Posted on: November 08, 2026 | Author: Tom
Lonely Planet has picked four Irish beaches for its upcoming book Best Beaches Europe. It's a round-up of 100 of the most spectacular beaches on the continent, due out in 2027. The authors named these four as their Irish favourites:
1. Keem Bay, Co. Mayo
2. Inchydoney Beach, Co. Cork
3. Ballymastocker Bay, Co. Donegal
4. Streedagh Strand, Co. Sligo
If you've been meaning to see them, this is your sign.
Keem Bay, Co. Mayo
Keem sits at the far western end of Achill Island, down a winding road that makes you hold your breath at every bend. Then the cove opens up below you: a horseshoe of pale sand with cliffs on both sides and water so clear it doesn't look Irish.
Inchydoney Beach, Co. Cork
Just outside Clonakilty in West Cork, Inchydoney is two long golden beaches split by a headland. It has room to walk, room to breathe and room for the dog to run until he's had enough. Bring a flask, and maybe stay for the sunset.
Ballymastocker Bay, Co. Donegal
Near Portsalon on the Fanad Peninsula, Ballymastocker curves along the shore of Lough Swilly. Look down on it from the road above and you'll understand why it keeps turning up on "most beautiful" lists. It's one of those places that makes the drive to Donegal worth every mile.
Streedagh Strand, Co. Sligo
Streedagh, near Grange in north Sligo, is a long, wild stretch of sand with Benbulben watching over it. It has a history too: three ships of the Spanish Armada were wrecked here in 1588. Walk it on a blustery day and you can almost picture it.
The part nobody puts in the guidebook
Here's the thing about a day at Keem or a weekend in Donegal. Part of you never quite leaves home.
Is the dog OK at the kennel? Did I leave the heating on low? Will the pipes be alright if there's a frost? What if the post piles up and the whole road can tell the house is empty?
We hear it all the time from homeowners. The trip is never the hard part. Leaving is.
That's what MindMyHome.ie is for. While you're standing on Streedagh with the wind in your face, a sitter is back at yours. The dog is on his own couch with his usual walk and his usual dinner. The lights go on in the evening, the post gets picked up and the house stays warm.
You go. Someone's home.
And if you're a sitter...
House sitting works both ways. Plenty of homes on MindMyHome.ie are within an easy drive of the Wild Atlantic Way, including some not far from these very beaches. If you've always fancied waking up near Achill or spending a week in West Cork, minding someone's home and pets could be how you get there.
Don't wait for summer
The best thing about Irish beaches in November? You'll often have them to yourself. A crisp winter walk on an empty strand beats a packed August car park any day. And winter is exactly when an empty house needs someone in it most.
So pick your beach. Mayo, Cork, Donegal or Sligo, or the little one down the road that Lonely Planet hasn't found yet.
Find a sitter on MindMyHome.ie →
Which Irish beach would you add to the list? Let us know. We'd love to hear about your local favourite.
