Beaches in Mayo
Pontoon Beach
We don’t just have the Wild Atlantic – we also have the lakes at Lough Conn and Lough Cullin. The sandy lakeside paradise at Pontoon, where the waters of Lough Cullin gently lap the secluded shoreline offers a peaceful, novel alternative to the wild Atlantic waters and is shallow and safe for supervised smallies.
Near Drummin Woods, these treasures – there are three small beaches – can be found between Foxford and Pontoon.
This is one of the most secluded and beautiful beaches in Mayo.
Elly Bay, Erris
Elly Beach on the Mullet Peninsula is a beautiful sandy beach, roughly 9km suoth of Belmullet town. It’s a sheltered beach, known for watersports such as swimming, sailing, surfing, buit is also good for swimming.
Elly Bay is also a beach of international ecological importance, because of its diverse habitats to be and boasts a wealth of bird life. Elly Bay is another of Mayo’s Blue Flag Beaches.
Portacloy
If ever the phrase “off the beaten track” applied, it applies here!
This picture-perfect, beautifully spectacular beach in North Mayo, is isolated by miles of blanket bog, and nestled deep into a natural harbour, Carrowteige Cove, which makes it a beautifully safe heaven for swimming or snorkelling. It is an extraordinary place to spend the day and it rarely, if ever gets crowded.
We’d recommend you bring snacks, as cafés are few and far between, the nearest being Carrowteige village, or make a pitstop at Teach Greannaí, Cornboy, on your way. There are temporary toilets in place for the summer months.
While here, you can also get active along the 18km Portacloy Loop Walk which starts and finishes at the beach, and takes you along the sea edge all the way to the extraordinary cliff views of Benwee Head.
Lacken Strand
Miles and miles and miles of glorious strand. A Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way, Lacken strand is so vast, that in summer when the tide is out, it comfortably hosts outdoor concerts!
The perfect place for children, dogs and grown-ups to run wild and free, and it’s also a safe space for little ones when the tide is out.
It does flood twice daily when the tide returns, so be mindful of this and it’s not safe for swimming. Be aware too that there are areas of quicksand. But as strands go, it’s one of the most spectacular and open you’ll find anywhere in Ireland.
Ross Strand, Killala
Blue Flag beach Ross, just past Killala along the Wild Atlantic Way towards Ballycastle is a lovely, welcoming and sheltered strand. As you approach, on the right is a sandy beach and the stretch on the left offers a haven for children who love nothing more than exploring the rock pools and spotting the sea life.
Coastal erosion sadly means that this landscape changes yearly, but it offers gorgeous views of Bartra Island and Enniscrone across the Moy Estuary. While the tide is out, a 5km looped walk will take you around the coast, past the restored Coastguard Station and onto stunning CBI Beach Killala , a real local secret (shh, don’t tell anyone), before bringing you back along the quiet road to your starting point. Do check the tides in advance however!
Swimming is safe on the main strand (but not on CBI!) and there is a lifeguard on duty* during the summer months (hours below), however, do stay within the designated areas due to strong currents. You’ll also find toilets, a picnic area and you can even park up a motorhome for the night.
*Lifeguard services available
Enniscrone
Enniscrone is the most well-known beach in this entire area. Just a few km from Ballina, over the border in Co. Sligo, Enniscrone is the classic seaside town, offering an incredible vast strand, a pier, cliff walks, ice cream kiosks, and all that you’d expect in a town by the sea.
Visit Kilcullen’s famous Victorian seaweed baths, get in a round of golf at the well-renowned Ennisrone Golf Club, go horse-riding, try your hand at pitch and putt or bring the little ones to Enniscrone Playground.
But the best thing of all to do in Enniscrone is to walk right to the end of the beach, past the giant Valley of Diamonds, and see where the River Moy meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Swimming is safe and a lifeguard service operates, and you can try your hand at surfing also.
Credit northmayo.ie
