Keem Bay is a horseshoe of golden sand and clear turquoise water at the far western tip of Achill, walled in by some of Europe's highest sea cliffs. Sheltered, Blue Flag and reached by a hair-raising cliff-top road, it is the Wild Atlantic Way at its most cinematic.
The last stretch of the R319 climbs to about 200m before corkscrewing down to the bay, mountain on one side and a sheer drop on the other. A tiny pull-in near the top gives the classic photo, though cones often block stopping - respect them.
An east-facing horseshoe of fine white sand and clear water, sheltered enough for a calm paddle. It is a Blue Flag strand with summer lifeguards; the sea is at its warmest (16-19C) in mid-August.
A rough path, slippery after rain, climbs from the beach to a disused coastguard watch-house on Moyteoge - about 30 minutes up. From the top you look along the Benmore cliffs towards Achill Head and Croaghaun's sea cliffs.
Basking sharks return to the bay in May and June, and common dolphins are regular visitors. A marked snorkel trail runs along the southern side of the bay, doable at low or high tide; keep your distance from wildlife.
Keem Bay starred in The Banshees of Inisherin, with the cottage scenes shot here; a little white cottage still stands above the strand and is privately owned. The larger white building behind the beach is a former coastguard station.
At the head of the stepped valley are the remains of about 17 circular stone cottages - the summer booley village of Bunowna, once used by herders. Keem was also the hub of Achill's basking-shark fishery in the 1950s and 60s, hunted for liver oil.
Load the interactive map to explore this place location.
