Walk the sand spit
At low tide you can walk the full length of the spit — nearly 3km out into Dingle Bay — and loop back along the far side. The Rossbeigh Beach Loop is best done at low tide, with wide views of the mountains and coastline.
Rossbeigh Strand
4.8 (560)
See all
See all
About
Rossbeigh is a Blue Flag beach on the Ring of Kerry near Glenbeigh, where a 3km sand spit reaches into Dingle Bay with mountains on the horizon. It is a working seaside strip with playground, tennis court, toilets and beachfront food stalls, plus horses and an annual beach race meeting.
Things to Do
Swim and surf
The strand is Blue Flag accredited and the water is lifeguarded during the summer bathing season. Surfing, swimming and bodyboarding are popular; take care near the spit, where currents can be strong.
Family facilities at the entrance
At the beach entrance there is a playground for children and a tennis court for the energetic, with public toilets about 100m from the promenade and food options at the entrance or back in Glenbeigh.
Wildlife watching
The strand and its dunes sit inside the Castlemaine Harbour SAC and SPA. In autumn and winter look for Brent geese, curlew and dunlin, and listen for red-billed choughs over the dunes; a 200m tarmac path east of the entrance is a good viewpoint.
Horse riding on the beach
Rossbeigh Beach Horse Riding Centre (Faha, Glenbeigh, 087 2379110) runs beach treks at the water's edge for all abilities, and Burke's Trekking Centre is also minutes from the strand.
Glenbeigh Flapper Races
Every August the beach hosts the Glenbeigh Flapper Races, a two-day horse-race meeting on the sand that dates back to the early 1900s — the strand's most famous event.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Open all year, day and night; the beach is lifeguarded during the summer bathing season only.
- Admission: Free — no entry fee
- Parking: Free car park at the beach entrance with over 100 spaces, including accessible bays; it can also take horse-boxes. Ground is uneven, and winter storms can shift boulders from the seawall across it.
- Food: Snack and food options at the entrance to the strand; more restaurants, pubs and shops in Glenbeigh village, about 3km away.
Watch More
See it on the map
Load the interactive map to explore this place location.
