Skip to Content

Stunning Dog’s Bay Beach: One of Connemara’s Best Beaches

The white sand and blue water of Dog's Bay Beach.
The idyllic Dog’s Bay Beach, Connemara (Photo: Big Smoke Studio via Ireland’s Content Pool)

Dogs Bay Beach Connemara

Dog’s Bay Beach is a stunning horseshoe shaped bay in Connemara, County Galway. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best bays in Ireland with the soft white sand and clear blue waters of this beach leaving a memorable impression on all who see it. 

The beaches in Connemara are exceptionally beautiful. However, you would be forgiven for thinking this beach is located somewhere tropical on a sunny day. Even on a dull, windy day when the Dogs Bay Beach weather is not ideal, it is worth venturing out to enjoy this mile long stretch of beach with views of Errisbeg Mountain and the Connemara coast

Gurteen Beach, Connemara
Gurteen Beach is found on the other side of the sand spit to Dog’s Bay Beach. (Photo: Courtesy Don MacMonagle via Ireland’s Content Pool)

One of the things that is unusual about this Galway beach is that it is located at the back of another beach, known as Gurteen Beach. A sand spit joins the mainland to a little island forming a tombolo, on the eastern side of this spit lies Gurteen Bay Beach and Gurteen Bay, while on the western, more sheltered side lies Dog’s Bay Beach. These two Roundstone beaches are located a short distance from the well-known fishing village. 

White Sand of Dog’s Bay Connemara

The sandy beach of Dog's Bay Beach, Galway.
The sand on Dog’s Bay Beach is made from finely fragmented shells. (Photo: Kevin George via Canva)

The white sand of Dog’s Bay Beach is not actually sand formed from crushed rocks as is the case on most other beaches. In fact, it is composed of tiny shell fragments of marine organisms known as foraminifera. This is a rare occurrence worldwide in the case of onshore beaches. These fragments are lighter in color and give the beach a white sand appearance

When the sun shines on the white sand, the contrast with the crystal clear water can be quite dazzling!

Dog’s Bay Beach Special Area of Conservation

Due to the unusual composition of sand made from crushed shells on the beach and dune areas and the vegetation that grows here, this is one of the bays of Ireland that has been identified as a Special Area of Conservation and is protected under EU Law. 

This Special Area of Conservation includes rare machair vegetation, which is only in north west Europe, mostly in the west of Ireland and Scotland. Trampling by humans (and animals) can impact the quality of this habitat leading to further erosion and habitat degradation. 

There is signage in the area reminding people not to litter, that no camping or campfires are allowed in the area and that dogs must be kept on a lead. Please read these signs and follow the guidelines for this sensitive habitat. 

The Gurteen Bay and Dogs Bay Conservation Committee, consisting of locals, are actively trying to protect this area from natural environmental erosion, as well as human impacts. 

They have had successful projects in recent years helping to reduce some erosion effects, such as increasing the marram grass cover on the dunes to help stabilize them and they have more plans for practical conservation in the area

For more information about the work they do including their fundraising efforts to save this beach, you can check their Facebook page

What to Do on Dogs Bay Beach

Sandy shoreline with gentle waves on Dog's Bay Beach
Dog’s Bay Beach is perfect for a long stroll. (Photo: zkbld via Canva)

Dogs Bay Beach is a long sandy stretch of coast that is ideal for walking, watersports and photography

The sandy beach stretches for over a mile (1.5 km) and is a great area for a Dog’s Bay walk or even going for a jog, if you fancy. 

In summer, many people also take to the sheltered waters for a paddle, refreshing splash or kite surfing activities. (Please see below for information about swimming).  

This stunning location is also a great spot for those interested in photography. The strong color contrasts of the water and sand, western views and stunning scenery make it a fun spot to explore with a camera in hand. 

Dogs Bay Galway FAQs

Where is Dogs Bay Beach?

Dog’s Bay Beach is located about 3.5 km (or 2 miles) south west from the fishing village of Roundstone in Connemara, County Galway. The white sand beach is west facing and backs onto the east facing beach of Gurteen Bay.

Dogs Bay Connemara directions – How do I get there?

Tidal pool with rocky outcrop on Dog's Bay Beach.
There are also some tidal pools and rocks to explore on Dog’s Bay Beach. (Photo: zkbld via Canva)

Dogs Bay Roundstone Directions

If you are traveling in the direction of Roundstone to Clifden along the coastal route (R341) in Connemara, drive westwards for about 4 km ( miles) after leaving Roundstone where you see a sign for Dogs Bay (or Trá Chuan an Mhada) on the left. Take this narrow road to reach the car parks.

Clifden to Dog’s Bay

The drive from Clifden to Dog’s Bay Beach will take about 30 minutes along the R341. 

Note: A trip from Galway to Dogs Bay Beach will take about 1,5 hours and is not possible realistically to get to Dog’s Bay Beach without your own form of transport, as public transport in the area is limited.

What is Dogs Bay Beach Parking like?

Parking at Dog’s Bay Beach is very limited, especially during the summer season when this beach is particularly popular. There are two small car parks, which fill up with cars early in the morning when the weather is nice. The narrow roads in the vicinity make alternative parking a big challenge.  

However, under typical Irish weather conditions, the car parks usually suffice to deal with the number of visitors’ cars. 

Can you swim at Dogs Bay Beach?

Machair vegetation with some visitors to Dog's Bay Beach in the background.
Machair vegetation with visitors to Dog’s Bay Beach in the background. (Photo: Gretchen Holcombe via Canva)

Dogs Bay beach is a sheltered area without very strong currents and people do swim and kitesurf at this location. However, there are no lifeguards at this beach. This means that only competent swimmers in suitable conditions should decide to enter the water. 

For more information about open water swimming in Ireland, you can check the water safety guidelines

Are dogs allowed on Dogs Bay beach?

Yes, from the information available, dogs on a leash are allowed on Dogs Bay Beach. Please be sure that all dog waste is removed from the beach and dune area to help protect this habitat.

Some restrictions on dogs are in place on other beaches, especially during the summer months. (For more information read: City of Galway dogs on beaches)

What facilities are at Dogs Bay Beach Galway?

There are limited facilities available at Dogs Bay Beach. Temporary toilets (portaloos) are available sometimes, during the summer months, but don’t count on them being there. The same can be said with regards to rubbish bins. Please make sure to bring all waste home with you, if the bins are not available (or are already full). 

Where can I find accommodation near Dogs Bay Beach?

The dunes of Dog's Bay Beach
The dunes of Dog’s Bay Beach are a sensitive habitat. (Photo: HakBak1979 via Canva)

There are also several Bed and Breakfasts in the close vicinity, as well as a hotel and several guesthouses in the nearby village of Roundstone. 

Dogs Bay Camping

If you fancy trying some Dogs Bay Beach camping, there is a caravan and camping park located next to Gurteen Beach on the opposite side of the sand spit to Dogs Bay Beach. The lovely Gurteen Beach is almost on your doorstep at this campsite, which is an added bonus. 

Dogs Bay Wild Camping

Tempting as it might be, there is strictly no wild camping permitted on Dog’s Bay Beach in order to conserve this spectacular area. If you do fancy camping, then head to the Gurteen Bay Caravan and Camping park, just a very short distance away.

Things to Do near Dogs Bay Galway

Roundstone Galway

While you are in the Dog’s Bay Roundstone area, it is well worth visiting the small, yet charming fishing village of Roundstone. 

Fishing is very important in this community as one can see in the harbor filled with a colorful array of fishing vessels of different sizes. 

In addition to its picturesque appeal, Roundstone is well known for its strong connection with the arts. Several well known painters have visited this scenic area, including W. B. Yeats and Paul Henry.

Alcock and Brown Landing Site

In 1919, pilots John Alcock and Arthur Brown crash landed on the Derrygimla Bog in this remote part of Connemara and made history. Their flight was the first successful non-stop transatlantic flight and as they had carried some mail onboard it was the first airmail too.  

Today there are two memorials marking this moment of historical significance, one is a large white beacon and the second is in the iconic shape of the tail-fin of the aircraft (located about 500m away), which marked the 40th anniversary of the landing.

Once Alcock and Brown spotted the Marconi’s First transatlantic wireless station, they decided to search no further and land in what they thought was a suitable field. That “field” was the Derrygimla Bog, which led to a crash landing with a final nosedive into the soft ground.

For an interesting read about the flight and its surprise landing in the west of Ireland, read this Irish Times article.

According to google maps, the landing site address is roughly about 30 minutes from Dog’s Bay Beach. 

Galway Beaches – Best Beaches in Connemara

The inviting water of Dog's Bay Beach.
The inviting water of Dog’s Bay Beach. (Photo: zkbld via Canva)

For more tips and information about what other beaches that you can visit near Dog’s Bay beach in Connemara, we’d recommend you check out our Beaches in Connemara Guide, as well as the in depth guides to Glassilaun Beach, Lettergesh Beach and Clifden Beaches in the vicinity

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of them, we might receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Thanks for your support!