Sometimes the best swimming places take an effort to get to, and this is one of them. Lough Ouler is a corrie lake at the base of Tonelagee, one of Wicklow’s most imposing mountains. From the road it’s a good read more…

If it’s good enough for Matt Damon…   The trick with this swimming spot is to find it, so keep a close eye out and follow the directions below.  Variously known as ‘the Vico’, ‘the Ramps’ and Hawk Cliff (which is read more…

A walk and a swim that’s well worth the effort. Start at the pier gates , if you come from the sally gap will give you spectacular views of lough Tay This is a private estate but is open to read more…

Bishopsquarter Beach June 2009 A good beach if not a great beach! Bishopsquarter is a beach of the stony variety and there isn’t a whole lot of sand about. Access into the water can also be a bit stony and read more…

Fanore Beach June 2009 Fanore is a wide and long sandy beach, popular with families, young people and surfers. While the beach is open there are rocks to shelter from the wind. It’s also dotted with pools for the kids read more…

Glasheen Beach June 2009 Glasheen is small, secluded and sheltered by rocks at either end. Out to sea you are looking across the mouth of the Shannon River to the Kingdom of Kerry. On a warm sunny day in June read more…

Pollock Holes, Kilkee June 2009 The Pollock Holes are well known to thousands of swimmers from Clare, Limerick and beyond. They are an institution. This is a swimming place which isn’t immediately obvious and to get there you go down read more…

Spanish Point June 2009 Spanish Point is a popular holiday location and its long, sandy beach is well known to its many regular visitors. This is a good beach for walkers, swimmers and surfers. Its high cliffs give some protection read more…

White Strand, Killard, Doonbeg June 2009 How many beaches in Ireland are called White Strand ? Who knows, but here’s another one. This is a nice, small and secluded beach, sheltered by rocks at either end.  A good feature is read more…

September 2009 Ross Beach is located just a few miles outside the town of Killala The facilities here are quite good. There’s a tarmacadamed car park with a couple of picnic tables and toilets. As well as steps down to read more…

Doolough Valley must be one of the most spectacular locations in Ireland Doolough is best approached from Louisburgh where, after a few miles, you come over a hill and meet the wonderful view down the valley. The lake itself, Doo read more…

The lake is located just off the Military Road which runs from the outskirts of the city all the way to Glendalough and beyond. Lough Bray is not far past Glencree and just before the entrance to the Kippure mast. read more…

Enniscrone Beach April 2010 Enniscrone is a popular seaside town with a long beach which is well used by families and surfers. It’s a good place to go if you like a bracing walk after your swim as the beach read more…

Mullaghroe is a nicely curved, secluded beach. The sand is soft, the water is clear and sheltered and there are nice views across Blacksod Bay. Not surprisingly, on a nice day in April, we were the only ones there and read more…

[Many thanks to Thomas Bán Reilly for providing correction and local insights] Portmore Beach, located between the townlands of Surgeview (West) and Faulmore (East), is yet another of Mayo’s and Belmullet’s fine beaches. The beach features two access points – read more…

April 2010 Dunmoran is a long stretch of beach, good for both swimming and walking. The water can be wavy but it’s nice and soft underfoot as you enter the fresh, clear water. The beach is surrounded by dunes which read more…

April 2010 Mullaghmore is one of Sligo’s many fine beaches, a lovely place for swimming, walking and playing. The beach is a fine expanse of sand with small sand dunes in the background and nice views of Tievebaun and Truskmor read more…

April 2010 We don’t know much about swimming in Westmeath, but Lough Owel is a good place for a swim and one we often use travelling to and from the West. This is an old style swimming spot with a read more…

April 2010 Streedagh is another of Sligo’s fine expanses of sand. This is a good spot if you like your beaches bracing and a bit windy. It’ s quite open, but you will get some shelter from the dunes surrounding read more…

May 2010 Beautiful Bray?  About 15 kilometres from Dublin, Bray is an old style seaside resort with a promenade, amusement arcades and outdoor funfairs in the summer. The beach itself is long, mainly stony and certainly not in our top read more…