Wild Atlantic Aways · Things to Do · Beaches
Beaches on the Dingle Peninsula
Our homes sit between two bays. Tralee Bay, on the Castlegregory and Camp side, is the calmer water. Brandon Bay, on the Cloghane side, takes the Atlantic swell and the surfers. Inch is over the hill on Dingle Bay, and Ballybunion is the beach for our Listowel guests. Here is how they compare, and what we tell guests who ask which one to go to.
The beaches at a glance
| Beach | Where | What it is like | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castlegregory Beach | Tralee Bay | Sand and dunes by the village, Slieve Mish across the water | Walks, swimming and water sports in suitable conditions |
| Aughacasla Bay Beach | Tralee Bay | Open shoreline between Camp and Castlegregory; the sand shown changes with the tide | A coastal stroll from our Aughacasla homes |
| Derrymore Strand | Tralee Bay, south shore | Sandy beach under the Slieve Mish Mountains, with a public car park and a nature reserve beside it | The nearest beach to our Camp cottages, about 5 min by car |
| Maharees Peninsula | Between Brandon Bay and Tralee Bay | A sandy spit with dunes and a beach on each side | Kitesurf and windsurf on the Brandon Bay side, calmer coves facing Tralee Bay |
| Brandon Bay | Brandon Bay | About 12 km of sand under Mount Brandon, with Atlantic swell | Surfing, kitesurfing and long walks |
| Fermoyle Beach | Brandon Bay, western end | Small free car park over a narrow bridge; high tide covers the beach | The one hour Fermoyle Beach Walk near Cloghane |
| Inch Beach | Dingle Bay | A 5 km spit of firm, flat sand with a café | Families and beginner surf lessons |
| Fenit Beach | Tralee Bay, north shore | Sandy beach by the harbour, with toilets, picnic tables and a playground nearby | A family afternoon from The Lighthouse, Fenit |
| Ballybunion Beach | Atlantic, North Kerry | Two beaches either side of a castle headland | A classic beach day from Listowel, 20 min away |
Our beach guides
Aughacasla Bay Beach
Beach
Plan a shore walk around the tide
Ballybunion Beach
Beach & seaside town · 20 min from our homes
Best for a classic beach day · 20 min from ListowelBallyheigue Beach
Beach
Walk south at low tide towards Banna
Brandon Bay
Beach & watersports · 8 min from our homes
Best for surfers & long walksBrandon Creek
Cove & sea arch
Pair it with the Slea Head Drive on a west end day
Castlegregory Beach
Beach
Check the tide and weather before your visitDerrymore Strand
Beach
Bring binoculars for the shore birds
Derrynadivva Bay
Cove & sea arch
A day trip from Listowel via the Tarbert ferry
Fenit Beach
Beach
Beach walks and time by the water
Fermoyle Beach
Beach
Beach walks near Cloghane
Inch Beach
Beach & watersports · 25 min from our homes
Best for families & surfers
Maharees Peninsula
Beach & watersports · 5 min from our homes
Best for beaches & watersportsCalmer water: Tralee Bay
Castlegregory Beach runs along Tralee Bay by the village, with dunes behind and the Slieve Mish mountains across the water. It is where families tend to end up, and the village is a short walk away for food. Further east, Aughacasla is open shoreline rather than a set beach, good for a walk from our Aughacasla homes when the tide is out. Towards Tralee, Derrymore Strand is the beach for our Camp cottages, five minutes away by car, with the Derrymore Island nature reserve beside it. On the far side of the bay, Fenit Beach sits beside the harbour with a playground close by.
Surf and long walks: Brandon Bay
Brandon Bay sweeps for about 12 km under Mount Brandon, and its steady swell and wind are why surfers, kitesurfers and windsurfers come to Castlegregory. Between the two bays, the Maharees spit has beaches on both sides, so you can pick the sheltered one on a windy day. At the western end, Fermoyle has a small free car park and a one hour loop walk; check the tide, as high water covers the beach. Cappagh (An Cheapaigh), near Brandon village on the same shore, is another way down to the sand.
Dingle Bay and North Kerry
Inch is a 5 km spit of firm sand on Dingle Bay, about 25 minutes from our homes, with a surf school for beginners and a café on the beach. From Listowel, Ballybunion is 20 minutes away: two beaches either side of a headland with a castle ruin, and the cliff walk starting above them.
Swimming safely
Lifeguards cover only some beaches, and only in the summer season. The Atlantic has rips, and conditions change with the wind and tide. Read the noticeboard at the beach, swim where other people are swimming, and ask us: we live here and will tell you where is sensible on the day. In an emergency at sea, call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.
Blue Flag and Green Coast beaches
Kerry County Council lists Maharabeg on the Maharees, Fenit, Inch and both Ballybunion beaches among the county’s Blue Flag beaches, an award for water quality, safety and facilities. Castlegregory is on its list of Green Coast Award beaches.
Questions guests ask
Is Castlegregory beach good for swimming?
Castlegregory Beach is on the Tralee Bay side of the village and is used for swimming and water sports. Conditions change with the wind and tide, so read the signs on the day and swim where other people are swimming.
Where is Cappagh beach?
Cappagh (An Cheapaigh) is on the western shore of Brandon Bay, near Brandon village on the Cloghane side of the bay. It is one of the access points to the long Brandon Bay strand.
Which beach is best for surfing?
Brandon Bay has the most consistent surf on the north side of the peninsula, with schools and board hire. Inch Beach suits beginners, with a surf school on the sand. From Listowel, Ballybunion has surf too.
Which beach is best with small children?
Fenit Beach has a playground and picnic tables nearby, the coves on the Tralee Bay side of the Maharees are calmer, and Inch has firm sand and a café.
Are there beaches near Dingle town?
Inch Beach is about 25 minutes from our homes on the Dingle Bay side. Ventry Strand is just west of Dingle town on the Slea Head road.