Inch, County Kerry

Inch is a spectacular sand spit reaching out into Dingle Bay on the Kerry coast, its long dune-backed strand sheltered between the Dingle and Iveragh peninsulas. The beach featured in classic films and is one of the most scenic surf spots in the south-west of Ireland.

The wave is a gentle beach break, with the spit's orientation and the bay giving it a mellow, forgiving character much of the time. Long, rolling peaks make it an excellent place to learn, and surf schools operate on the strand through the season. On bigger Atlantic swells the outer banks can offer more size and shape for improvers, but Inch is prized above all as a safe, friendly beach rather than a heavy wave.

Autumn and winter bring the most consistent North Atlantic groundswell, while summer offers smaller, warmer surf ideal for beginners; a good wetsuit is needed year-round in the cool water. The sheltered aspect keeps it rideable when more exposed beaches are stormy.

The setting is the great draw, a vast expanse of firm sand backed by dunes with mountain views on every side, and you can drive out onto part of the strand. The villages of the Dingle Peninsula, with their pubs and seafood, lie close by, road access is easy and the flat beach is simple to reach, making Inch a relaxed base on the Wild Atlantic Way.