This is an absolute gem of a swimming place, or two places to be precise.
Newtown and Guillamene are side by side and this is where ‘real swimmers’ from Tramore and beyond come to socialise and swim.
Newtown is a small sheltered cove and traditionally this was where the ‘ladies’ used come to swim, with the men going to Guillamene on the other side of the cove. Now it’s a place where men, women and children happily congregate. When we were there on a weekday evening at full tide it was packed .
The water here is deep when the tide is in and lovely and clear. There is good access via ladders and a slipway along the side. Young people dive in all the time but there is a warning sign SO DO TAKE CARE. Watch the tide times as it isn’t half as attractive when the tide is low
Guillamene stopped being a men only place back in the 1980s and now male and female swimmers descend its steep steps. There is a small changing area which leads to good access into deep, clear, sometimes turquoise looking waters. Like Dublin’s forty foot you will be able to swim here when the tide is low.
When we were there in August a few jellyfish were lurking, but otherwise this is just a great swimming spot.
There is a large car park and basic toilets. A couple of seats and picnic tables overlook Newtown Cove. I am told that there is wheelchair access to Newtown via a path through the woods.
Newtown is located about two kilometres outside Tramore. The best way to find it is to head for the pier in Tramore and then pick up the coast road heading west which will lead you to the car park.
Bunmahon is yet one more example of Waterford’s many fine family beaches. It has everything you might look for in a place to come swimming with your children – a good stretch of soft sand, lifeguards in the summer months and a good sized car park which also has a children’s play area beside it.
There is gradual access to the water in Bunmahon so it’s good for the children to play in. While the beach itself is soft it is a bit exposed, so bring a windbreak if you are planning to linger.
Access from the main car park is up and over a rough path and it isn’t wheelchair accessible. Nearer the town there is a much smaller car park and that has a slipway which will give you buggy access and possibly access for wheelchairs as well.
Please note that there are dangerous rip currents at Bunmahon, so be careful especially out of season when there are no lifeguards on duty
Stradbally is a lovely and most unusually shaped cove, which is great for swimming, sunbathing and playing.
Protected by cliffs on either side Stradbally is well sheltered and when the tide is out there is a wide and long expanse of soft sand. This is an ideal place for families as, along with the wide open spaces, there are pools for kids to play in and rocks for parents to rest beside. There is also a river which runs along the left hand side into the sea, but this can be fast flowing so children should be watched carefully near there.
The water here is clear for swimming with the bottom mainly sandy. Over to the left there is a rocky area underfoot when the tide is out. As a rule you should swim on the right hand side, away from the river which is covered when the tide comes in. And if you are looking for a beach to play on, do watch the tide times as the water comes right up at high tide and covers the sand almost completely.
There is a smallish, sandy car park which can fill up quickly in the summer. The beach looks accessible for wheelchairs with a push ( literally) and is ok for buggies. There is also a solitary picnic table in the car park. There are toilets a couple of hundred yards up the road past the car park entrance.
From Dungarvan take the R 675 signposted for Tramore. A few kilometres after the turn off for Clonea Strand there is a turn to the right signposted for Stradbally. Along this smaller road watch out for the signpost for Stradbally Cove.
Carne is one of the most impressive of Wexford’s many fine beaches and it’s an ideal spot for families to swim in. There is a harbour at one end and then a long stretch of soft sand going off into the distance when you go in the other direction.
The water here is clear and calm but when the tide is out you will walk for a while to get into your depth. The wade in is gradual so it seems safe for children.
The beach itself is a little bit exposed but there are some small dunes to the back for shelter.
Right behind the good sized car park is a caravan park which has a small shop and café. As you drive in, but before you come to the car park, a right turn will bring you down to the harbour. Here there are basic toilets and a slipway which will give you easier access to the beach than from the main car park.
From Wexford town you take the R730 and then the N25 toward Rosslare. At Tagoat there is a right turn for Lady’s Island and when you follow this road, at Lady’s Island you will pick up the signposts for Carne beach.
Whiting Bay is quite an open beach, the type of place surfers might go to or people who are looking for a swim in the waves. On the day we were there young and old were out among the waves with their boards.
As it can be quite windy here do bring your windbreak if you are planning to stay for a while. The beach itself is quite long so it’s good for walking as well as swimming.
There is a decent sized car park and a rough path from it to the soft sand – manageable for buggies but very difficult for wheelchairs’
