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7 Of The Best Beaches Near Wicklow Town

7 Of The Best Beaches Near Wicklow Town

There’s some mighty beaches in Wicklow Town and nearby.

And, while the likes of Travelehawk Beach is arguably best known, there’s many a fine stretch of sand dotted along the coastline north and south of the county town.

Some, like Brittas Bay, are easy to get to and have plenty of car parks while others, like Silver Strand, pose a much greater challenge.

Below, you’ll discover what we think are the best beaches near Wicklow Town. Dive on in! 

Beaches in Wicklow Town

beaches in wicklow town

Photos by Dylan Vaughan via Fáilte Ireland

The first section of our guide looks at the various beaches in Wicklow Town itself, like Travelehawk Beach.

Water safety warning: Understanding water safety is absolutely crucial when visiting beaches in Ireland. Please take a minute to read these water safety tips. Cheers!

1. Wicklow Town Beach

wicklow town walks

Photos by Dylan Vaughan via Fáilte Ireland

Wicklow Town does not specifically have a beach as such, but it does have a beautiful harbour where locals enjoy swimming, bathing, boating and strolling.

It’s very picturesque and has sheltered waters within the harbour walls. The harbour is also home to the Sailing Club and RNLI Lifeboat Station.

To the north, the agricultural “Murrough” is bordered by an area known as the Eastern Coastal Strip. This includes crescent-shaped Wicklow Bay, a stony beach extending for 10km north from Wicklow Town. 

Note: There was a swimming ban put in place in 2023 due to high levels of bacteria in the water.

2. Travelehawk Beach

Travelehawk Beach

Photos by Dylan Vaughan via Fáilte Ireland

Travelahawk Beach is a hidden gem, just south of the town harbour and headland ruin known as Black Castle. It’s a quiet inlet with some sand and sheltered waters.

Legend has it that it was the landing place of St Patrick who unfortunately was pelted with stones by unwelcoming locals!

Travelahawke’s main claim to fame is as the film location for the popular TV series Vikings.

This is one of the more unique beaches near Wicklow Town but, like many in the area, it doesn’t have a lifeguard service, so care is needed.

Beaches near Wicklow Town

Beaches near Wicklow Town

Photos courtesy Celtic Routes via Fáilte Ireland

Now that we have the two beaches in Wicklow Town out of the way it’s time to look at the various beaches near Wicklow Town.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from Silver Strand and Brittas Bay to Greystones and more.

1. Silver Strand (5-minute drive)

silver strand in wicklow

Photo via @harryfarrellsons on Instagram

Just 4km south of Wicklow Town, Silver Strand Beach is a gorgeous stretch of silky golden sand enclosed by rocky cliffs.

It’s arguably one of the finest beaches in Ireland, but it’s also one of the more controversial ones, too.

You can’t get down to this beach unless you’re staying on the campsite as access is via their property, which isn’t ideal by any means.

If you’re reading this and you know of a way of reaching this beach, please let us know in the comments below.

2. Glen Beach (5-minute drive)

Glen Beach Wicklow cliff walk

Photos courtesy Celtic Routes via Fáilte Ireland

Midway between Wicklow Town and Dunbur, Glen Beach is well worth a visit. It has a dedicated car park just off the R750 on the clifftop and is mainly stone and shingle.

Now, THIS BEACH COMES WITH A WARNING – DO NOT WALK DOWN TO IT AS SEALS CHILL HERE.

You can admire it from many points on the Glen Beach Cliff Walk which is a 4km trail that takes around 1.5 hours to complete.

Please don’t approach the seals. If you go near a pup, there’s a strong chance its mother will abandon it. The result? It’ll starve, and it’ll be your fault.

3. Magheramore Beach (10-minute drive)

Magheramore

Photo by Nataliia Pushkareva (Shutterstock)

South of Silver Strand Beach and the golf club, Magheramore Beach is a small secluded beach with pristine golden sand and plenty of rock pools for exploring.

The sand is firm enough for playing ball games, sitting and relaxing, or playing in the water. It’s also a popular spot for local surfers.

Parking is available for a fee (here on Google Maps) and then make your way on the path through farmland and down to the beach. It’s very picturesque, surrounded by tree-covered cliffs and rocky outcrops.

It’s main claim to fame was in 2018 when 2,505 women broke the Guinness World Record for the largest skinny-dip!

4. Brittas Bay (15-minute drive)

Brittas Bay Wicklow

Photos courtesy Celtic Routes via Fáilte Ireland

About 12km south of Wicklow Town is the county’s largest sandy beach at Brittas Bay. It offers 5km of powdery soft sand backed by dunes that are home to many rare and colourful plants.

Brittas Bay Beach has clean Blue Flag waters and is a popular spot for sunbathing and paddling. It’s very popular in summer with Dublin visitors and tourists staying at the nearby caravan park.

It’s well known for the natural beauty surrounding the beach and has been used as a film location for several films and TV TV dramas including The Count of Monte Cristo and Vikings. 

5. Greystones South Beach (30-minute drive)

Greystones wicklow

Photos via Shutterstock

Greystones South Beach is another of the more popular beaches near Wicklow Town thanks to its Blue Flag waters that make it very attractive for families.

There are lifeguard services during the summer months and the beach also has a playground nearby, parking and toilets.

It’s easy to reach by car or the DART train from Dublin that stops at Greystones. The south beach is the better beach, in our opinion, with about 1km of sand and pebbles and scenic coastline.

FAQs about beaches close to Wicklow Town

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Which can I walk to?’ to ‘Where’s best for a dip?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Does Wicklow Town have a beach?

Yes, it has Travelehawk Beach. Aside from being a beautiful beach, Travelahawke’s main claim to fame is as a filming location for the popular TV series Vikings.

What are some good beaches near Wicklow Town?

Some of the best beaches near Wicklow Town are Greystones, Brittas Bay and Silver Strand. Do note that Silver Strand is now virtually inaccessible.

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