Who doesn’t love a walk along the beach with the dogs? Wide open stretches of sand and/or shingle with the waves breaking at your side. Sounds idyllic, and a lot of the time it is if the weather is in your favour. With summer drawing to a close a lot of the beach dog restrictions will shortly be lifted and will lead to (hopefully) those great sunny winters days when the beaches are virtually empty and peaceful. So, where are the best beaches in wicklow?
My two dogs love a trip to the beach. Jack especially as he will stroll up to the water and literally just lie straight down and enjoy sitting in the water. Jessie is a little more cautious but will go in a little to retrieve a toy.
In no particular order, the following beaches are my favourite in County Wicklow. I’m sure there are many smaller ones that I’ve missed that are equally great.
Essential beach visit equipment with a dog
Depending on the time of year and what you intend to do at the beach this list can vary greatly.
- Poo bags
- Drinking water
- Suncream or Raincoat
- Walking shoes/sandals
- Towel(s) – For your dog (maybe you too)
- Swimwear – also a maybe!
- Mobile phone – for emergencies (and pet selfies)
Bray Beach
I’ve covered this beach before in my Dog Walks in Wicklow article but it still deserves a mention. It’s a long sand and shingle beach with plenty of facilities nearby. Due to its proximity to South Dublin it is easily the busiest of the beaches on a sunny day. Make sure you check out Gino’s on the seafront for ice cream whilst you are there.
Brittas Bay
In my opinion this is easily one of the best beaches in Ireland. Stretching to 5km, this white sandy beach is lined by tall sand dunes which makes for an excellent dog walk if you like to explore. The sea water is clean so it’s good for those of you who like to brave the cold waters. If you don’t, your dog will love splashing about in them. Our Jack will bound up to the water’s edge and simply lie down in the surf to cool off.
Both north and south car parks charge a small fee for parking. The south car park has slightly better facilities and a small kiosk that is open seasonally.
Greystones South Beach
Greystones south beach is made up of sand and shingle and is about a mile long. This beach is another one easily accessible from Dublin by DART making it a popular choice for day trippers and walkers (other article). A popular place for food has to be the Happy Pear on the church road; the Flynn twins have become quite the local celebrities. My family has developed a bit of a seeded cookie addiction when it comes to their food.
Ladies’ Cove
Sitting in between Greystones North and South beaches is Ladies Cove. This peaceful cove offers fantastic morning sunrises on a clear day and is a great location for couples and families to relax. There are rocks around the edges offering the daring one’s ways of getting wet. The beach facilities can be found nearby on main beach.
Megheramore
This is a hidden gem of a beach that can be found just a couple of miles south of Wicklow town. This beach is popular for its watersports due to a light swell it develops due to its cove-like shape. If you feel like trying out surfing or stand-up paddle boarding (SUP for short) this is a good place both beginners and improvers. Access to the beach is via a private roadway. You can contact the Brittas Bay Surf School for more details at www.brittasbaysurfschool.com
Silver Strand beach
Silver Strand is a private beach but well worth the parking charge. The fee can be paid through Wolohans Camping and Caravan Park or Webster’s Silver Strand Caravan Park. Wolohan’s include parking and access to all facilities for €6 mid-week/€10 weekend. This sandy beach offers family friendly swimming and a number of small covers and caves to explore during low tide.
More details can be found at www.silverstrand.ie.
