Beach · County Wicklow
The Cove Arklow
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 24 August 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
Small sandy beach gradually sloping away from coastal protection rock armour and sheltered by a break water to the north located near Arklow Rock. The beach is submerged at high tide. Access is gained at own risk via uneven steeply sloped track at the breakwater end of the beach by surefooted people only.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 | — | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | No | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | No | |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | No | |
| Lifebuoy | No | |
| Information board | No | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | No | |
| Recycling | No |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs on a lead
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-08-24): E. coli 10, intestinal enterococci <1 (cfu/100 ml).
Outdoors in County Wicklow this week
Best day outdoors: Sat, 10 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct14° / 9°Light rain
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 8°Sun with light cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct14° / 13°Sun with light cloud
Make a day of it
The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.
Trails & walks
Beaches & bathing waters
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 3.7 km awayArklow South BeachBeachArklowArklow Beach, located on the scenic southeast coast of County Wicklow, offers a peaceful escape with its long sandy shoreline and views of the Irish Sea.
Nature spot · Co. Wexford · 5.1 km awayKilmichael StrandBeachCastletownKilmichael Strand is quite a long beach located after Clones Strand in Castletown, County Wexford. It is popular with families and also with shore anglers who can fish for flatfish, dogfish and bass.