The Best Beaches on the Ring of Kerry

For all its mountains and monuments, the Ring of Kerry is edged with superb beaches - wide Atlantic strands that fly the Blue Flag in summer and lie all but empty out of season. These three are the pick.

Rossbeigh

One of the first great stops on the loop, Rossbeigh Beach is a long sandy spit reaching out into Dingle Bay near Glenbeigh, backed by dunes and framed by mountains. Gently shelving and lifeguarded in summer, it's good for swimming, long walks and - with its steady wind - a favourite of surfers and horse-riders alike.

Derrynane

Below O'Connell's home near Caherdaniel, Derrynane Beach is the loveliest strand on the peninsula: clear, sheltered water and pale sand, with the tidal Abbey Island and its ancient graveyard to explore when the sea draws back. Time your visit around low tide to reach the ruins.

Ballinskelligs

Out on the quiet Skellig Ring, the Gaeltacht village of Ballinskelligs has a golden Blue Flag beach with a ruined castle right on the sand - a peaceful, unhurried spot where Irish is still the everyday language.