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Wexford Beaches Guide: 15 Mighty Beaches In Wexford Worth Visiting This Weekend

Wexford Beaches Guide: 15 Mighty Beaches In Wexford Worth Visiting This Weekend

The various Wexford beaches are widely considered to be some of the best beaches in Ireland.

The glorious County Wexford coast boasts an abundance of stunning sandy stretches, many of which are often missed by those visiting the county.

And, while some beaches in Wexford tend to get all of the glory (I’m looking at you, Curracloe), there’s heaps of hidden gems nestled along the coastline.

In the guide below, you’ll find a clatter of Wexford beaches that are well worth sauntering along at any time of year.

What we think are the best beaches in Wexford

wexford beaches guide

Photos via Shutterstock

The first setction of our guide is packed with what we think are the best beaches in Wexford – these are beaches that one or more of our team has visited and loved.

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. Helen’s Bay Beach

Helen's Bay Beach Wexford

Photos courtesy of @our.little.white.cottage

St Helen’s Bay Beach is a little slice of Heaven to those in the know. Although it gets busy here during the warmer months, it’s generally nice and quiet during the off-season.

With a Green Coast Award to its name, several trails to tackle nearby and its relative proximity to Wexford Town, this is one of County Wexford’s most seductive coastal offerings.

You get a nice eyeful of the shore from the moment you park up, but you’ll want to get onto its soft sands and go for a stroll to really soak up the beauty of this place.

At a 25-minute spin away, this is widely regarded as of the best beaches near Wexford Town for good reason.

2. Dollar Bay Beach

dollar bay wexford

Photo left: @ameliaslaughter. Right: @justpatcassidy

Few Wexford beaches have a name as Hollywoodesque as the stunning Dollar Bay Beach, which you’ll find hidden away on the wind-swept Hook Peninsula.

Surrounded by craggy cliffs, this sandy spot is like something you’d expect to stumble upon in South East Asia.

There’s an interesting tale around where it got its name from, that involves a ship on its way back from the Canary Islands, a band of mutineers and two tonnes of gold (read the story here).

This is one of the more popular beaches in Wexford during the summer months and, as it’s quite pokey, expect it to fill up fast.

3. Booley Bay Beach

Booley Bay Wexford

Photo left: @dartzirl. Right: @aisling_ashpash

The breath-taking Booley Bay Beach is another one that calls the wild Hook Peninsula ‘Home’ and you’ll find it right next to Dollar Bay.

It’s here that, aside for a stunning golden beach, you’ll find some of the peninsula’s most unique geology. Booley Bay is home to sandstone and shale rocks that date back over 500 million years! 

This is another of several Wexford beaches that boasts a Green Coast award, which awards environmental excellence. You’ll find it nice and quiet during the year but expect crowds to pick up come summer.

4. Curracloe Beach

Curracloe Beach

Photos via Shutterstock

Next up is the mighty Curracloe Beach. This sandy spot has fine, soft sand and pristine dunes blanketed in marram grass. Featured in several films including ‘Brooklyn’, the 11km beach is backed to the south by The Raven Nature Reserve.

If you’re looking for beaches in Wexford for a ramble, the 10km Raven Loop walk takes in both beach and forest scenery. The extensive beach has 500 parking spaces and three access points at Ballinesker, White Gap and Culleton’s Gap.

This is one of many Wexford beaches that is popular for shore fishing and beach horseriding (from the nearby Equestrian Centre). There are good facilities including toilets at White Gap and Ballinesker, a Surf Shack, beach café and lifeguards in the summer.

5. Baginbun Beach

Baginbun Beach Wexford

Photos with thanks to @skogswex

Baginbun Beach is another of a handful of Wexford beaches that visiting tourists tend to miss, but it’s an absolute peach of a spot, and you’ll find it along the Ring of Hook.

Along with nearby Bannow, Baginbun Beach was the site of the famous Norman invasion into Ireland over 850 years ago in 1170.

These days, Baginbun is a little slice of paradise, especially if you pull up on one of those often rare sunny mornings.

Surrounded by cliffs and reasonably small, this isn’t the best beach if you’re looking for a long stroll, but it’s the perfect spot to dip your toes, or to suck down some fresh ocean air.

6. Ballymoney Beach

Ballymoney Beach Wexford

Photos via Shutterstock

Ballymoney Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Wexford and the only downside is that it can be difficult to find parking here on sunny days (see this guide for parking info).

At high tide, there are actually two sandy beaches here, separated by a rocky outcrop. The North Beach is accessed by a path over the rocks and is longer and sandier than South Beach.

The sand on both of these Wexford beaches is fairly firm. The main car park has a shop for ice cream and refreshments and the beach has toilets and lifeguards in summer.

7. Morriscastle Beach

Morriscastle Beach Wexford

Photos courtesy of @johnobeez

Morriscastle Beach is part of a number of beaches that stretch for a whopping 22 km (from Cahore to Curracloe) and which makes up one of the longest unbroken stretches of beach in Europe! 

Awarded the coveted Blue Flag in 2008, Morriscastle is a gorgeous, clean, family-friendly beach that has lifeguards on-site during the summer months.

When you rock up here, grab a coffee or an ice cream from nearby Lawler’s and then flick off your shoes and socks and saunter along the sand.

More very beautiful Wexford beaches

best beaches in wexford

Photos via Shutterstock

Now that we have what we think are the best beaches in Wexford out of the way, it’s time to see what else the Wexford coast has to offer.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from Ballinesker to Cullenstown, along with some Wexford beaches that tourists tend to miss.

1. Cullenstown Beach

Cullenstown Beach

Photos via the @salteesauna

You’ll find the glorious Cullenstown Beach to the east of the Hook Peninsula and Bannow Bay, around a 30-minute spin from Wexford Town.

Theres a decent bit of parking next to the beach (off the main road from Cooleskin) and there’s toilets on the west side of the car park.

Cullenstown is another of several beaches in Wexford to boast a Green Coast Award, thanks to its water quality and the unspoiled landscape that surrounds it.

As you stroll along the sand, you can soak up views of the Keeragh and Saltee Islands. If you’ve just been for a paddle, the nearby Saltee Sauna is the perfect spot to get some heat back into your bones!

2. Cahore Beach

cahore beach wexford

Photo courtesy of @markygoods

Cahore Beach is a scenic spot that’s said to be one of the longest beaches in Ireland. It extends south from Cahore village and is nicely shielded by dunes that reach 50+ feet in places.

Another Green Coast Award winner, Cahore Beach is a fine spot for a ramble and you can choose to stroll on the sand or take the brilliant Cahore Cliff Walk. If you need a pick-me-up, nip into The Strand before hand and nab a coffee-to-go.

There are superb sea views from the new cliff walk that runs from the pier to Cahore South Beach.

3. Ballinesker Beach

ballinesker beach Wexford

Photo left @andrewagibbs34. Right: @galvinf

Ballinesker Beach is regarded by many as one of the best beaches in Wexford and, if you’ve ever rambled along the sand here, you’ll likely agree.

You’ll find it north of Curracloe Beach, where it stretches for just under 5km and boasts gorgeous, fine white sand that’s littered with seashells.

Ballinesker is arguably best known from it’s feature in Saving Private Ryan. The beach was used by Steven Spielberg to portray Omaha Beach.

4. Old Bawn Beach

Old Bawn Beach Wexford

Photos via Shutterstock

You’ll find our next stop, Old Bawn Beach, a bit to the south of Cahore, where it merges on its north side with Cahore South Beach (mentioned above).  

Old Bawn Beach is one of the most picturesque Wexford beaches and it blends naturally into neighbouring Cahore and Morriscastle to form one of the longest stretches of unbroken sandy shore in Ireland.

You can grab parking at the end of Cahore Road. Although it’s a Green Coast winner, it sounds like this isn’t a safe beach to swim at.

5. Carne Beach

carne beach wexford

Photo courtesy of @jpmg31

Our next stop, Carne Beach, is another peach of a spot a short, 15-minute spin from nearby Rosslare and it’s one that gets pretty busy come summer.

There’s ample parking here (near the pier) and there’s also toilets along with lifeguards on duty during the summer season.

Carne is a sweeping, sandy bay that curves around this section of the Wexford coast. Boasting Blue Flag status thanks to the quality of its water, it’s a fine spot for a stroll or a paddle. There’s also the St Helen’s Trail (a 1 hour and 50-minute walk) that kicks off nearby.

6. Rosslare Strand

Rosslare Strand

Photos via Shutterstock

Rosslare Beach is another spot that’s often regarded as one of the best beaches in Wexford, and a glance at the photos above should reveal why!

Also, the fact that Rosslare receives around 300 hours more sunshine than the average place in Ireland makes the town and beach a Haven for tourists and locals alike.

Grab a coffee in the town and stroll along the sand or head off on the Rosslare Sli na Slainte, which kicks off from the village car park and follows a circular route.

7. Courtown Beach

courtown beach

Photos via Shutterstock

Courtown is another of the more popular beaches in Wexford and it boasts fine sand and coastal defences separating it from the dunes and woodland. Courtown Beach is pretty narrow around its access points, but it widens out further north.

Another Blue Flag beach, Courtown has lifeguards on duty during the summer months and people flock here from far and wide when the sun shines.

Just below the pier, you’ll find the shorter beach, known as ‘South Beach’. This area is unsuitable for swimming and is consequently quieter. When you finish, you’re a short stroll from Courtown Woods and Seal Rescue Ireland.

8. Duncannon Beach

Duncannon Beach

Photos via Shutterstock

And last but by no means least in our guide to the top beaches in Wexford is Duncannon Beach on the Hook Peninsula (right below Duncannon Fort).

Facing south, Duncannon Beach is 1.5kms of glorious golden sand stretching from Duncannon village to the River Barrow estuary. 

There’s lifeguards on duty during the summer, toilets on site and every year it hosts a popular Sand Sculpting festival.

For adrenaline seekers, Hooked Kitesurfing is worth checking out. Also, a new coastal walk launched here in 2022 (it takes you out to Arthurstown).

The best beaches Wexford has to offer: Which ones have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally missed out on some brilliant Wexford beaches in the guide above.

If you’d like to recommend a beach in Wexford, you can do so in the comments section below. Cheers!

FAQs about Wexford’s best beaches

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are some good beaches near Wexford Town?’ to ‘Which are the most family friendly?’.

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.

What are the best beaches in Wexford?

In my opinion, few can compete with Booley Bay Beach, Dollar Bay Beach and the stunning Helen’s Bay Beach.

What are some nice beaches near Wexford Town?

Three of the best beaches near Wexford Town are Curracloe Beach (15-minute drive), Ballinesker Beach (15-minute drive) and Rosslare Beach (25-minute drive).

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Rory

Tuesday 18th of July 2023

Old Bawn Beach is not safe to swim, but a great beach for walking!

Keith O'Hara

Tuesday 18th of July 2023

Thanks Rory!

Aine

Tuesday 18th of April 2023

Ballyteigue burrow at Kilmore Quay?

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