Gurteen Bay
About Gurteen Bay
Gurteen Bay is the larger, east-facing twin of Dog's Bay, sharing the same pure white shell-sand and clear water on the sandy tombolo just west of Roundstone. Gently shelving and beginner-friendly, it is the learn-to-surf beach of this stretch of Connemara coast, with a camping and caravan park beside the strand. It sits on the same fragile machair and tombolo as Dog's Bay, so the same care applies: keep to the marked paths, stay off the dunes and respect all signage. Parking is on the gravel road behind the beachfront and fills quickly in summer, so arrive early or late; there may be seasonal public toilets near the car park, but they are not guaranteed and there is no lifeguard. Walk across the tombolo to Dog's Bay, then finish the day at O'Dowd's in Roundstone.
Its tombolo twin
Gurteen Bay and Dog's Bay sit back-to-back on a rare sandy tombolo — you can walk across from one to the other.
Get directions to the car park
This searches for the named car park on Google Maps — a place-name match, not yet a GPS-confirmed pin.
📍 Find Gurteen Bay, Roundstone on Google Maps
Named from official sources but not yet pin-verified — always confirm on arrival.
Map
Approximate location, auto-geocoded from a named car park — not yet a GPS-verified pin. Always verify on arrival.
Activity suitability
- Surfing — Beginner
- Walking — Good walk (1–3km)
- Lifeguard (summer) — No
- Not yet confirmed: Swimming
Facilities
- Car park — Free
- Lifeguard — No
- Not yet confirmed: Toilets, Disabled access, Shower, Café nearby
Facilities confirmed from Galway County/City Council and Fáilte Ireland.
Water quality
Where to stay nearby
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