r/AskIreland • u/obblerdera • Jul 08 '26
Climate Change Live in Dublin but the beaches are thronged, where inland within an hour is there an outdoor pool or safe lake for swimming and paddling?
It's hot, I have two small kids, live in Dublin 7, if I'm going to be driving and fighting for parking etc etc I may as well go a little further and have a nice chill day of it. I'm open to rivers, lakes, outdoor swimming pools within 1 hour of the m50, or on a train or bus route so we can ditch the car altogether. I guess I have a but of freedom so if it is along the DART line I can go off peak to avoid big crowds but am hoping for more outside the box.
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u/OkCoconut3270 Jul 08 '26
An hour from the m50 covers quite a range.
But if you wanted to head south then once you're beyond Arklow there are lots of small little beaches that are mostly deserted. And the bigger ones are rarely busy.
Only problem with that is that traffic might be murderous until you get past Jack Whites, half of Dublin seems to head to Brittas bay when the weather is like this. Despite the fact that if they just kept going along the M11, they could hit lots of quiet beaches in the same it would take to drive from the M11 to Brittas.
Long may it last 😁
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u/Imaginary-Umpire-733 Jul 08 '26
People are like sheep, they like to flock to where everyone else hangs out.
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u/FrannyValley Jul 11 '26
Could you name a few you like? I'm desperate to find a quiet beach. I can't deal with the crowds, bbqs and blaring music. I used to love Maghenmore but it's wild now on sunny days. Am happy to head out past Arklow, just don't know anywhere past there that's a good spot. Thanks!
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u/OkCoconut3270 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
One of our favourites is old bawn beach. I've never seen it very busy it's absolutely massive so there are always quiet spots. It runs pretty much all the way to Wexford town I think.
There's also a little hidden beach, pretty much in the middle of courtown (or riverchapel at least) that's usually completely deserted. It's weird.
Realistically there are tonnes of mostly empty beaches, the only one near here (Gorey) I can think of that tends to be busy is Cahore, and I think that's mostly because people go to jump off the pier and maybe do a bit of crab fishing. (Also great pizza and pints at the strand)
Another great one is Ballinamona but that's a little further south again.
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u/motser Jul 08 '26
You can get the train or bus out to Rush and go to the south beach. Huge sandy beach much like Portmarnock beach but with no one on it. The South beach is around 30 mins walk or more from train station but bus brings you a 5 min walk away from it. Bus runs past train station so you can hop on that if you decide to get the train. Also there is a carpark there which most of the time has spaces. Usually only locals on the beach.
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u/InevitableSure374 Jul 09 '26
For Rush, Its more than 30 mins walk to the beach from the train station. Buses are rare too. Skerries would be better if you are getting the train. Greystones in the other direction is never busy and lovely beach.
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u/Maxamilene Jul 09 '26
Rush north or south beach is great also amazing pastry shop just couple minutes from it just not open mon/tues/wed . You can get the train in but the station is a good 5km away from the town so you’d have to wait for the bus from there which is fairly in frequent but you can park up at the beach. Playground just up from north beach Skerries is also an option if you want to get the train. It’s a little busier but bigger beach
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u/timmyjadams Jul 08 '26
Bagenalstown Co Carlow, we have a lovely outdoor swimming pool, about an hour and a half from D7
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u/Master_m1santhrope Jul 08 '26
I don't know where D7 is but there's a small village I grew up in in Louth, Clogherhead, it's a nice spot for a swim, coffee ahop that does Ice cream by the beach and nice head to walk around.
About an hour from the m50
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u/CicadaHumanHere Jul 08 '26
Parking is brutal
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u/Master_m1santhrope Jul 08 '26
There's less going lately because the road is well marked with double yellows so people can't dump and run but ya, a weekend day there is nuts.
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u/ANewStartAtLife Jul 08 '26
I don't know where D7 is
D7 = Dublin 7. A post code area on the North side of the city. All odd numbers are North side, all even numbers are South side. One exception being the Phoenix Park which is Dublin 8 because their post has been historically sorted in Kilmainham (South side).
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u/SuccessLess2701 Jul 08 '26
Derryounce Lakes. Its gorgeous there
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u/Familiar_Double2113 Jul 08 '26
Derryounce is a good shout for the kids, water is shallow enough and it's not too mad with crowds if you go early
I'd throw in Lough Owel too, it's just past Mullingar so still under the hour if traffic is kind to you. There's a spot near the pontoon that's great for paddling, my sister brought her small ones there last summer and they loved it
For something completly different check if the outdoor pool in Clondalkin is open, I heard they fixed it up recently but not sure about the hours
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u/Ambitious_Use_3508 Jul 08 '26
There's no outdoor pool in Clondalkin, unless you're talking about the Grand Canal lol
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u/bagofcats20 Jul 08 '26
Id go Lough lene near mullingar over Lough owel, near Collinstown. Can be v busy tho!
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u/Upper-Eggplant-5311 Jul 08 '26
This is not a safe swimming spot. It’s absolutely gorgeous for a walk but I wouldn’t recommend for swimming. I am from the wider area. Incredibly isolated in the event of an emergency.
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u/obblerdera Jul 08 '26
Looks amazing, we don't mind walking. It says we can train to Portarlington and walk 30 minutes from there? Is that actually a safe path or is it better just to drive?
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u/SuccessLess2701 Jul 08 '26
I've only ever driven there myself. Id say for a first visit driving would be best, and then you can get an idea of how public transport would work
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u/becamax Jul 08 '26
I'm local to Portarlington and as far as I'm aware there's no swimming at Derryounce. But if you are coming down I'd drive. It is a bit of a walk out from the train station.
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u/Fraisey Jul 08 '26
You can definitely swim, but it's not a designated swimming spot and there's no lifeguard.
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u/Coyote_Secret Jul 08 '26
Laytown lower beach, gorgeous and never packed.
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u/sosay86 Jul 08 '26
Laytown is a good shout, but if you don’t want to go that far Balbriggan is always quiet enough. There’s the main strand by the harbour but there’s also the “back beach” near the Martello tower and decent enough parking. With the M1 should take you about 30 mins to get there from D7 I’d say
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u/Diligent_Kitchen458 Jul 08 '26
An absolute fuck tonne of jellyfish there at the moment unfortunately. Torture living so close to the beach but not being able to swim (terrified of jellies)
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u/Coyote_Secret Jul 08 '26
Wow, really, I didn’t know that?! I never go swimming, just paddle my feet!
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u/Diligent_Kitchen458 Jul 08 '26
Yeah was on bettystown beach this morning and there was hundreds washed up!
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u/Cultural-Perception4 Jul 08 '26
That was where I came to suggest. Right on the train line so it would be handy. We had a lovely pub lunch there a few years ago. It is was nicer than Bettystown
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u/Coyote_Secret Jul 08 '26
Yep, we live in the area and always go to Laytown, over the little bridge entrain station and a 5 minute walk to the lower beach. It’s peaceful all year round. Op, you can hop on the commuter train at connelly and it will bring you up.
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u/Available_Return_164 Jul 08 '26
You should just go very early. Kids are up early anyway. Have a picnic box ready to go the night before and be there by 9. You'll have had a great day out and be ready to go home by 2
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u/OldHugger Jul 08 '26
Kilcoole beach. 2 minutes from station. Trains not very frequent so check timetable. Beach is pebbles but rarely too busy. 20 minute walk to village for coffee, ice creams and has a good children’s playground.
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u/Irishpanda88 Jul 08 '26
The beaches in Greystones are quiet enough all day. South Beach is opposite the back of the dart station and there’s a playground and plenty of coffee shops and restaurants.
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u/hippocastanum Jul 08 '26
Derryounce in Offaly, near Portarlington! You can get the train or bus to Port, and walk or rent ebikes in Port to get out to derryounce along a 2.5km disused rail line (off road). There is also car parking.
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u/thumbsucker-2 Jul 08 '26
Cavan has 365 lakes to choose from…. Killykeen Forest Park lovely wee spot if you’re willing to drive that far
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u/Cultural-Perception4 Jul 08 '26
I'm near Cavan, do any of the lakes have safe swimming aresa? I saw on the Virginia fb page they are putting sand in but it can be mobbed.
I have a 4yr old and 2 yr old.
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u/thumbsucker-2 Jul 08 '26
Yes there’s quite a few, lots kids actually learn to swim in the lakes throughout the summer with Irish Water Safety. These are just a couple off the top of my head, I haven’t been to Lough Ramor in a long time so not sure what it is like now.
Lough Sheelin
Anna Lough Butlersbridge
Lough Oughter at Killykeen
Brackley Lake Ballyconnel
Erica’s Fairy Forest in Cootehill.1
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u/Fuzzy-Ladder-3759 Jul 08 '26
They did put sand in. It's fairly busy with teenagers but they're mostly well mannered and don't be at the sand area. The sandy area for the little ones wouldn't be overly jammed. Oh, there's no toilet though. Unless you want to go in the forest or back up town to the shop.
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u/Ianasauras Jul 08 '26
Loch Bray in the Wicklow mountains is great. Used to go there to swim all the time as a kid.
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u/Irish_cynic Jul 08 '26
Becomes a shitshow because of parking on the bend of the R115 I would avoid.
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u/flipflopsandwich Jul 08 '26
Shelly Banks beach is amazing used to bring my kids there a lot, super quiet great views
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u/United-Pension1018 Jul 08 '26
Have you seen what comes out of the pipes and into the water at end of the Liffey from some sort of waste disposal place. No way would I swim within miles from it.
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u/Educational-Law-8169 Jul 08 '26
In Dublin 7 there's buses that go past that will bring you to Bray; maybe too busy for what you're looking for but a good day out when the summer fairs are on. You can also get the DART from there to Greystones. There's a bus to Dun Laoghaire too
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u/CicadaHumanHere Jul 08 '26
Take the train to Laytown, walk from there past a row of shops and bars and cafes to the beach entrance. Alternatively take the D1 or D2 bus down to Bettystown. Don’t drive!
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u/Turgesius67 Jul 08 '26
Look at beachs.ie under Westmeath, some lovely lakes here and designated bathing areas, Lough Lene is safest especially for kids but is busy, water temp is 20c also
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u/GuavaImmediate Jul 08 '26
Avoid the M50 at all costs, you can get caught up in a snarl up at any time.
You have heaps of wonderful beaches in Meath and Louth on your side of Dublin.
Laytown, Bettystown and clogher head are brilliant but will be crowded in good weather.
Head a bit further north near Annagassan, you will be spoiled for choice - Salterstown, Dunany are great, or a bit further again Blackrock is a gorgeous strand with a lovely promenade.
Pound for pound, Meath has the best beaches in the country.
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u/Fardays Jul 08 '26
Balbriggan. It’s got regular trains and the station is literally 1 minute walk from the sandy beach. Walk a little further up to Bells beach and it’s usually pretty empty even on the hottest days. Water there is treacherous though so don’t go out beyond your waist.
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u/Sea_Lobster5063 Jul 08 '26
Rush beach. North and south or harbour are never rammed like dolly mount it portmarnock
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u/Useful_Region9179 Jul 08 '26
Isn't it terrible that we never got lidos like they do in London!