Dog’s Bay (Gurteen Bay)

White sand, clear turquoise-blue waters and the occasional bit of sunshine - you’d almost think you were in the Caribbean and not Connemara on the west coast of Ireland! Without doubt this lengthy crescent of pristine sand is one of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland.

There is a reason the sand here is so white, and that is because it is made up of tiny fragments of seashells. This is also the reason the water is so clear and blue as there is no sediment and the whiteness of the sea bed reflects the blue of the sky.

The name “Dog’s Bay” possibly comes from the bone shape spit of sand which connects the craggy headland to the coast. This is technically known as a tombolo and a there is actually a beach on either side separated only by low dunes. The other beach is called Gurteen Bay and is just a slightly less perfect mirror image of Dog’s Bay.

Both beaches are fairly well sheltered and swimming is generally considered safe. That said, there are no lifeguards here and it is quite remote so you’ll have to decide.

Oh, and yes you can bring your dog to Dog’s Bay - it’s allowed all year round.