Rosslare Strand Wexford: Swimming, Parking, Things To Do + Handy Info

There are few beaches in Wexford as popular as the beautiful Rosslare Strand.

Rosslare Strand attracts hoards of visitors each year, particularly in the mild summer months. Whether you’re a walker, a dipper of toes in gentle waves, a swimmer or someone who relishes a picnic by the sea, you’ll find something to love here.

Below, you’ll find info on where to get parking (potentially a pain), swimming, lifeguards and more. Dive on in!

Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Rosslare Strand

Although a visit to Rosslare Beach in County Wexford is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

The strand is next to Rosslare at the southern end of Wexford Harbour. It’s a 20-minute drive from Wexford Town and a 25-minute drive from Kilmore Quay.

2. Parking

There’s parking right next to the beach called the ‘Village Car Park’ (here on Google Maps). Keep in mind that this packs out on warm summer days.

3. Swimming

Thanks to its Blue Flag status, Rosslare Strand is a popular spot for swimming, but note that lifeguards are only on duty during the summer months.

4. Toilets

There are male, female and disabled toilets available all year round, though you need a universal key to gain access to the accessible toilets. There is an outdoor shower available, too.

5. Water safety (please read)

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

About Rosslare Strand

The Irish for ‘Rosslare’ is ‘Ros Láir’, which means ‘middle wood’. Rosslare Strand is a village and seaside resort, the name distinguishing it from that of the nearby Rosslare Harbour where the Europort is.

It has been a haven for tourists for the last 100 years for a variety of reasons, but the fact that its climate ensures that Rosslare receives 300 hours more sunshine than the average place in Ireland definitely helps!

There are a number of golf courses nearby and the village of Rosslare has several hotels, cafes and restaurants all happy to cater to visitors.

Things to do at Rosslare Strand

There’s plenty of things to do in Rosslare and many of the town’s top attractions are a stone’s throw from the beach. Here are a handful of ideas:

1. Brave the chilly water with a swim or paddle

The long sandy strand is a Blue Flag beach, which means that Rosslare Strand means stringent environmental, accessibility, educational and safety standards.

The beach itself is made up of sand and stone and it hugs the length of the peninsula. August/September are often reckoned to be the best months for outdoor swimming as the summer months should have warmed the sea up. (In theory!)

2. Then warm up with a coffee from Kelly’s Deli

Kelly’s Deli is in the heart of the village and there you will find scones and other pastries, and teas and coffees, as well as take-way pizzas and salads.

If you fancy a feed, nip into our guide to the best restaurants in Rosslare for some inspo!

3. Before heading off on the Rosslare Sli na Slainte walk

Sli na Slainte stands for ‘Path for Health’ and it was developed by the Irish Heart Foundation. The two walks both begin in the village car park.

The circular route is just over four kilometres and the longer one just over seven. Both feature attractive scenery and are well signposted.

Things to do near Rosslare Strand

One of the beauties of Rosslare Beach is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Wexford.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Rosslare Beach (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. St Helen’s Bay Beach (15-minute drive)

Still in a beachy frame of mind? St Helen’s Bay is a long stretch of sand popular with walkers and pony trekkers. It’s also widely regarded as one of Wexford’s top beaches, so it’s well worth a look!

2. Irish National Heritage Park (15-minute drive)

The Irish National Heritage Park is located just outside Wexford Town and it brings to life more than 9,000 years of Irish history. You can journey through pre-historic Ireland, early Christianity and the Age of Invasion. Set in woodland, the park offers spectacular views across the River Slaney.

3. Forth Mountain (20-minute drive)

Forth Mountain is a rocky outcrop that rises to some 235 metres above sea level and is more than 500 million years old in places. It played a pivotal part in the 1798 Rebellion and you’ll find the remains of homes built in the early 20tgh century there.

FAQs about visiting Rosslare Beach

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is Rosslare Strand a Blue Flag beach?’ (it is) to ‘Are dogs allowed on Rosslare Strand?’ (yes, on leads).

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.