Beach · County Cork
WhiteBay Beach Whitegate Midleton
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.
White Bay beach Cuán bán in County Cork is a secluded surf strand on the East side of Cork Harbour Inlet, near Roches Point. It is located approximately 17Km from the town of Midleton. The beach faces in a South Westerly direction and extends about 150 Meters in length. The beach has a sloping gradient, with soft sandy surface and is surrounded by rocks and headlands on either side. Seaweed and stones are also visible at the high water mark.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 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 | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | No | |
| Recycling | No |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs on a lead
Latest sample (2026-09-07): E. coli 41, intestinal enterococci 6 (cfu/100 ml).
Outdoors in County Cork this week
Best day outdoors: Sat, 10 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct14° / 8°Sun with light cloud
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 7°Sun with light 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 · 10 km awayFota Arboretum & GardensGardenEnjoy the ambience of the gardens, be inspired by the planting combinations, relax on the lawns, and meander through the extensive arboretum and its rare and beautiful plants. Fota Arboretum & Gardens are operated by the OPW and are open year round.