This is a practical list of ten beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way, from West Cork to Donegal. We chose them for scenery, variety and how usable they are, and each entry says what you will find, whether there are lifeguards, and where to check before you go. Blue Flag and Green Coast status is renewed each season, so confirm the current list on blueflag.global and live water quality on beaches.ie (EPA).
For more beaches, see our Top 10 Blue Flag beaches in Ireland.
Quick picks
| Beach | Why go | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Keem Bay, Co. Mayo | Turquoise cove under steep cliffs | Blue Flag; lifeguards Jul–Aug |
| 2. Barleycove, Co. Cork | Dunes and a long sandy bay on the Mizen | Blue Flag; free |
| 3. Inch Beach, Co. Kerry | Five kilometres of sand into Dingle Bay | Blue Flag; surf school |
| 4. Dog’s Bay, Co. Galway | White shell sand and clear water near Roundstone | Free; walk to Gurteen |
| 5. Fanore Beach, Co. Clare | Dunes and surf below the Burren | Blue Flag; free parking |
| 6. Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo | Sheltered strand and a surf headland | Swimming and watersports |
| 7. Glassillaun, Co. Galway | Quiet white sand near Killary Harbour | Few facilities |
| 8. Trá Mhór, Co. Donegal | Wide sand facing Tory Island | Green Coast Award |
| 9. Ballybunion, Co. Kerry | Cliffs, a castle ruin and a seaside town | Free |
| 10. Tullan Strand, Co. Donegal | Surf beach beside Bundoran | 2 km; not for swimming |
1. Keem Bay, Achill Island, Co. Mayo
Keem is a horseshoe of pale sand at the western end of Achill Island, with a steep green headland on one side and the open Atlantic ahead. The approach road along the cliff is narrow, and the beach gets busy on fine summer days, so go early or late. Mayo County Council lists it as a Blue Flag beach with lifeguards, toilets and first aid. Official info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keem_Bay.
Know before you go
- Lifeguards: June weekends and bank holidays, 12:00–18:30; daily 12:00–18:30 in July and August; first weekend of September
- Dogs: not allowed in the Blue Flag area between 12:00 and 18:30 in the summer season; on leads at other times
- Facilities: toilets, first aid, lifebuoys, litter and recycling bins
- Parking: limited and fills quickly in summer; Mayo County Council has banned overnight parking here, so no overnight stays in a campervan
- Care: designated a Natural Sensitive Area, so take your litter home
Official information: Mayo County Council: Keem Beach. See also our guide to Ireland’s best islands, including Achill.
2. Barleycove Beach, Co. Cork
Barleycove lies between headlands on the Mizen Peninsula near Dough, about as far south-west as you can drive in Ireland. Behind the beach is an area of sand dunes you can walk through, which is a Special Area of Conservation for its wildlife and plants. The dunes are said to have been formed by the tsunami that followed the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.
Know before you go
- Cost: free
- Lifeguards: during the bathing season; times are on the beach noticeboard
- Surf lessons: Barley Cove Surf Camp is the local operator mentioned by Discover Ireland
- Access: the route from the car park across the estuary has changed over the years (boardwalk and pontoon), so check Cork County Council’s beach notices before you travel
- Care: keep to marked paths in the dunes
Official information: Discover Ireland: Barleycove Beach. See also our West Cork Wild Atlantic Way guide.
3. Inch Beach, Co. Kerry
Inch is a spit of sand about five kilometres long reaching into Dingle Bay, with mountains on the far side of the water. The sand is firm enough that cars are driven onto it, though if you do, make sure your vehicle can cope with soft patches. It is a popular surf beach and there is a surf school on the strand, and Sammy’s café sits right on the beach.
Know before you go
- Lifeguards: Kerry County Council staffs its Blue Flag beaches, including Inch, in the summer season; stay within the lifeguard flags
- Water quality: check the live result on beaches.ie before swimming
- Surfing: lessons and board hire are available on the strand in season
- Food: Sammy’s café is at the beach car park end
- Driving on the sand: at your own risk; avoid the incoming tide
Official information: EPA beaches.ie: find a beach (search for Inch). See also our Dingle coast, pubs and food guide.
4. Dog’s Bay, Co. Galway
Dog’s Bay is about two miles from Roundstone on the Clifden road. It lies back to back with Gurteen Beach, the two forming a tombolo that juts into the Atlantic, so you can walk over the dunes from one bay to the other. The sand is very pale because it is made largely of shell fragments rather than ground-down rock. The bay is over a kilometre and a half long.
Know before you go
- Facilities: toilets, picnic areas and walkways
- Lifeguards: cover on the west Connemara coast has been described by councillors as thin, with one lifeguard at weekends covering Dog’s Bay and Gurteen, so check before relying on it
- Care: marram grass has been planted on the dunes between the two bays since 1991; keep off the dunes and do not camp on them
- Getting there: by car on the road between Roundstone and Clifden
Official information: Discover Ireland: Dog’s Bay Beach. See also our guide to things to do around Clifden, Connemara.
5. Fanore Beach, Co. Clare
Fanore is a sandy beach beside the village of Fanore, where the Caher River meets the Atlantic, with the grey limestone hills of the Burren rising behind it. There is a large dune system to explore and the beach is regularly used by surfers and swimmers. Discover Ireland lists it as a Blue Flag beach. Read more: our guide to Fanore Beach.
Know before you go
- Cost: free entry and free parking
- Lifeguards: during the summer months; the noticeboard has details
- Surf: reliable Atlantic swell; stay within your ability and read the conditions
- Nearby: the Burren landscape starts just inland
Official information: Discover Ireland: Fanore Beach. See also our Top 10 Blue Flag beaches in Ireland.
6. Mullaghmore Beach, Co. Sligo
Mullaghmore has a sheltered sandy beach beside a small harbour on the Sligo coast, with Benbulben visible across the bay. Discover Ireland describes the beach as safe for swimming, windsurfing and water sports and a very popular surfing spot, and the harbour has sheltered anchorage for small and medium craft. Classiebawn Castle stands on the headland and is best seen from the shore.
Know before you go
- Swimming: described as safe for swimming and water sports in normal conditions
- Surf: a popular spot; the big winter swells at Mullaghmore Head are for experienced surfers only
- Harbour: small craft anchorage beside the beach
- Lifeguards, parking and toilets: not confirmed on the official page, so check locally
Official information: Discover Ireland: Mullaghmore Beach. See also our Top 10 Blue Flag beaches in Ireland.
7. Glassillaun Beach, Co. Galway
Glassillaun is a small, pale beach on the far west Connemara coast, near the mouth of Killary Harbour, down a narrow road. The sand ripples at low tide and the water can look strikingly blue in good light. It is quiet and basic, so bring what you need.
Know before you go
- Facilities: one 2024 visitor report found two portable toilets and nothing else on or near the beach
- Lifeguards: not confirmed; do not assume there is cover
- Water quality: check beaches.ie before swimming
- Access: narrow road; drive slowly and give way
Official information: EPA beaches.ie: find a beach (search for Glassillaun). See also our guide to things to do around Clifden, Connemara.
8. Trá Mhór, Magheraroarty, Co. Donegal
Trá Mhór at Magheraroarty (Machaire Rabhartaigh) is a long sandy beach on a spit of land between the Atlantic and Ballyness Bay, in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Donegal’s tourism site lists it as a Green Coast Award beach for 2026, an award for excellent water quality and unspoilt surroundings that does not require built facilities. On a clear day you can see Tory Island offshore.
Know before you go
- Award: Green Coast, so expect a natural beach with minimal facilities
- Lifeguards: not confirmed; take care swimming
- Tory Island: ferries run from nearby Magheraroarty pier; check the operator’s timetable and the weather
- Location: near Gortahork, on the Wild Atlantic Way
Official information: Go Visit Donegal: Magheraroarty Green Coast Beach. See also our guide to County Donegal.
9. Ballybunion Beach, Co. Kerry
Ballybunion has two main beaches, Men’s Beach and Ladies’ Beach, separated by a cliff topped by the ruins of Ballybunion Castle. Nun’s Beach is reached by a steep track and is overlooked by an old convent. Cliff walks give views to Loop Head and the Virgin Rock. Ballybunion South is the longer stretch for walking, swimming and surfing, while Ballybunion North is backed by a rocky headland and dunes.
Know before you go
- Cost: free
- Nun’s Beach: steep track down; check the tide before you go
- Cliff walks: keep well back from unfenced edges
- Lifeguards and facilities: not listed on the official page; ask locally in season
Official information: Discover Ireland: Ballybunion Beach. See also our Top 10 things to do in Kerry.
10. Tullan Strand, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
Tullan Strand is a two-kilometre beach running from the north end of Bundoran to the Erne Estuary at Ballyshannon, with the Dartry Mountains behind. It is a serious surf beach and Discover Ireland says plainly that it is not safe for swimming, so come to walk or surf, not to paddle in the waves. Surf schools and shops in Bundoran supply boards, wetsuits and lessons.
Know before you go
- Swimming: not safe, according to Discover Ireland
- Parking: a free car park fills quickly with surfers; a paid car park is nearby
- Surf: popular with serious surfers; lessons are available in Bundoran
- Address: Tullan Strand Road, Drumacrin, Bundoran
Official information: Discover Ireland: Tullan Strand. See also our guide to County Donegal.
Planning your beach day
- When to go: lifeguards on most beaches here work only in the summer bathing season (roughly June to early September, with fewer hours at the edges), so out of season you are on your own.
- Safety: swim between the lifeguard flags where there are any, check the tide and weather, and never swim at a beach described as unsafe. Atlantic currents can be strong.
- Getting around: most of these beaches are reached by car on narrow roads with limited parking; arrive early in summer.
- Leave no trace: several of these sites are protected dunes or sensitive areas, so take your litter home and keep to paths.
Which Wild Atlantic Way beach is your favourite? Tell us in the comments.
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