As you travel along the Wild Atlantic Way, if you take the coast road between Ballyvaughan and Doolin you will come across Fanore Beach. With the karst landscape of the Burren at it’s back and the Connemara mountains visible on the other side of Galway Bay, this wide sweeping beach is perfect for swimming and surfing.
Fanore Beach is surrounded by extensive sand dunes which have been formed over thousands of years and are home to some unique flora and fauna so they are protected by the European Habitats Directive. A trip to Fanore Beach at sunset is always worth it because, depending on the time of year, the sun sets over the Connemara mountains or the Aran Islands which stretch across Galway Bay.
Swimming at Fanore
Fanore Beach has a blue Flag rating, making it perfect for families and uring the summer months it is patrolled by the lifeguard service. A large sandy beach, and it’s location make it a great destination for those looking for a less crowded place to spend a day with their family.
Surfing at Fanore
The beach is also popular with surfers and the Aloha surf school on site offers lessons. There is ample beach break to keep the more advanced surfer happy too.
Hiking
Fanore Beach car park is also the starting point for several Burren hikes including the Caher Valley Loop and the Black Head Loop both of which give you fantastic views as you hike the Burren up above Galway Bay. There are several information boards with details about these hikes in the car park.
A short drive away (2.5Km) there is a small shop and O’Donoghues pub which serves great food in the summer months. If you are lucky, you might even catch a bit of traditional Irish music here in the evening to round off your day.
There is ample car parking on site and public toilets