Overview
If you make one stop in Donabate, make it Newbridge House and Farm: 370 acres of demesne parkland wrapped around a Georgian mansion, a working farm and a playground. The town around it is mostly a commuter suburb on a peninsula in the north-east of the county, hemmed by the Rogerstown and Broadmeadow estuaries and opening onto a long sandy beach. You can walk to Newbridge Demesne from the village or head east to Balcarrick Beach, and the draws are the estate, the beach and the estuary birds rather than the town centre itself.
History and heritage
Settlement here goes back a long way. A stone tunnel uncovered at nearby Corballis dates to the Early Medieval period, roughly the seventh to eleventh century, and the Cobbe family built Newbridge House in the mid-18th century. The surrounding demesne opened as a public park in 1986 and now runs as parkland, playground and farm, with woodland walks and the ruins of Lanistown Castle.
The town’s older fabric survives in its churches: St Patrick’s Catholic Church (1903), a notably ornate Gothic building in Portmarnock redbrick, and, across the road, St Patrick’s Church of Ireland (1758), on the site of the medieval parish church. Rahillion windmill and a coastal Martello tower, one of the towers built along the Fingal coast against a feared Napoleonic invasion, round out the local heritage.
Newbridge House and Farm
The park is free to enter. The house tour and farm are ticketed. Check the demesne opening hours and farm tickets before you go, and use the designated car park for Newbridge Demesne.
The beach and the water
Balcarrick Beach, also known as Corballis Beach, is a long sandy strand reached from its northern end near the Shoreline Hotel. It held Blue Flag and Green Coast awards in 2026. The fine sand and gentle gradient suit families, while the steady breeze brings out windsurfers and kite-boarders. The beach also launches kayaks and small sailing craft.
Before swimming, check current bathing water advice, tide and lifeguard information, and follow signs on the beach. Use the designated car park for Balcarrick Beach. Walk north along the coast and you reach Portrane Beach.
Walking and cycling
The marked coastal walk leads from the Martello tower beside the hotel to Tower Bay in Portrane, with views of Lambay Island and the sea. Follow the boards at the beach car park and stay on the path near the cliffs. The dunes and cliff sections are uneven and not suited to wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Wildlife
The protected wetlands behind the town, the Rogerstown and Broadmeadow estuaries, hold salt marsh, reedbeds and intertidal flats that draw migratory birds through the year. In winter, Brent geese, waders and other wildfowl use the estuaries, and Turvey Nature Reserve lies alongside. Stay on public paths and keep your distance from feeding and roosting birds.
Golf and sport
Donabate is a links-golf cluster: the Island Golf Club, Donabate Golf Club, plus Beaverstown, Balcarrick and Corballis. The town’s clubs, including St Patrick’s GAA, St Ita’s AFC, Portrane Hockey and a tennis club, keep it busy off the fairways too. Each summer the Flavours of Fingal County Fair takes over, with livestock competitions and local food.
Getting there
Irish Rail serves Donabate from Dublin, and local bus routes serve the town; check current timetables before travelling. The beach is about a 20-minute walk from the village. If driving, use the designated car park for Newbridge Demesne or Balcarrick Beach.
Useful links
Combine the demesne with a walk to the beach and on to Tower Bay for a full day out, and check bathing advice and tide information before you get in the water.