Best beaches in County Clare
Below are a list of the top 12 beaches in County Clare as selected by the users of the Beach Guide website.
The current most popular beach in County Clare is Kilkee. If you would like to have your say on which are the best beaches in County Clare just follow the link to the beach and vote by clicking the star ratings at the top right of the page.
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1. Kilkee Beach
Kilkee is a crescent-shaped, golden sandy beach, sitting at the end of a sheltered bay which is protected from the worst of the Atlantic swells by the Duggerna Reef. This beach, which has been popular with holiday makers since Victorian times, it is an excellent spot for bathing and for family days out, with lifeguards…
2. White Strand (Miltown Malbay)
This relatively small sandy beach with a rocky shoreline has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag award on a number of occasions. This means there are all the facilities you'd need including lifeguard cover during the summer months.
3. Fanore Beach
The large sandy beach of Fanore straddles the Caher River as it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. As such the beach is exposed to much of the Atlantic swell making it a popular spot with surfers. During the summer months the beach is patrolled by the lifeguard service making it a great place to learn…
4. Lahinch Beach
Lahinch is a sandy, crescent-shaped beach, by the resort town of Lahinch in Liscannor Bay on the north west coast of County Clare. The beach directly faces the Atlantic Ocean, meaning it gets the full force of the swells. As a result Lahinch is one of Ireland's most popular surfing beaches. The beach itself is…
5. Spanish Point Beach
Spanish Point is named after the fleet of ships that formed the Spanish Armada. Many of these were shipwrecked nearby during a storm in the year 1588 on the return from their unsuccessful attempt to invade Britain. Most of the survivors who made it to shore were executed by Queen Elizabeth I's government in Dublin.…
6. Doughmore Beach
Doughmore is a long, spectacular, golden, sandy beach overlooking the Atlantic, and backed by an impressive sand dune system and the Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Resort. Plans to build a sea wall to protect the resort were shelved in 2016 after protests from locals. Ironically the reason for building the sea defences was…
7. Cappagh Beach
The village of Kilrush lies on the Shannon Estuary, about 48 miles west of Limerick. From the village, which has a large marina, used for berthing boats during the winter, the R473 coast road brings visitors to historic Cappagh Pier, parts of which date back to 1764. Next to the pier, the small rocky beach…
