Derrynadivva Bay Beach is a small cove at Ross, near the tip of the Loop Head peninsula in west County Clare. Derrynadivva is the townland name you will see on the map; locally the bay is simply Ross Bay, and most signposts point you to the Bridges of Ross. It sits on the Atlantic side of the peninsula, a few kilometres from Kilbaha, the last village before Loop Head Lighthouse.
It is not in Kerry, but it is closer than it looks. From our homes in Listowel you drive to Tarbert, take the car ferry across the Shannon Estuary to Killimer, and you are on Loop Head within the hour. We went across ourselves, and it is now one of the first day trips we suggest to guests staying in North Kerry.
What the beach is like
This is not a long golden strand like Ballybunion or Banna. Derrynadivva is a horseshoe-shaped bay with a patch of sand at its head, shingle banks along the sides and flat sandstone ledges running into clear water. At low tide the rock pools are the best part, especially with children.
What stayed with us most was the sound. Climb down onto the beach and every wave drags the stones back with it, so the whole shore rattles and rumbles in a low, rolling roar you will not hear on a sandy strand. Up on the clifftop the wind usually hits you as you look down at the cove. Go down at low tide, though, and it drops away completely: the beach is sheltered, and it is a wonderful place to sit for a while and just listen to the stones.
Before you leave, walk out to the more open point where the bay gives way to the Atlantic. The view straight out over the ocean is one of the best on the whole peninsula.
The rocks themselves are worth a closer look. The layered cliffs are part of the Ross Sandstone, laid down on a deep ancient seabed, and geologists come here to see the ripple marks and a well-known slumped "mudslide" layer on the far side of the cove. Even if geology is not your thing, the stripes in the cliff are striking in low evening light.
It is quiet. Facilities are minimal, so bring food, water and a warm layer; Kilbaha and Carrigaholt are the nearest places to eat. The car park is shared with the Bridges of Ross walk and has picnic tables.
The Bridges of Ross: a five-minute walk from the sand
The Bridges of Ross are on the western side of the same bay, and you cannot see them from the road. From the car park, follow the footpath west for a few hundred metres along the cliff. There were once three natural sea arches here; two have collapsed into the Atlantic and one still stands, with the swell running underneath it.
Keep close to the fence on the way out. The ground near the edge has slipped in recent years, and on a windy day the spray reaches further than you expect.
In late summer and autumn this headland becomes one of the best seawatching spots in Europe. When the wind is from the north-west, birders line the rocks to watch shearwaters, skuas and petrels pass close to shore on their way south. If you see people with telescopes on a blustery September morning, that is why.
Can you swim at Derrynadivva Bay?
Yes, on a calm day, but treat it as a wild swim. There is no lifeguard, and the bay is open to westerly winds, which push the Atlantic swell straight in. The water over the sand patches is very clear, and on a still morning it is a lovely, sheltered-feeling dip.
- Only swim when the sea is flat and the wind is light or from the east.
- Stay inside the bay, away from the rock ledges and the arches.
- Go with someone, and have warm clothes ready on the shore.
- For a lifeguarded beach, Kilkee is about 25 minutes away, with its Blue Flag strand and the Pollock Holes rock pools.
Getting there from Kerry: the Tarbert ferry
The short way from North Kerry to Loop Head is across the water, not around through Limerick.
- Drive from Listowel to the Tarbert ferry terminal, about 20 minutes.
- Take the Shannon Ferries car ferry to Killimer. The crossing takes about 20 minutes, with sailings from Tarbert on the half hour and extra sailings in summer.
- From Killimer, follow the Wild Atlantic Way signs west through Kilrush and Carrigaholt towards Kilbaha, then turn off for the Bridges of Ross car park. Allow about 50 minutes.
Door to door, that is roughly an hour and a half each way. Tickets can be bought online, and the timetable changes between summer and winter, so check shannonferries.com before you set off. On a clear crossing, stand on the upper deck for the view of Tarbert Lighthouse.
Make a day of it on Loop Head
Derrynadivva is an hour or two on its own, so pair it with the rest of the peninsula. A route that works well from the ferry:
- Carrigaholt: a small harbour village on the estuary side, where dolphin-watching boats go out to see the Shannon's resident bottlenose dolphins in season.
- Loop Head Lighthouse: right at the end of the peninsula. On a clear day the view runs south to the Blasket Islands off the Dingle Peninsula and north towards Connemara.
- Kilbaha: the last village on Loop Head, tucked into a sheltered bay, good for a chowder stop.
- Derrynadivva Bay and the Bridges of Ross: the cove, the arch and the rock pools, best in the afternoon or evening light.
- Kilkee: the Blue Flag beach, the cliff walk and the Pollock Holes, on your way back towards Killimer.
Catch the last ferry back to Tarbert and you are home in Listowel for dinner.
Where to stay: Listowel as your base
Listowel is the easiest place in Kerry to reach Loop Head from, because the Tarbert ferry is so close. It also keeps you within easy reach of Ballybunion Beach and the Dingle Peninsula, so one base covers both sides of the Shannon.
We look after self-catering holiday homes in and around Listowel, booked direct with the local team, with no booking fees and a price always below Airbnb for the same dates. See our Listowel holiday homes or browse all our properties. If you are coming for the races, our Listowel Races accommodation guide has the details.
FAQ: Derrynadivva Bay Beach
Where exactly is Derrynadivva Bay Beach?
At Ross, on the Atlantic side of the Loop Head peninsula in County Clare, beside the Bridges of Ross car park and a few kilometres from Kilbaha.
Is Derrynadivva the same as Ross Bay?
Yes. Derrynadivva is the townland; Ross Bay is the name most people and signs use.
Is it lifeguarded?
No. Swim only on calm days and stay inside the bay. Kilkee is the nearest lifeguarded Blue Flag beach.
How long does it take to get there from Listowel?
About an hour and a half each way, including the 20-minute Tarbert to Killimer ferry.
Is there parking?
Yes, a car park signposted for the Bridges of Ross, with picnic tables.
When is the best time to visit?
A calm, sunny afternoon for the beach and rock pools; a windy autumn day for wave-watching and seabirds at the arch.