Inch Strand

Inch Strand is a sandy beach on the coast of East Cork, County Cork, close to the villages of Whitegate, Aghada and Gyleen and set near Power Head. It lies roughly nine miles south of Midleton, making it an easy detour for anyone exploring the eastern side of the county, and it remains a firm favourite with local families and day-trippers.

The strand has two distinct halves. One side is sand backed by rushes and a small stream, while the other gives way to rock formations reaching out into the bay, framed by low cliffs and dunes. This mix of open sand, rock pools and surrounding farmland gives the beach a quiet, unspoilt character. Inch Strand holds a Green Coast Award, a recognition reserved for beaches with high environmental standards and clean bathing water.

The beach is well known among surfers, and a surf school operates here offering lessons, equipment hire and local advice, along with summer camps for children. It also suits swimming and coastal walking. Access is by two narrow approach roads, with a car park at the western end and more informal parking to the east.