’t the only ones making noise that morning.

Walking the Beach (and Running After Milo)

We took a wee wander down the beach – well, we tried. Once you navigate the giant pebbles at the top of the beach (not ideal for the ankles, by the way), you’ll find smooth sand, clear blue water, and those big rocks perfect for perching. The scenery is absolutely stunning – even when the weather turns, which of course it did. It’s Donegal, after all.

Mrs. M and I managed a heart-to-heart on the rocks, which felt like a scene from a moody Irish drama, before the rain came in sideways. Milo did his usual disappearing act, with Mrs. M chasing after him like a woman possessed. He’s got this cheeky glint in his eye that says, catch me if you can, and he never comes back unless bribed or threatened (not that we’d ever follow through, what with those wonky eyes making him too cute to stay mad at).

A Simple Life (With a Decent Signal)

No fancy meals out this time – just us, the van, a few beers in the fridge, and a solid 4G connection so Mrs. M could doom-scroll Shein and TikTok while I posted these ramblings. I’m on Mounjaro at the minute, so the whole eating and drinking thing is taking a back seat – not that I mind. The food suppression is doing its job, and it’s a welcome change from feeling like I could eat a horse and still have room for dessert.

Pollan Bay wasn’t about ticking off sights or activities – it was a reset. A reminder that sometimes you don’t need much more than a beach, a van, and the chance to just breathe.

Affiliate Picks for Your Pollan Bay Trip

• Dog GPS Tracker for the Milo of Your Life
• Portable Power Bank (No Generator Required)
• Lightweight Folding Chairs for Beach Lounging
• Waterproof Rain Poncho (Because, Donegal)