Beaches and Lakes in Co. Galway
4 places
1.Dog's Bay
White sand made from crushed seashells, not rock
Dog's Bay is a horseshoe of pure white sand near Roundstone whose grains are not rock but crushed seashells, backed by rare machair dunes on a narrow tombolo jutting into the Atlantic.
- Highlights
- Horseshoe beach of more than a mile of white sand
- Sand made from crushed seashells and foraminifera
- Sheltered, clear water for swimming and watersports
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly
2.Renvyle Beach
Quiet white-sand bay with island views
A long white-sand bay on the northwest edge of the Renvyle Peninsula, backed by Mweelrea and the Twelve Bens and facing a scatter of Atlantic islands. Quiet, natural and free to visit.
- Highlights
- Two white-sand beaches split by a hillock
- Views of Mweelrea and the Twelve Bens
- Inishturk and Clare Island on the horizon
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
3.Kilmurvey Beach
Blue Flag cove below a Bronze Age cliff fort
A sheltered crescent of white sand on Inis Mór, holding the Aran Islands' only Blue Flag — with a grey seal colony offshore and the great cliff fort of Dún Aonghasa a 15-minute walk uphill.
- Highlights
- Aran Islands' only Blue Flag beach
- Calm, clear water safe for children
- Grey seals hauled out at low tide
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
4.The Long Point
A lifeguarded Blue Flag lake beach
A Blue Flag lake beach on the southern shore of Lough Rea, The Long Point is where Loughrea swims, picnics and watches birds — clear water, a sandy shore and lifeguards in summer, two kilometres from town.
- Highlights
- Blue Flag bathing water (2026)
- Sandy beach with summer lifeguards
- Views over Lough Rea and its crannog islands
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access