Overview
The sand belt that runs through Castlegregory is one of the longest beaches in Ireland – roughly 12 miles (20 km) from the Maharees westwards to just short of Cloghane, backed the whole way by Beenoskee, Stradbally and Mount Brandon. Locally it’s called the Gold Coast, and the village of 370 people (2022 census) sits at the foot of the Maharees tombolo, the thin neck of sand that carries you out towards the Seven Hogs islands.
If you only have time for one thing, walk out onto the Maharees spit. The water is sheltered enough that the surf and dive schools cluster here rather than on the open Atlantic strand, and the dunes are quiet even when the village pubs are full.
History
The name comes from a castle built in the 16th century by the chieftain Gregory Hoare. Cromwell’s forces razed it in 1649-50, and all that is left today is a single stone arch beside the village SPAR, carrying an old inscription. It is an odd thing to find next to a shop, and easy to walk past.
The surrounding parish of Lettragh holds onto its Gaelic placenames, and the early-Christian monastic site on Illauntannig – the largest of the Maharee Islands – has two oratories, three beehive huts and several stone altars dating to the 7th century. Getting out there depends on the weather and a boat; it is not a casual stroll.
What to see and do
Beaches and water sports
Castlegregory Beach is a 4-5 km golden strand that took the Green Coast Award in 2019. Parking on Strand Street is free. Swimming, surfing, windsurfing and kite-surfing all happen here, with rental and lessons from Splash Sports (splashsports.ie) and Jamie Knox Watersports (jamieknox.com).
The Maharees Peninsula is a 3-mile sand spit with sheltered coves – Béal Geal and Tinteán among them – and the Seven Hogs offshore. It is the best diving base on this coast: Waterworld (waterworld.ie) runs PADI courses and boat trips out to the Blasket Islands and the Brandon cliffs.
Cappagh Beach is the quieter, family option, about 22 minutes by car. The parking is good but the approach road is narrow, so take it slowly.
Just east of the village, Brandon Bay draws wind-surfers and kite-surfers to its sheltered water – see the linked page for tide tables and launch points.
Golf and fishing
The Castlegregory Golf and Fishing Club is a nine-hole links squeezed between Lough Gill and Brandon Bay, with Mount Brandon filling the view. It’s a short course but a genuine links, not a flat municipal nine.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Links |
| Holes | 9 |
| Par | 68 |
| Length | 2,632 m |
| Location | Stradbally, near Castlegregory |
| Website | Discover Ireland – Golf Club |
Walking and hiking
Caherconree Stone Fort and Mountain is a 6 km loop of about 3 hours that climbs to 835 m, with views across Tralee Bay and the length of the peninsula. There’s parking for five or six cars near the trailhead, which fills on a fine Sunday.
Mount Brandon has several routes from the Faha car park (14.5 km in total, roughly 4 hours). The Saints’ Road is the easiest ascent; the full Brandon Range Walk (15 km) takes on the main peaks and is a serious day out. Expect steep, boggy ground – proper footwear and a map are not optional here.
The final stage of the Dingle Way, Stage 8, runs from Castlegregory to Tralee across the strand and the Slieve Mish slopes. It’s about 40 km and takes 8-9 hours, so most people break it.
Glanteenassig Forest Park is a Coillte woodland of 450 hectares with lakes, waterfalls and marked loops (orange, blue, red). The orange loop is wheelchair-friendly, which is rare for forest trails on this coast.
Heritage
- Illauntannig monastic ruins (Maharee Islands) – 7th-century ecclesiastical remains, weather permitting.
- Kilshannig graveyard – a 15th-century church ruin above Brandon Bay, with a carved Chi Rho cross.
- Castlegregory castle arch – the lone stone arch in the village centre, with its inscription.
Events
The Castlegregory Summer Festival is three days of music and arts on the second weekend in July. Pattern Day on 15 August keeps the old tradition of mutton pies. Wren’s Day brings music and costume parades on 26 December, and there’s a hillwalking and music festival in early April with guided walks at different grades.
Food and drink
Spillane’s Bar and Seafood is the one to book – a family-run pub doing fresh crab, mussels and local steaks, and named Best Gastro Pub in Kerry back in 2012. Maurice Fitzgerald’s and the Green Room Bar are the village pubs for a pint and trad. Out on the Maharees, the Harbour House and Leisure Centre has the Islands Seafood Restaurant alongside its guesthouse rooms and pool.
Getting there
By car from Tralee, take the N86 west and turn onto the R560 at Camp Junction; it’s about 27 minutes (25 km) and forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way. Public transport is thin: Bus Éireann route 273 runs on Fridays only (two services) from Tralee via Blennerville and Camp, and route 275 passes within 5 km of the village. Kerry Airport (KIR) is the nearest airport, but you’ll want car hire to make sense of the peninsula.
Practical information
Parking – The main car park for Castlegregory Beach is on Strand Street, free and fine for cars and small vans. Cappagh Beach has a small car park on a narrow road.
Local services – The Visitor Information Centre is on Tailor’s Row, V92 FH32 (phone +353 66 713 9422, castleinfocenter@gmail.com). There’s an ATM, post office, pharmacy and petrol station in the village centre. For a taxi, Castlegregory and Camp Taxi is on +353 86 662 4150. Bike hire is available from the Beach Box, or in Tralee and Dingle.
Accommodation
- Sandy Bay Caravan and Camping Park – pitches €20-30 a night on the Maharees Blue Flag beach. Phone +353 87 273 6750, sandybay.ie.
- Harbour House and Leisure Centre – 16 en-suite rooms with pool, gym and restaurant. Phone +353 66 713 9411, maharees.ie.
- Glamping at Coach Field Camp (near Camp) – wooden pods with a communal kitchen.
- The Shores Country House – B&B with sea views.
Before you go – The Maharees dunes are protected habitat for the rare Natterjack toad, Ireland’s only toad, so keep to the marked paths. Brandon and the higher routes are steep and boggy in places; carry a map. And bring layers – this is the exposed north side of the peninsula, not the sheltered Dingle town side.
Useful links
- Official village website: castlegregory.ie
- Waterworld dive centre: waterworld.ie
- Splash Sports water-sports centre: splashsports.ie
- Dingle Way Stage 8: activeme.ie – Stage 8
Coordinates: 52.2605° N, 10.0136° W