Beach · County Meath
Laytown/Bettystown
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 14 September 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
Laytown/Bettystown is a fine sand beach backing onto sand dunes. There is a links golf course located in the sand dunes. The Boyne Coast and Estuary is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC site code 001957) located to the north. To the south, the River Nanny Estuary and Shore is a designated Special Protected Area (SPA site code 004158). Activities on the beach include sandsculpting and kitesurfing. Laytown/Bettystown has hosted the National Sand Sculpting and Sandcastle Competition in recent years. Laytown Strand Race is a horse racing event which takes place annually on Laytown strand. The bathing area is approximately 1.5 km in length and 0.6 km2 in area.
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 | — | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 17 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | There are limited parking spaces for Disabled and Older Persons at Bettystown Beach. |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | There are limited parking spaces for Disabled and Older Persons at Bettystown Beach. |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | Yes | Drogheda - Laytown bus route. Train station at Laytown. |
| First aid | Yes | |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | Yes |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs on a lead
- No cars on the beach
- Car-free zone
Latest sample (2026-09-14): E. coli 20, intestinal enterococci 7 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
Outdoors in County Meath this week
Best day outdoors: Sun, 11 Oct — dry by day, light winds, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct13° / 8°Drizzle
- Sat, 10 Oct11° / 6°Drizzle
- Sun, 11 Oct13° / 11°Sun with light cloud
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 · 2.3 km awayLaytown BeachBeachLaytownLaytown Beach, a serene stretch of sand located in County Meath, is renowned for its unique annual event, the Laytown Races, dating back to 1868.
Nature spot · 2.8 km awaySonairte Visitor Eco-Centre and GardensGardenLaytownSonairte Visitor Eco-Centre and Gardens is an interactive visitor centre promoting ecological awareness and sustainable living situated in Laytown, County Meath. Its 10 acre site hosts an organic garden, nature trail, river walk, café, shop and information centre.