Such a lovely local beach with a decent sized car park. During peak weeks - there is a mobile…read morecoffee shop and sometimes a mobile ice cream shop. There is also a small pitch and putt course you can pay to play and a small toilet block. Be warned tho as the road to the beach is super narrow in places and only wide enough for one car - which would be great if it wasn't a two way road! But if your reversing skills are on point or you are lucky to be one of the only people driving in that direction - then go for it! Bring a kite (it's normally windy enough for one!) and also a bucket and spade and a large blanket and you will be set!

Another gem of the Ireland coast. They state the ocean opened and closed and created these wondrous…read morecliffs and rock formations. I don't know, but I know God spoke, and these beautiful places were crested for us to enjoy. This place is clean and surren. The parking lot and toilets are also very well taken care of. If you are a tourist like me, put this on your to visit list.

Inch Beach is a great place to stop at when driving to Dingle. If you are lucky, your visit will…read morehave perfect weather and limited wind. The beach is beautiful and you can drive your car on it when the tide is low.

You won't be guaranteed good weather at Inch beach but it's an expansive and generally clean beach…read morethat attracts surfers. A great place to take a wander and enjoy the scenery.

Rossbeigh Strand is a nice detour off the Ring of Kerry. We followed the GPS coming from the west…read moreand it took us down a very narrow and windy road culminating in a steep descent down a two way road that was only really 1.5 cars wide. When we left to the east, the way out was much more straightforward. I'd recommend following this route regardless of the direction you approach from. The beach itself had a perimeter of large smooth rocks. Like most of our trip, it was extremely windy. The beach was very scenic but we didn't see anyone spending much time there, granted the end of September isn't exactly the peak beach time. 3 stars.

Only GPS or a local can guide you to this spot. Beautiful cascading views from the Ardkilly Creek…read moreto the Atlantic Ocean. 5 generations of land owners surround the natural beauty, and swimmers come from afar and local to swim around the island. Kayak and standup boards can be used along these calm waters. Parking is limited, and the roads are tight but well worth the trip.

Fantastic location. The site occupies the whole of the "point" in the name and almost wherever you…read morecamp you have the sea close by on two sides with shingle beaches and rocks everywhere. Bantry Bay is pretty calm and flat so messing about in boats is great with kids and if you have a line and an hour or two you are pretty much guaranteed mackerel for dinner. Facilities are organised and well kept and while the 11 o'clock curfew and no fires rule were a bit of a pain, the sea and the amazing views meant all was forgiven. Well placed for exploring the West Cork coast. Great shop across the road that even does camping gas. The only real downside was the walk up the main road to the nearest boozer - not far but a little stressful with kids.

FOUNTAINSTOWN Fountainstown, let's face it, is not the…read moreprettiest of beaches. But it does have a bus service from the city and also has a large car park. It has been popular for decades and that is still the case. There is sand enough there but on my recent visit, it was covered in seaweed. In fairness, a clean-up is scheduled. There are also a fair share of small stones there and one would have thought it possible they could be periodically cleared with a tractor and rake. Maybe it is done early in the season. In any case there is more than enough to keep the kids going here. One of the main attractions, as it has been over the years, is the huge number of little pools left in the rocks as the tide retreats, more than enough to occupy the inquisitive children, not to mention the parents. Oh by the way. There was a small amount of litter there but nothing major. A good clean-up of the seaweed and this great little destination, which also has a little shop and cafe, would be in great shape for what is left of the "Indian" summer.

One of Cork's busiest beaches. Handily, Garryvoe Hotel is right next to the beach, so there's a…read moreplace for some food and decent parking options available for daytrippers. The beach is a nice spot for a wander, and the brave can try the "bracing" water for a dip. Braver still, it's a hotspot for kite-surfers too.

I've been to Inch Beach twice and each time it was beautiful. The first time it was rainy and…read moreovercast and today it was a beautiful sunny day. The beach is gorgeous and very clean. There are a ton of cute little shells that you can find intact and wash off if you want a souvenir. The shops were closed when I visited today but apparently they may be up for sale and reopened sometime this year. There is a good amount of parking here and a very clean container bathroom with running water and no smell. There's a spigot you can use to wash your feet off with when you're done. If you have the chance I definitely recommend stopping here.

I will always remember the panoramic scene in David Lean's "Ryan's Daughter" when a giddy Sarah…read moreMiles holds her parasol upright and greets a smitten Robert Mitchum on an expansive beach as the wind carries their respective hats away. About a quarter-century ago, I sought the beach out on my first trip to the Dingle Peninsula and found it looking as magical as it did in the movie. Earlier this month, I returned with Jamie W. knowing full well that it was on our way to our overnight stay in Dingle. The magic was there still (photo: http://bit.ly/2ehwPGZ). It was close to sunset and the perfect time to enjoy the three-mile stretch of flat compacted sand that looked so visually stunning you would have thought someone intentionally designed the beach that way. It was fairly empty except for random tourists and hardcore surfers. All we did was walk out into the sand and enjoy the calm of the sea cradled by Brandon Bay. There were two stray orange cats next to the outhouse rather indifferent to our presence but somehow in tune with the peaceful environs (photo: http://bit.ly/2fc3yLz). I hope it's not another 25 years before I return.

Derrynane House Park encompasses 120 hectares (nearly 300 acres) of land and Derrynane House, home…read moreof one of Ireland's most well-loved heroes, Daniel O'Connell, aka "The Liberator." Dun dun dun! He was a pacifist (in Ireland! gasp!) who lobbied for equal rights for Catholics. He was instrumental in the passage of the Catholic Emancipation Act, essentially granting Catholics equal rights in Ireland. Easy to understand why he is much beloved. The Historical Park is definitely worth a visit if you are on the Ring of Kerry or staying in or near Caherdaniel (itself a ridiculously charming and non-touristy town). The House now serves as a museum of O'Connell's early, later, and political life. The furnishings are well-kept and the house well-maintained, providing a glimpse of upper-scale Irish life from the early 19th century. The cherries on the cake here, however, are the grounds which are much like botanical gardens here in the States. There are lovely manicured gardens, more Romantic and wild gardens, woodlands, and an incredible expanse of beach at Derrynane Bay...with ample warnings about not venturing too near the surf for fear you might get sucked in, sucked out to sea, and never be heard from again. A highlight of the Park is the Druid stone monument featuring the Ogham "language," which you come across on your walk up to the Park grounds. Admission to the whole park is also a real deal at under 3 Euros. A nice way to spend a few hours on your trip to the Ring.

While the house tour is fine, it was really the gardens that won me over here. They are so…read morebeautiful that I regretted not packing a picnic and spending my day here. It was so lovely to wind my way through the beautiful woods of Derrynane. And to think, I didn't even make it to the beach! I'd definitely recommend visiting the botanical gardens here. Stop in the Blind Piper on your way out for yummy food!