Tralee and Bay Area

Tralee Bay Area

Blessed with Irelands best beaches, the Tralee Bay Area, Co. Kerry is a unique collection of great holiday destinations along 100km (60 miles) of the Wild Atlantic Way scenic drive from Brandon Point and Cloghane in the west to Ballyheigue and Kerry Head in the north. Backed by some of the Irelands highest mountains and best walking routes, the Tralee Bay Area has over 60km of sandy beaches, some of Irelands best watersport destinations, great cycles, fishing, golf and more. Download a high quality version of the below map here Tralee and Bay Area Map.

Covering an area of approx. 285 sq km, the relatively shallow Tralee Bay Area comprises both Brandon Bay and Tralee Bay divided by the Maharees peninsula. The Tralee Bay Area makes up nearly 5% of the total length of the Wild Atlantic Way route and contains over 60km of pristine award winning sandy beaches, Blue Flag beaches and some of the longest continuous sandy beaches in Ireland and in Europe. The Tralee Bay area includes a unique collection of great holiday spots and hidden gems and below are a collection of local businesses supporting the Tralee Bay Area as one of Irelands best holiday destinations. These businesses are listed below west to east.

Add your business to the AcitveMe Travel guide.pngGreat Places to Stay:

Great Places to Eat and Drink:

Great Things to See and Do:

Great Shopping and More

Best Things to See and Do in theTralee Bay Area from West to East                       

  1. Mount Brandon Walk from Faha or Cloghane
  2. Brandon Point view point, bird watching and tower walk
  3. Sás Creek Walk from Teer, Brandon
  4. Conor Pass scenic drive and walks
  5. Fermoyle and Kilcummin Beaches
  6. Glanteenassig lake, woods & loop walk
  7. Maharees peninsula – watersports, surfing & walks
  8. Castlegregory Blue Flag beach
  9. Camp on the Dingle Way & Kerry Camino Walking Trails
  10. Caherconree Fort & Mtn Walks
  11. Killeltin Beach & Ancient Oratory on the Dingle Way
  12. Tonevane Loop Walk and Horse Riding
  13. Short Mtn Drive & Scotia’s Grave walk
  14. Blennerville Windmill
  15. Ballyseede Woods Loop Walks
  16. Tralee Town and several attractions
  17. North Kerry Way Walk & Canal Walk
  18. Fenit Beach & Lighthouse Tour
  19. Ardfert Cathedral
  20. Banna Blue Flag Beach and Camping
  21. Ballyheigue Blue Flag Beach & Golf Club
  22. Kerry Head – drive, walk and cycle

Best Easy and Family Walks in the Tralee Bay Area (from west to East)

  1. Glanteenassig Lake Loop Walk (2km/<1hr)
  2. Fenit Shore Walk to Lighthouse view (2km/<1hr)
  3. Ballyseedy Woods Loop Walks (2km/<1hr)
  4. Tralee Canal, River & Valley Loop Walks (~7km/2hr)
  5. Beaches, Banna, Ballyheigue, Maharees & more (avg 3km/1hr)
  6. Tralee Town Park (2km/<1hr)
  7. Tonevane Loop Walk (2km/<1hr)
  8. Scotia’s Grave Walk (1.5km/<1hr)
  9. Dingle Way Walk – various short sections (~4km/1hr)
  10. North Kerry Way – Canal to Spa and back (6km/2hr)

Best Moderate and Mountain Walks in the Tralee Bay Area

  1. Mount Brandon walk from Faha (8.5km/4hr)
  2. Caherconree Fort (4k/2h) Family Friendly & Mtn Walks (6k/3h)
  3. Sás Creek Walk (9k/3h) – part Dingle Way
  4. Más an Tiompáin Mtn (12k/5h) – part Dingle Way
  5. Kerry Head Loop Walk (20k/5h)
  6. The Dingle Way walk – 70k Bay Area trail
  7. Baurtregaum Mtn Loop (13k/6h)
  8. Croaghskearda Mtn Walk (10k/4h)
  9. Maharees Loop Walk (14k/4h)
  10. North Kerry Way – Tralee to Kerry Head (48km)

Best Cycles and Drives in the Tralee Bay Area

  1. Wild Atlantic Way around Bay Area
  2. Tralee to Dingle & Slea Head Loop
  3. Caherconree & Short Mtn Loop
  4. Kerry Head Loop
  5. Conor Pass Mountain drive
  6. Tralee, Fenit & Ardfert Loop
  7. Ring of Kerry
  8. Kid Friendly – Cycle Ballyseede Woods
  9. Kid Friendly – Cycle Banna Beach at low tide (check online)
  10. Kid Friendly – Cycle Tralee Town Park & Tralee Greenway

Best Beaches and Fishing Spots in the Tralee Bay Area

  1. Fermoyle and Kilcummin Beaches
  2. Maharees ‘Back Beach’
  3. Magherabeg/Castlegregory Blue Flag
  4. Killeltin & Derrymore Beaches
  5. Fenit Blue Flag and ‘back’ Beach
  6. Banna Blue Flag Beach
  7. Ballyheigue Blue Flag beach
  8. Lough Gill Fishing, Castlegregory (Trout)
  9. Fishing shore marks, google ‘tralee fishing activeme’
  10. Sea Fishing Charters – Brandon, Maharees or Fenit pier

Festivals and Events in the Tralee Bay Area

  • Feb – Valentine’s 10 Miler Run, Tralee
  • Mar – Tir Na Nog Children’s Festival
  • Mar – St. Patrick’s Day Parade, various locations
  • Mar/Apr – Tralee Marathon, Half and Full
  • Mar/April – Tír na nÓg Children’s Festival, Tralee
  • Apr – Cloghane Brandon Walking & Music Festival
  • Apr – The Banna Beast Challenge Obstacle Race
  • Apr/May – Dingle Peninsula Cycling Challenge
  • May – Kingdom County Fair, Tralee
  • May – Kerry Camino Walking Festival, Tralee
  • Jun – Dingle Way Walking Challenge
  • Jun – Féile na mBláth & Park Family Festival, Tralee
  • Jun – St. Brendan’s Medieval Festival, Ardfert
  • Jun- Kerry International Horse and pony Racing, Tralee
  • Jul – Brandon Bay Half Marathon & 10k – Beach Run
  • Jul – Castlegregory Summer Festival, Maharees
  • Jul – Ballyheigue Summer Festival, Ballyheigue
  • Jul – Feile Lughanasa Celtic Harvest Festival, Cloghane
  • Aug – Rose of Tralee International Festival
  • Aug – Rose of Tralee 10k Run
  • Aug – Heritage Week, various events
  • Sept – Tralee Food Festival
  • Sept – Kerry Culture Night
  • Oct – Castlegregory Walking Festival
  • Oct – Kerry Film Festival – October
  • Oct – Christie Hennessy  Music Festival, Tralee
  • Oct – Halloween Hunted Hall, Kerry County Museum
  • Oct – Annual Steam Threshing Festival, Blennerville
  • Nov – National Circus Festival of Ireland, Tralee
  • Dec – Christmas Spraoi in Tralee
  • Dec – The Festive Hall, Kerry County Museum
  • Tralee Farmers Market – Saturday 10-2:30
  • Castlegregory Country Market – Sun 10am to 1 – June to Sept
  • Blennerville Famers Market – Sun 11am to 3

Please check event dates as some may change

Destinations in the Tralee Bay Area

The villages of Brandon and Cloghane are nestled at the foothills of Mount Brandon and are an ideal walking base and are main points on the Dingle Way walking trail. Click here for local businesses and more information. Read more here.

Castlegregory and the Maharees peninsula are famous for great beaches, watersports, wildlife, golf, fishing, horse riding, the Dingle Way Walking Trail walking and ancient heritage on the Seven Hogs Islands. Click here for local businesses and more information.

Camp is blessed with unspoiled sandy beaches perfect for swimming, great mountain walks, scenic cycles, the Dingle Way walking trail, ancient forts and stories of Irish Mythology.

Walk from Blennerville, with its famous windmill and visitor centre, to Tralee on a beautiful 2km Canal walk. The area is also a popular area for bird watching, walking, horse riding and cycling.

Tralee town is a great holiday destination whatever the weather and especially for families. Fill your day with great things to see and do, including the Town Park, County Museum, Aquadome, Wetlands, Siamsa Tire, Greyhound Stadium, the scenic canal walk  and more. Tralee is a great base to explore Kerry & Wild Atlantic Way.

Fenit is an ideal seaside village, home to a great Blue Flag beach, watersports activity centre, kids playground, great walks, pier and charter fishing and now with boat tours to the picturesque Fenit Lighthouse.

Steeped in history, heritage and mythology, Ardfert village, a great rest stop on the Wild Atlantic Way is the Medieval Capital of Kerry with the ruins of Ardfert Cathedral built in 1111AD. Born near Fenit, St. Brendan the Navigator was educated in Ardfert around 500 AD and founded a monastery in the 6th century.

Backed by stunning sand dunes and jaw dropping views of the Bay Area and Mountains in the distance, Banna Strand Blue Flag beach was voted Irelands best 2017 by Tripadvisor and for good reason. Walk for miles, enjoy a dip and watersports at this amazing holiday destination.

The ever popular seaside village of Ballyheigue boasts a glorious 3km long Blue Flag beach, stunning views from the Golf Course and the scenic Kerry Head drive, rich in ancient heritage.

  • Tralee is the starting point for the Dingle peninsula and Slea Head scenic drives
  • 15 mins from Kerry Airport, Farranfore
  • 30 mins from Killarney Town, Lakes, National Park and Carrauntoohil Mountain
  • 25 mins from the world famous Ring of Kerry scenic drive and cycle and the Kerry Way Walking Route
  • 40 mins from Dingle Town and the great Things to See and Do on Dingle Peninsula
  • Tralee is the starting point for both the Dingle Way and North Kerry Way long distance walking routes
  • Tralee is 2 hours from Cork City, 3 Hours from Dublin and 3 Hours from Galway

Brandon Bay from Beenoskee

Tralee is Ireland’s Family Holiday Capital with loads of family friendly fun and great things to do for kids even on rainy days:
  • Best Beaches in Irelands – Over 70km of sandy beaches in the Bay Area
  • 5 Blue Flag beaches in the Bay Area
  • Watersports around every corner, from surfing to kayaking
  • Family Friendly walking and cycling routes including the Tralee Town Park, Ballyseedy Woods and more
  • Other family friendly walks including Tonevane, beaches, Fenit Promenade, Canal to Blennerville
  • Explore the lakeside Glanteenassig Woods and climb the Stack Mtns (Hills!)
  • Great Kids Playgrounds – Tralee Town Park, Ardfert, Cloghane, Ballyheigue, Camp, Castlegregory, Fenit, and more
  • Tralee Aquadome
  • Kerry County Museum with kids
  • Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre
  • Playdium Kids Adventure Centre
  • Buddies Bowling
  • Cycling on Banna Beach at low tide
Best Places to Visit and Top Things to Do around the Tralee Bay Area:
  1. Kerry County Museum
  2. Blennerville Windmill and Model Railway
  3. Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre
  4. Fenit Beach, Pier and Lighthouse Walks
  5. Tralee Town Park
  6. Aquadome Indoor Water Park
  7. Banna Strand Beach
  8. Tralee Golf Club
  9. Killelton ancient Oratory and ruined village
  10. The Playdium Kids FunZone
  11. Scotias Grave, Slieve Mish Mountain Valley
  12. Sea Fishing Boat Charter from Brandon and Fenit
  13. Short Mountain Scenic Viewing Spot
  14. Ardfert Cathedral
  15. Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre
  16. St Johns Church
  17. Más an Tiompáin Ogham Stone
  18. Sás Creek, Brandon
  19. Ballyseede Woods
  20. Brandon Point
  21. Kerry Head
  22. Sean Óg’s Pub – music and craic
  23. Caherconree Mountain and ancient Stone Fort
  24. Diving in the Maherees
  25. Horse Riding in Tonevane
  26. Surfing in the Maherees, Brandon Bay
  27. Blue Flag Beaches of Fenit, Castlegregory, Banna and Ballyheigue
  28. Swimming in
  29. Tralee Court House
Best Long Distance Walking Routes Around Tralee:
Best Hikes and Walking Routes Around Tralee, Dingle and North Kerry: