A Guide To Visiting The Fabulous Rossbeigh Beach In Kerry

The incredible Rossbeigh Beach is arguably one of the best beaches in Kerry.

You’ll find the stunning Rossbeigh Beach on the outskirts of the village of Glenbeigh overlooking Dingle Bay.

The Blue Flag beach is part of the Castlemaine Harbour Special Area of Conservation which protects local flora and fauna.

Part of the Ring of Kerry, you can walk for miles (well 7km to be exact) along sandy Rossbeigh Strand or wade in and enjoy some water-sports.

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!

Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Rossbeigh Beach

A visit to Rossbeigh Beach is one of the most popular of the many places to visit in Kerry, but there’s a few ‘need-to-knows’ that’ll make your trip all the more enjoyable.

Below, you’ll find info on everything from parking and swimming to where to take part in some water-sports nearby.

1. Parking

Good news! There’s loads of parking at the south end of Rossbeigh Beach. It’s close to the water with good access for those with limited mobility – you can even watch the waves while sitting in the car. It’s also handy for unloading watersports gear. 

2. Swimming  

With clean Blue Flag awarded waters, Rossbeigh Beach is excellent for swimming. The sandy beach slopes gently down into the waves with no nasty surprises and there’s a lifeguard on duty during the summer. Just use common sense as always and be careful!

3. Surfing  

You’ll hear from many that Rossbeigh is one of the best places to go surfing in Ireland, and for good reason. The steady SW prevailing wind and gentle gradient of the beach makes Rossbeigh Beach an ideal spot for surfing with plenty of constant swell.

The break offers both left and right hand waves and the quality of surf is not affected by the tide. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are also popular here along with kite buggying along the broad expanse of flat sand at low tide.

About Rossbeigh Strand 

The golden sand at Rossbeigh Beach stretches for 7 beautiful kilometres offering breathtaking views of the mountains on the Dingle Peninsula.

The pristine waters are popular haunt for water-sports and fishing and the beach hosts an annual horse race every summer.

If you’re bringing the family along, there’s a superb all-weather playground named Tir na Nog. The Irish name also connects with the rich folklore of the area.

Legend has it that Oisin and Niamh rode a white horse into the sea at Rossbeigh in search of Tir na Nog, the Land of Eternal Youth!

Rossbeigh is one of the more popular beaches near Killarney (up there with Inch Beach and Derrynane Beach) as its a short, 45-minute drive away.

Things to do near Rossbeigh Beach 

One of the beauties of Rossbeigh Strand is that it’s a short spin away from a clatter of other attractions, both man-made and natural.

From the mighty Rossbeigh Loop to more beaches, lively towns and much more, there’s loads to see and do nearby, as you’ll discover below.

1. Rossbeigh Hill Loop Walk 

The Rossbeig Hill walk is one of my favourite things to do in Kerry. This is a stunning walk over and around Rossbeigh Hill at any time of year. Join the Loop Walk at the south end of the beach and allow 4.5 hours for this moderate 10km walk.

Part of the walk joins the long-distance Kerry Way. It provides stunning views of coast and countryside, Dingle Bay, Rossbeigh and Inch Beach.  

2. Glenbeigh  

Glenbeigh is a lovely little village at the foot of wooded mountains overlooking Dingle Bay. Known for its scenic beauty, it’s a popular tourist haunt with whitewashed cottages, a church, pub and hotels on Kerry Way. Its a great place to grab a bite. Highlights include rock art sites and the ruins of Wynne’s Folly aka Glenbeigh Towers. 

3. Kells Bay House and Gardens

Kells Bay House and Gardens is an unexpected subtropical haven nicknamed the “Jewel of the Ring”. The colourful 17 hectare gardens are a delight to explore and offer fantastic bay views. Three kms of walking trails including a River Walk, Cliff Walk and a Bog Walk with Ireland’s longest rope bridge over the waterfall. 

4. The Kerry Bog Village Museum

Experience 19th century life in Ireland courtesy of the Kerry Bog Village Museum. Peek inside thatched cottages fully furnished with period antiques, costumed figures and authentic sound effects. Browse the display of farming and peat-cutting tools and  see a rare Kerry Bog pony and hairy Irish wolfhounds, the world’s tallest breed of dogs.  

5. Lough Caragh

Our list of things to do near Rossbeigh Beach ends at Lough Caragh, a freshwater lake within a Special Area of Conservation. The lake was created when the Caragh River was dammed and is now a prime spot for fishing and scenic boat trips. 

FAQs about visiting Rossbeigh Beach in Kerry

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from where to park at Rossbeigh Beach to whether or not it’s OK to swim.

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.

Is it easy to get parking at Rossbeigh Beach?

Yes – there’s plenty of parking at Rossbeigh Strand. The only time you’ll have hassle grabbing a spot is during the summer months when the weather is fine.

Is it safe to swim on Rossbeigh Beach?

With clean Blue Flag awarded waters, Rossbeigh Beach is excellent for swimming. The sandy beach slopes gently down into the waves with no nasty surprises and there’s a lifeguard on duty during the summer. Just use common sense as always and be careful!