An expanse of pale sand that seems endless, the Atlantic before you and the Kerry mountains rising on the horizon: Ballyheigue Beach, along the Irish Wild Atlantic Way, embodies that wild charm capable of winning you over even when the sky isn’t entirely blue and the wind reminds you that you’re on the west coast of Ireland.
In 2026 it also received a prestigious accolade: British readers of Condé Nast Traveller elected it the best beach in Ireland in the Readers’ Choice Awards, awarding it a score of 95.39 and placing it in the selection of the best beaches in the world alongside the winners from other geographic regions.
Ballyheigue Beach: Sand, Dunes, and the Kerry Mountains
Ballyheigue forms part of a roughly 10-kilometer-long sandy stretch, backed by a vast dune system and designated within the Akeragh, Banna and Barrow Special Area of Conservation. The actual beach allows for a walk of about three kilometers to the mouth of Lough Akeragh, in an environment where nature takes center stage.
During low tide you’ll face an even broader expanse, with wet sand reflecting the sky and the distant mountains of the Dingle Peninsula. The water can take on striking blue and green hues, while the dunes shield the coastline.
It is a beach loved by walkers as well as swimmers and surfers. During the bathing season lifeguards are on duty and Ballyheigue has also earned the Blue Flag for the quality of the beach and its waters.
In estate, families and beachgoers reach the shore, and on the busiest days you can’t miss the classic vans selling ice creams and coffee. In autumn you can walk the strand following only the sound of the waves, with briny air, reflections on the sand and the mountains’ profile appearing and disappearing behind the clouds. At sunset, when the sky brightens above Tralee Bay, the vast area exposed by the tide can turn into a mirror of light.
From the Village of Ballyheigue to the Dingle Peninsula
Behind the beach you’ll find the small town of Ballyheigue, with pubs, restaurants and cafes that preserve that informal atmosphere typical of Kerry coast towns, a good opportunity to pause after a long walk and extend the journey in one of Ireland’s most scenic counties.
From this part of Kerry you can indeed continue toward the peninsula of Dingle, where the landscape becomes even more spectacular between mountains, cliffs and roads that overlook the Atlantic. The town of Dingle, with its colored facades, pubs and harbor, deserves a stop while further ahead, the Slea Head Drive traces the western coast of the peninsula, offering some of the most celebrated viewpoints of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Where Ballyheigue Beach Is Located
Ballyheigue Beach is located in Kerry County, on the northern shore of Tralee Bay and along the Wild Atlantic Way. The beach is reachable from the village and offers a large free parking area close to the shore. Its location makes it a natural stop on any itinerary around Kerry, especially if you’re exploring Tralee and the northern parts of the bay.
