Assaranca Waterfall drops down a dark, moss-covered rock face beside the road west of Ardara, and the whole appeal is that you can see it from the roadside. That makes it one of the easier waterfalls to reach in County Donegal – and one of the most weather-dependent.
Come after a couple of days of rain and the water gushes off the top into the pool below with a roar you can hear from the car. Come in a dry June and it shrinks to a trickle over wet stone. If the forecast has been settled for a week, this is not the detour to make a priority; if it has been hammering down, it is worth going out of your way for.
The falls go by a few names. Locals call them Ardara Waterfall as often as Assaranca, and the Irish Eas a’ Ranca is usually translated as the waterfall of the great mouse – a name no one round Ardara seems able to fully explain any more.
What to do here
There is not a lot to do, and that is rather the point. Most people stop for a short while, take a few photographs of the water dropping into the pool, and move on. Rain changes the flow and makes the rocks more slippery, so stay back from the pool and the wet rock, especially after rain when the flow is up. Do not go into the water.
Take any litter away with you, as there are no facilities here.
Getting there and parking
The waterfall sits beside the L2843 Bracky/Killasteever Road towards Maghera, west of Ardara, as Go Visit Donegal lists it. From Ardara, follow the coast road west towards Maghera Beach and you will find the falls beside the road, with a small pull-in.
Use the small parking area if there is a space. If it is full, continue and come back later in the day, and never block the narrow road. Keep the road clear.
There are no toilets or cafe here. The nearest are back in Ardara, so sort that out before you arrive.
Nearby
- Maghera Beach – a short distance further west on the same road, a long strand. Keep outside its sea caves and away from the water. The natural pairing with the falls.
- Ardara – the heritage town a short drive east, known for handwoven tweed and a clutch of good pubs.
- Glengesh Pass – a drive away, a steep hairpin road over the hills that is worth the trip in its own right (drive it slowly).
- Slieve League Cliffs – further on, a famous stretch of sea cliffs.
- Glencolmcille Folk Village – further west, a replica clachan of thatched cottages in the Gaeltacht.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Open daily, all day |
| Admission fee | Free |
| Parking | Small roadside parking area beside the falls; continue if it is full |
| Facilities | None on site. Toilets and food in Ardara |
| Safety | Rain makes the rocks slippery. Stay back from the pool and wet rock, and keep clear of the road. |
If you are timing a visit, go after rain and pair it with Maghera Beach on the same short stretch of road.