Beach · County Kerry
Inse
Inch
Can I swim here? Outside the bathing season
The bathing season runs from 1 June to 15 September. Outside it the water is not tested weekly and lifeguards are not on duty. The last sample, on 10 August 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
Inch Strand is an exposed sandy beach, facing due west into Dingle Bay and to the Atlantic Ocean beyond. The sand dune system supports a variety of plant species. There are areas of salt marsh and mudflats which support a variety of bird species. Inch Spit is located within the greater Castlemaine Harbour Special Area of Conservation (Site Code 000343). In accordance with the EU Birds directive parts of Castlemaine Harbour and Dingle Bay are designated Special Protection Areas and also designated shellfish areas. Activities are regulated under the Kerry County Council Beach Bye-Laws, 2013. The full extent of the beach on Inch Spit is approximately 5km in length, however, the identified bathing waters comprise only 1.4km of this.
Excellent (2025): The highest standard: results over four years were consistently very clean.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | |
| Beach wheelchair | Yes | Beach wheelchair available for Inch.To book the beach wheelchair contact the Lifeguard Hut on 086 2663186. Available times (up to 3 hour slots):Weekdays: 12 noon to 7pm Weekends: 11am to 7pm |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | Yes | Available from Lifeguard hut |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | Yes | Surf Schools |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | Yes |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs are not allowedDogs are not allowed on the Blue-Flag section of the Beach (ie. within the Lifeguard Patrol area) between 11am and 7pm each day from the 1st June to 15th September inclusive.
- Cars allowed on the beachVehicles are only permitted to access the designated parking area on the beach (from the main access point for a distance 1km south of that point).
- Car-free zoneVehicles are only permitted to access the designated parking area on the beach (from the main access point for a distance 1km south of that point). Vehicles are prohibited from all other areas of the beach.
Latest sample (2026-08-10): E. coli <10, intestinal enterococci <1 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
Outdoors in County Kerry this week
Best day outdoors: Fri, 9 Oct — a little daytime rain, windy, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct13° / 11°Drizzle
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 11°Grey cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct15° / 14°Light rain
Make a day of it
The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.
Trails & walks
Beaches & bathing waters
Forests & woodlands
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 1.5 km awayOileán InseInchBeachBring your swimming togs to Inch Strand in County Kerry and enjoy the wide range of water activities on offer.
Nature spot · 7.4 km awayDooks BeachBeachDooks Beach is a coastal beach just a short distance from Glenbeigh Village in County Kerry. Part of the Wild Atlantic Way driving route, it can be found as a short detour just off the Ring of Kerry road.