The 10 Best Beaches in Ireland – according to Lonely Planet

The Lonely Planet has selected 10 of the Best Beaches in Ireland, and we have to admit – they’re on our top list too! Read on to discover which 10 beaches made the list, and start planning your next visit now..

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Dog’s Bay/ Gurteen Bay, County Galway

Two miles from Roundstone, Co Galway, on the road to Clifden, are two of the finest beaches in Ireland. Gurteen Beach and Dog’s Bay lie back to back forming a tombolo jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. There is calm water for swimming & windsurfing, plus stunning coastal views. The sand is not comprised of traditional limestone but rather made entirely of fragments of seashells which give it a pure white colour.

Trá Mór, Dunfanaghy, County Donegal

“Trá Mór” is Irish for ‘Big Beach’ and this is no exception – this stunning 2 mile stretch of coast is located in the North of Ireland in County Donegal. It’s a little off the beaten track, but don’t worry, your helpful Driver Guide will get you there, and it’s particularly pretty for a sunset evening picnic.

Keem Bay, Achill, County Mayo

Keem Beach is located in a beautiful horseshoe bay on Achill Island, County Mayo. It is a sheltered, sandy beach surrounded by high cliffs. It can be found at the head of a valley between the cliffs of Benmore to the west and Croaghaun Mountain on the east on Achill Island. The beach is very popular for water sports and there are surfing schools in the local area.

Streedagh Strand, County Sligo

Streedagh Strand is an impressive 3km long sandy beach located on the north western shore of a sandbar linking Streedagh Point to an area known as Connor’s Island. This is an exposed beach with reef breaks which create ideal surfing conditions all year round. Offshore – and occasionally visible at low tide – are the remains of three ships that ran aground here during the Spanish Armada of 1588 – La Lavia, La Juliana, and the Santa Maria de Visón.

Inch Strand, County Kerry

Inch Beach lies on Daingean Bay on the Dingle Peninsula. When you actually see Inch beach the name may seem a little ironic for its expansive sands stretch for around 4 miles, across the entire south-west side of the Inch Peninsula. There is a surfing school directly on the beach and the place is popular with surfers and other water-sports enthusiasts.

Inch Beach has views over Dingle Bay and the mountains of Kerry. It has been used as the set for various films, including Ryan’s Daughter.

Banna Strand, County Kerry

Banna Beach is 7 miles north west of Tralee. It’s a beautiful Blue Flag beach that extends for miles. This is a walkers paradise with views of the mountains of the Dingle Peninsula on the southwest horizon, Kerry Head and the Maulin Mountain to the northwest and straight out to sea you can see Mucklaghmore Rock. The sand dunes here are a designated conservation area with rare plants and animals. It’s is a popular surfing spot with surfing lessons and summer camps.

Trawmore Bay, Achill Island, County Mayo

Trawmore Strand is perhaps Achill’s best known and most-photographed beach. It stretches for over 3km, linking Keel in the west to Dookinella and the foot of the Minaun Cliffs. Hugely popular with bathers, this south-facing beach is also widely used for watersports including surfing, windsurfing and sea kayaking.

Ballyquin Beach, Ardmore, County Waterford

About 5km northeast of the popular seaside town of Ardmore is this wonderfully secluded beach, an arc of beautiful white sand that at its eastern edge gives way to tidal rock pools, above which are the ruins of a former stud. Unlike the much more popular beach in Ardmore itself, Ballyquin remains relatively unfrequented: locals come here for morning swims while, in the evenings, it is a good spot for surf fishing, with locals casting a rod in the hope of catching some flatfish or a Bass.

Ballymastocker Bay, County Donegal

Ballymastocker Bay is situated on the East of Fanad in Donegal and stretches from Portsalon Pier to Magherawarden.

It is certainly one of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland and was once voted as the second most beautiful in the world – beaten to the top spot by a beach in the Seychelles.

Killiney Beach, County Dublin

Killiney Beach is a very large beach on the south side of Killiney hill. It is part sand and rock, and has a cave on the northern section of the beach facing the irish sea. Looking south you can also get fantastic views of Killiney bay and Bray.