Fodor's Expert Review Barley Cove

One of the most photographed beaches in Ireland, this expanse of soft flaxen-colored dunes that curls around the sapphire and turquoise shades of the Atlantic’s water is a West Cork Instagrammable highlight. A river cuts through the sand and spills into the ocean, giving a fresh flow of cool water on either side of the green, tufty headlands. There are public facilities and car parking. A nearby inn opens seasonally, where visitors can stop by for a beachfront beverage.