Located just beside Ballymoney village, Ballymoney North Beach is a crescent-shaped beach, which gives it a sheltered feel on those days when other spots are buffeted by the wind. It’s popular with families and holidaymakers staying nearby, who come here for a swim or just a walk. There is limited parking so arrive early on fine days to get a spot. In the summer there are lifeguards on duty and you can get ice cream and coffee at the tiny Ballymoney Beach Shop.
Only 6km from Gorey, Courtown Beach is another stretch of sand that is hugely popular with holidaymakers and day-trippers. This fine sand beach is backed up by dunes and woodland, but there are extensive coastal protection works along the boundary. In summer, swimmers should stick to the north end of the beach, which is the only part of it monitored by lifeguards. Afterwards, fill up with Shore Coffee’s pastries and tasty sausage rolls, with fillings like pear and black pudding or bacon and relish.
From the harbour and pier at the northern end, the award-winning Cahore Beach marks the beginning of an uninterrupted string of golden sand that runs 32km south as far as Raven Point, near Wexford town. Behind the beach is Cahore Polders and Dunes, part of a special area of conservation and home to rare plant species and feeding sites for waterfowl including geese. From the pier, the Cliff Walk is a 2.4km loop trail that connects Cahore to a string of beaches to the south; if you like, you can ignore the loop and walk all the way to Raven Point. Get a coffee or light bites from The Milk Van or the Seabiscuit coffee hatch by The Strand.
If you’re looking for a long strand backed by grassy dunes to stroll or swim from, Curracloe Beach is ideal for day trips. This 11km long stretch of golden sand facing the Irish Sea is one of Wexford’s best-known beaches and has even starred on the big screen. The opening scenes from the 1987 Steven Spielberg film Saving Private Ryan were shot here as well as scenes from 2015 drama Brooklyn. It’s also a good spot for swimming, with lifeguards in the summer months. There’s a nature reserve along the dunes, and the Raven Point Wood Walk leads 6.8km through the dunes and woodlands. When conditions are right you can also try surfing here – join a group surfing lesson or rent a board from The Surf Shack, which has a base at the beach.
Another Saving Private Ryan filming location, the picturesque 5km-long Ballinesker Beach reaches north to Ballyconniger Head and is connected to the expansive 11km-long Curracloe Beach to the south, both framed by beautiful sand dunes. The beach and its dunes are a protected conservation area, making it a perfect spot for birdwatching throughout the year. Keep an eye out for the diverse bird species that often arrive from the nearby Wexford Wildfowl Reserve – a fantastic place to explore, and it’s free to visit.
One of Wexford’s most popular beaches is Rosslare Strand, a 5km stretch of sand and stone that hugs the eastern edge of the Burrow Peninsula at the southern edge of Wexford Harbour. In summer, the lifeguard-protected beach is great for swimming, or you can walk the length of strand right up to Rosslare Fort at the northern tip of the peninsula. Access to the beach is easy from Rosslare village at the southern end, and there’s plenty of parking. Pack a picnic from the shops in the village, or try Wild and Native on Strand Road or La Marine Bistro at Kelly’s Hotel for a post-swim feast.
It mightn’t have the same name recognition as the county’s best-known beaches, but St Helen’s Bay is one of the county’s loveliest stretches of sand. Just a few kilometres south of Rosslare Strand, its clear waters make it popular for swimming and wading. There’s also some great walking here: follow St Helen’s Trail, which starts in the car park and runs around 4km south along the beach, with views to Tuskar Rock Lighthouse and chances for birdwatching along the way. The trail ends at scenic Carne Beach – check tide times before you set out as high tide can make a small part of this trail impassable.
The 1.5km Carne Beach comes alive in the summer, when visitors flock to the neighbouring camping park for a chilled-out holiday. But you can walk the golden strand or the adjacent Carne Pier for a better look out to sea any time of year. Grab fish and chips at the shop a short walk from the pier for lunch with a view.
The Hook Peninsula is home to some of Wexford’s most beautiful and rugged coastline, including Baginbun Beach on its eastern side, a secluded cove with clear waters. The beach has a seminal role in Irish history, too, as it’s where the Normans landed in 1170; you can learn more about this while exploring the bay and the sea caves under the cliffs on a kayaking trip with The Irish Experience. At the tip of the peninsula is the 800-year-old Hook Lighthouse, one of the oldest in the world still in operation.
Stretched along the western edge of the Hook Peninsula and with fine views of Hook Head, the 1.6km-long Duncannon Beach, lies just outside the village of the same name. At one end of the beach you can take a guided tour of Duncannon Fort, a 16th-century bastion built into the side of a cliff. For something more energetic on a windy day, book in for a kitesurfing lesson with Hooked Kite Surfing.
Just next to Dollar Bay on the Hook Peninsula and facing in the same westerly direction, the slightly larger Booley Bay Beach is another secluded stretch of golden strand sheltered by cliffs. The beach has been officially recognised for its clean environment, natural beauty and excellent water quality, so it’s a popular place for a swim in calm conditions.
From a peaceful day on shore to a heart-pumping adventure on the water, get outside and enjoy an incredible coastal escape.
