Wild Atlantic Way Top Beaches
With bracing Atlantic winds, breathtaking vistas and miles and miles of undisturbed beaches, the Wild Atlantic way is a beach-lover’s paradise.
01. Barleycove, Co Cork
One of West Cork’s most beautiful beaches, Barleycove is the ideal spot for families, with its many sand dunes providing hours of fun for kids. Officially declared a Special Area of Conservation by the EU, this is the perfect spot to enjoy the stunning views and discover the natural wildlife of the area.
02. Dogs Bay, Roundstone, Co Galway
With its crystal clear waters and over a mile of white sandy beach, the crescent shaped Dog’s Bay (beside Gurteen Bay), is one of Galway’s best beaches. Ideal for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
03. Fanore Beach, Co Clare
Stunning views, golden sand and with a certain wildness about it, Fanore beach is great for surfing, body boarding and swimmers. It’s also a botanist's haven, with its proximity to the Burren.
04. Inch Beach, Co Kerry
Breathtaking scenery and with over four miles of beach, Inch is an ideal spot for walkers. Made famous for its scenes in Ryan’s Daughter, Inch Beach is popular with surfers, anglers and swimmers.
05. Inchydoney Beach, Clonakilty, Co Cork
With its blue flag status, Inchydoney Beach is the ideal spot for swimming in the calm, and surfing when the wind is up. Inchydoney is yet another of Ireland’s most stunning beaches, with miles of sandy beach to walk or jog along and take in the breathtaking views.
06. Keel Beach, Achill, Co Mayo
Surrounded by stunning vistas of the Minaun cliffs, green fields and the Atlantic, this 4km beach, also known as Trawmore Strand, is a haven for watersports enthusiasts. Expect lots of windsurfers, bodyboarders and surfers living it up on this Blue Flag beach
07. Ballymastocker, Co Donegal
Voted the second most beautiful beach in the world by readers of the Observer Magazine, Ballymastocker, on the shores of Lough Swilly, is a spectacular mile-long beach of beautiful sand and stunning views. Never over-crowded, this Blue Flag beach is one of Ireland’s top gems.
08. Silver Strand, Malinbeg, Co Donegal
This horseshoe-shaped secluded beach is an ideal spot to relax and take stock. Stunning views and protected from winds, Silver Strand is a beach lover's paradise with its golden sands and peaceful ambiance.