Beaches and Lakes in Co. Kerry
9 places
1.Coumeenoole Beach
Wild golden strand that vanishes at high tide
A wild golden strand framed by steep cliffs on the Slea Head Drive, Coumeenoole pairs Atlantic drama with a serious warning: strong, unpredictable currents make swimming unsafe.
- Highlights
- Golden sand backed by tall cliffs
- Dunmore Head viewpoint walk
- Ryan's Daughter filming location
2.Bá Fhíonáin /St. Finian's Bay
a remote surf bay with the Skelligs on the horizon
A remote, crescent-shaped Atlantic bay on the Skellig Ring where the Skellig Islands fill the horizon and the surf pounds in. Come for the views, the walks and the chocolate — not for a swim.
- Highlights
- Skellig Islands filling the horizon
- Known locally as The Glen
- Ireland's only open-plan chocolate factory
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
3.Ballinskelligs Beach
Blue Flag strand with a 15th-century castle
A Blue Flag strand on the sheltered western edge of Ballinskelligs Bay, backed by a 15th-century tower house and the ruins of a 12th-century abbey, and sitting at the heart of the Kerry Dark-Sky Reserve.
- Highlights
- Blue Flag beach, awarded in 1990
- Just over 1km of smooth golden sand
- 15th-century McCarthy Mór (Ballinskelligs) Castle on the shore
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
4.Banna Beach
a 10km Blue Flag beach with 12m dunes
A 10 km stretch of Blue Flag sand north of Tralee, backed by dunes up to 12 m high and steeped in 1916 history.
- Highlights
- 10 km of Blue Flag sand
- Dunes up to 12 m high
- Daily lifeguards in June-August
5.Inch Beach
a 5km Blue Flag strand you can drive onto
A 5 km spit of firm golden sand reaching out into Dingle Bay, framed by the Slieve Mish mountains, the MacGillycuddy Reeks and the Ring of Kerry. Wild, Blue Flag and famously driveable, it has starred on screen in Ryan's Daughter.
- Highlights
- 5 km of firm, walkable sand
- Blue Flag water quality, lifeguarded in season
- One of Ireland's most consistent surf spots
- Facilities
- Good for kids
6.Rossbeigh Strand
Six miles of Blue Flag sand and beach horse racing
A six-mile Blue Flag strand on a dunes-backed peninsula near Glenbeigh, known for beach horse racing and long Atlantic walks.
- Highlights
- Six miles (9.5 km) of golden sand
- Blue Flag water quality
- Lifeguards in the summer bathing season
7.The Inch Beach, Co. Kerry
Free 5km beach you can drive onto
Inch Beach is a 5 km Blue Flag sand spit that runs straight out into Dingle Bay — flat enough to walk for an hour and famous enough to drive onto, with surf schools, a beach café and Ring of Kerry views framing the whole strand.
- Highlights
- 5km Blue Flag sand spit into Dingle Bay
- One of Ireland's most consistent surf spots
- You can drive your car onto the sand
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
8.Ballyheigue Beach
A 3km Blue Flag strand under Kerry Head
A Blue Flag strand where Ballyheigue village meets the sand at the foot of Kerry Head, looking out across Tralee Bay. Part of a 10km dune-backed stretch of coast, it is a long, easy-going family beach with real village amenities behind it.
- Highlights
- Blue Flag beach with excellent water quality
- Over 3km of sand backed by dunes
- Lifeguards on duty in summer
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
9.Waterville Beach
seafront strand Charlie Chaplin returned to yearly
Waterville is the only village on the Ring of Kerry that sits right on the coast, and its long sandy beach curves along sheltered Ballinskelligs Bay beneath a seafront promenade.
- Highlights
- The only seafront village on the Ring of Kerry
- A paved promenade running the length of the beach
- Charlie Chaplin statue on the seafront
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access