Swim and paddle
The cove's clear turquoise water shelves gently from a sand and pebble floor, making it popular for swimming and paddling. Some parts are wave-sheltered, but bring aqua socks for the stony sections.
Rathmoylan Cove Beach
4.7 (150)
About
A quiet, unspoilt sand-and-pebble cove near Dunmore East, backed by red sandstone cliffs and a sea cave said to be the longest in the country. It stays genuinely wild: no shops, no lifeguards, just cliffs, clear water and rock pools.
Things to Do
Explore the sea cave
At the eastern edge of the cove is a superb sea cave eroding at least 60 metres underground, roughly 10-11 m wide and 8 m high. Geological Survey Ireland surveyed it in 2011 and it may be Ireland's largest; a smaller cave lies just east of it. Reaching it means scrambling over rocks and is usually only possible at low tide.
Walk the cliff path
Rathmoylan sits on the Dunmore East to Ballymacaw coastal path. The Dunmore to Rathmoylan leg is about 6 km, moderate, taking around 2 hours, past cliffs, coves and the White Lady standing stone.
Rock pooling and geology
A long tidal zone exposes rock pools ideal for children, set against cliffs of red sandstone and conglomerate of the Harrylock Formation, with honeycomb weathering and deep erosion cracks along the bedrock.
Plan Your Visit
- Admission: Free — a public beach with no entry charge
- Parking: Limited parking at Rathmoylan; the nearest larger car park is at the Shanoon in Dunmore East. Arrive early on busy weekends.
- Food: Nothing on site. Restaurants, bars and hotels are in Dunmore East village, about 3.4 km away.
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