Summer 2020 is shaping up to be more different than anyone thought, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of it. Cancelled holidays and postponed plans don’t have to get you down, now is the perfect time for that Irish staycation we’ve always talked about!
Swap a summer abroad for an unforgettable trip to Connemara, where our beaches rival the best in the world! Here’s our top pick of sandy shores you MUST visit on your trip to the West!
Dog’s Bay
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Of course we can’t speak about Connemara beaches without mentioning the spectacular Dog’s Bay. Just a short drive from Roundstone village, this horseshoe-shaped bay rivals the beaches of Bali and the likes.
Its soft sand is made entirely from fragmented seashells, giving it a pure white colour year round. The crystal blue waters of Dog Bay are Instagram picture-perfect! They are also well sheltered making it ideal for swimming, snorkelling and kitesurfing.
Omey Strand
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One of the largest beaches in the Connemara region, Omey Beach is popular with swimmers, walkers and for sight-seeing.
Located at Claddaghduff, it is one of the many Wild Atlantic Way discovery points in the area. At low tide, visitors can walk or drive across to visit Omey Island, but make sure to note the tide times!
Glassilaun
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Easily one of the most well known beaches in Connemara, this beautiful stretch of sand is located between Renvyle and Killary Bay. Glassilaun beach enjoys an impressive mountain backdrop, a stark contrast to its white sands and clear waters!
Glassilaun shows the Connemara coast at its most beautiful:, a paradise of unspoilt rugged landscape that stretches for miles around. On a hot summer’s day, expect to find it filled with friends and families enjoying the best of the West!
Mannin Bay
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Another white sandy beach to add to your list! Mannin Bay is a local gem that offers some of the best snorkelling in the West. Shallow rock pools provide a haven for marine life with water so clear you can see through it as though it were glass.
There is also a rocky shoreline trail to follow, about 4.5km roundtrip. The route is dotted with secret beaches and coves and offers some spectacular scenery of the wild Atlantic ocean. Kayaking is also available from Mannin BAy to Truska Beach.
Renvyle Beach
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Renvyle Beach also goes by the name of White Strand Beach, thanks to its long expanse of white sand that would rival any top tropical beach worldwide.
This beautiful beach treats its visitors to spectacular scenery of the Mweelrea mountains in Mayo. The beach is split in two by a small hillock with great panoramic views of the entire beach.
Access to the beach is down a narrow country road just beyond the Renvyle Beach Caravan and Camping Park, a family-run business in operation since 1967.
Lettergesh Beach
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If you’re looking for an unspoiled stretch of soft white sand, Lettergesh is just what you need.
A remote beach with calm turquoise waters, it is situated just to the south of the mouth of Killary Fjord. The beach is protected from the wild Atlantic by a series of small islands and rock outcrops, making the waters ideal for swimming.
Don’t expect to find many other visitors on this beach. Its entrance is a narrow, dusty track off the main tourist trail.
Coral Strand, Ballyconneely
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Coral Strand is unlike the other beaches of Connemara as instead of soft sand, it is made up of, yes you guessed it: coral!
The coral sand is in fact detached red calcified seaweed, maërl or otherwise known as coralline algae which forms the beach and feels like fine gravel underfoot. Although it’s not ideal for bare feet, this beach is well worth a visit to marvel at its sheer uniqueness.
Grand your significant other and head to Coral Strand at sundown to watch an unforgettable sunset.
Gurteen Beach
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Gurteen Beach, also known as Trá na Feadóige in Irish, meaning beach of the plover, lies back-to-back with Dog’s Bay. Situated just outside the picturesque village of Roundstone, this stretch of sand offers uncompromising views of Errisbeg and the stunning Connemara countryside.
Like Dog’s Bay, Gurteen Beach is well sheltered from currents and is the ideal place for safe swimming and other watersports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. The are also wonderful destinations for walking.
Eyrephort, Clifden
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If you’re looking for a more quiet spot off the beaten track, Eyrephort is your place. Ten minutes from Clifden, Eyrephort Beach is located at the end of the famous Sky Road and faces the islands of Inishturbot and Inishturk South.
This is the perfect spot to just take a moment and breathe.
Trá an Dóilin
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Located in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht, Trá an Dóilin is a natural beauty like no other. Also known as Carraroe Beach, it is situated in the picturesque village of Carraroe, this beach has a blue flag ideal for swimming and water sports.
