Beach · County Kerry
Na Cealla
Kells
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 7 September 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
Kells Beach is a small sandy cove located in a little inlet in a predominantly rocky shoreline. The beach is largely sheltered from Atlantic wave action. The greater catchment is dominated by agriculture, with a mix of grassland and woodland. The coastal headlands adjacent to Kells Beach are designated as Special Protection Area. The hilly region to the southwest of Kells is designated as Special Area of Conservation. Activities include swimming and water sports. The identified bathing area is approximately 100 m wide.
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 | — | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | — | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | Ramp |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | Yes | Available locally - details on beach notice board |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| 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 12 noon and 6pm each day from the 1st June to 15th September inclusive.
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-07): 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 · 4.9 km awayStad an tSléibheMountain StageBeachGlenbeighTake a break from your drive along the Dingle Peninsula to soak up incredible views of the surrounding mountains at Mountain Stage in County Kerry.