An easy two-hour circular walk, surf spots for different experience levels and a castle on cliffs above sandy beaches give Ballybunion in County Kerry several distinct travel highlights. If you’re looking for accommodation in Ballybunion, you can plan your stay around them: should you spend most of your time walking, on the water, or exploring history and culture? The options offer different focuses, without every day having to look the same.
Coast, dunes and a two-hour circular walk
The Ballybunion Beach Loop Walk is an easy, two-hour circular walk along the North and South Beaches and the Ballybunion Links Golf Course. The walk’s area is in a designated natural heritage area with an extensive dune system. Ballybunion South Beach is also part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation. The route linking stretches of beach and the golf course offers its own way to spend time on the coast, rather than planning your stay exclusively around a day at the beach.
Castle, museum and theatre
The ruins of Ballybunion Castle stand on the cliffs above the sandy beaches. The castle, also known as Castle Bale Bonan, was built around the beginning of the 16th century. As a tower house, it had four storeys and vaulted ceilings. This offers a different way to explore local history from the Ballybunion Heritage Museum, whose exhibitions cover local history, the Marconi station and the Lartigue monorail system.
The Tinteán Theatre regularly hosts plays, pantomimes, Irish dancing, comedy shows and concerts. It is also home to the North Kerry Art, Cultural and Heritage Society. The museum and theatre therefore offer different cultural highlights: exhibitions on local history alongside a recurring programme of stage performances. If you’d like to see a particular show, check the dates before your trip.
Surfing and golf: different highlights
Ballybunion South Beach, also known as Men’s Beach, has a reputation as one of the best surf spots in North Kerry. The beaches offer waves for beginners and advanced surfers; the Atlantic Cliff Break is for highly experienced surfers. Ballybunion Surf School offers lessons from complete beginner to intermediate level and rents out surfboards and wetsuits. Wave conditions and lessons are two separate considerations when planning. Weather and swell affect conditions, so check the current situation before surfing and confirm lesson times and rental terms in advance.
Golf is another distinct highlight. Ballybunion Links has two links courses: the Old Course and the Trent Jones Cashen Course. Ballybunion Links is set among sand dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Golf also features on the Beach Loop Walk, which follows the Ballybunion Links Golf Course. This means a dedicated day of golf and a coastal circular walk are two different options to choose from.
More coastal experiences
Collins’s Hot Seaweed Baths were established in 1932 and are located at Ladies Strand. At the southern end of Ballybunion Beach, surf and shore fishing for bass and flounder are possible; conditions and the suitability of the tides can vary. The playground in Ballybunion is designed for children up to the age of twelve.
The access information for Nun’s Beach lists just two options: by boat or along the cliffside using a fixed rope handrail. Check the current access situation before visiting. This means the beaches also differ in terms of planning: the Loop Walk is listed as taking two hours, while access to Nun’s Beach requires special attention in advance.
Discover more destinations: Ventry, Kenmare, Ballyheige, Gortrelig, Causeway, Inch, Aughrim, Sneem.
For the county-wide travel overview: County Kerry.
