Ireland’s garden is more than just trees and mountains; the county is a coastal paradise. Here, we explore the five best beaches in Wicklow.
Located along the former east of Ireland and nicknamed the “Garden of Ireland”, County Wicklow’s geography places it on the edge of Dublin but also far enough away to retain its independence and claim a destination of choice in Ireland.
Who wouldn’t enjoy a leisurely escape to the town of Greystones, a hike through the Wicklow Mountains or a peaceful traverse through heavenly Glendalough?
Best of all, Wicklow is a coastal county and, therefore, benefits from various golden beaches that kiss the rising blue of the Irish Sea and line the shores of neighbouring towns and villages.
Greystones South Beach – faultless for a day trip
Starts Greystones Beach our list of the five best beaches in Wicklow.
Greystones Beach is fair south of Greystones town and just 16km (10 miles) from County Dublin, making it an ideal location for your next day trip. Take the DART from Dublin City for informal access.
Greystone Beach is approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) long and mixes sand and pebbles. Beautiful Bray Head is not far away, and if you put on your walking shoes, why not go for a walk at the end of the day?
To top it all off, the beach was given the Blue Flag award in 2021, one of only 83 beaches on the Emerald Isle to receive this coveted award.
Ennereilly Beach – an angler’s heaven
By replacing the combination of sand and pebbles with a single composition of sand, Ennereilly Beach rightly deserves its place on our list of the best beaches in Wicklow.
It is divided into two, north and south, and is only 10 km (6.2 mi) from Arklow. Ennereilly is perhaps one of the fishermen’s favourites among our readers since anglers can find dogfish, plaice, hound, and sea bass there.
The beach has a small parking lot so you can rest your wheels while you rest your eyes, and the sand flows over large rocks and juts out of the dunes to keep you in the shade.
Silver Element Beach – one of the finest beaches in Wicklow
Although Silver Strand Beach is small in size, it more than brands up for it in style. With the Irish Sea flowing gently over the silky sands, it’s a must-stop on your list of things to do in Wicklow.
The only slight drawback is that the journey to the beach is quite complicated. You can only pass through two private campsites, which charge a small extra for parking.
However, the detour into the creek is worth it for the more resourceful. The calm waters of the sea are highly safe for swimming and ideal for a family day out.
Silver Strand is a local gem where peace is born from calm waters. In addition, safety is guaranteed by the dominant cliffs that surround the beach.
Magheramore Beach – take a trip before it’s too late
Undoubtedly one of Wicklow’s finest beaches, Magheramore is almost in danger of being lost to the public as access to the beach,
atop a cliff famous for filming, is for sale. Therefore, this may restrict the possibility of using the wire.
A petition that has gathered nearly 5,000.
signatures against the sale of the land is enough of a sign of the devastation that will follow the loss of access to this beach.
From a bird’s eye view, you can see a stunning strip of sand sandwiched between deep blue on one side and a sea of green fields on the other.
It’s a local favourite due to its secluded location. However, they certainly won’t mind getting a visitor or two from article readers.
Brittas Bay Beach – the European Azure Flag beaches in Wicklow
Topping the list of Wicklow’s best beaches is Brittas Bay,
an extraordinary 5km (3 miles) stretch of land filled with sand and dunes for your enjoyment.
The European Union has awarded Brittas Bay Beach the Blue Flag award. This magnificent accolade is definitely justified for one of County Wicklow’s top tourist attractions. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches on the entire east shore of Ireland.
Finding accommodation shouldn’t be a problem in this vast area,
with locals and visitors happy with its convenient location close to Dublin. If Wicklow isn’t on your list of things to do in Ireland, at least Brittas Bay should be.
