Keem Bay On Achill Island Needs To Be On Your Summer Bucket List

If crowded beaches are not your thing, then you’ll love this idyllic spot in Co. Mayo.

Keem Bay beach on the western tip of Achill Island could be mistaken for being somewhere far more exotic than the west of Ireland, with its beautiful white sand and perfect turquoise water. Nestled between the cliffs of Benmore and Croaghaun Mountain, the secluded Keem Bay is accessible via a clifftop road with a now-deserted village on the other side.

 

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The drive down to this hidden spot is an experience in itself and is not for the faint-hearted - and of course, the views from the clifftop road down to the bay are something else. Keem's horseshoe-shaped bay also happens to contain one of Achill’s five Blue Flag beaches, so it’s perfect for a dip on warmer days, and it has plenty of water sports on offer to keep you busy, with everything from kayaking to snorkelling going on here during the summer months.

 

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There’s also plenty of beautiful walks to explore around the bay - make sure to take a wander through the nearby Deserted Village that still contains 80 to 100 old stone cottages. While Keem Bay is popular with visitors in the summer, its secluded location and lack of hotels and restaurants in the area means you’ll still feel like you’re a million miles from anywhere else here. Pure bliss. READ NEXT: There’s A Secret Waterfall In Donegal That Only Few Can Find