The Irish Sea has played a major role in the development of tourism in the Malahide. The extensive Velvet Strand stretches to the horizon and is extremely popular with bathers, walkers and water sports enthusiasts.
Malahide has a 2km beach, which following an attractive coastal walk leads into the neighbouring Portmarnock beach. It has easy access with good bus and train services from Dublin City. There is also car parking available. This beach is lifeguarded during the summer months and has facilities for the disabled.
If you're lucky enough (go on a weekday, or evening) you might even get the entire beach to yourself. There's nothing more enthralling than being alone with a vast expanse of beach in front of you, and being free to skip, dance, sing or scream.
Malahide Beach is also good for a sit down. It offers a lovely vista out to Lambay Island, Howth and Ireland's Eye (depending on how far you walk, that is). Also, take a look on the ground there are some lovely shells to be found if you look hard enough.
Walking from the village along the beach you’ll come to the wide velvet strand along the Mouth of the Estuary, from here the beach leads to Low Rock, a popular swimming section of the beach. After this the beach gets more rocky as you approach High Rock, for a more challenging swim and eventually if you continue on you will find yourself at Portmarnock beach where the sandy strand opens wide in front of you once more.
From Malahide Beach you can also take the coastal walk on the footpath all the way to Portmarnock (but beware, it's 5km away so is no stroll through the park.) Malahide is definitely one of the picks of Dublin beaches.
Mouth of the Estuary
At the start of the beach you'll find a wide expanse of sand, which along with Donabate beach opposite frames either side of the Mouth of the Estuary. This is a dangerous place to swim, with strong currents, but a fantastic place to start your beachfront walk. It is here that the car park is located and the adjoining grassy field is a popular place for sunbathers, icecreams and barbeques. Continuing towards Low Rock, especially when the tide is out, the beach opens into a wide expanse of sand, with plenty of inlets of shallow water and pools for ideal paddling and splashing about.
Please acknowledge the signage in the area for information on safety and swimming.
Low Rock
Continuing along the strand from the car park and the Mouth of the Estuary, you come to ‘Low Rock’ and its surrounds where the beach settles into a wide section of rippled sand great for swimming and games. ‘Low Rock’ is a favourite destination for families and children, a natural cove created by a boundary of rocks on either side this sheltered section of the beach is great for paddling and swimming in shallow water.
When the tide is out the sand stretches out for what seems like miles, giving lots of space for games and splashing in pools.
Please acknowledge the signage in the area for information on safety and swimming.
High Rock
‘High Rock’ is situated further along the beach towards Portmarnock. This section of water can be quite dangerous and is more suitable for competent and strong swimmers.
As its name denotes access to the water is from a high rock with a metal ladder when the tide is out, or a great leap when the tide is in. Currents can be strong here, with waves capable of crashing swimmers into the Rocks. These is a popular place for year round swimming and when the tide is right it is also a great place for rock jumping.
Please acknowledge the signage in the area for information on safety and swimming.
Bathing Water Quality
Malahide Beach is one of the designated beaches under the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992. Regular monitoring is carried out on the beach during the summer months as required by the Regulations.
Lifeguard Information
All potential visitors to the beach are reminded of the dangers that exist along our coastline during the bathing season. Malahide Beach is guarded by Lifeguards during the bathing season. In 2010 it is guarded at weekends from the 30th of May to the 31st of August (11.00am to 7.00pm). Weekday cover may be provided in August 2010, depending on weather and staffing considerations. The presence of lifeguards on duty is indicated by the flying of the red/yellow flag, so always be sure to take note.
Water Safety
See the Irish Water Safety website for gudilines on promoting water saftey in Ireland www.iws.ie
Map of Malahide Beach
