Laytown & Bettystown
About Laytown & Bettystown
The Laytown–Bettystown strand is effectively County Meath's entire coastline — an 11km sweep of golden sand running from the mouth of the River Boyne down toward Laytown and the River Nanny. Bettystown is the lively heart of it: a Blue Flag beach lifeguarded in summer, with a Coast Road car park beside the sand and public showers outside Bettystown Library. Driving on the beach is no longer permitted. It is a broad, family-friendly strand for swimming and long walks, and it holds the EPA's Excellent water-quality classification. Its most famous claim, though, is the Laytown Races — the only horse-racing meeting in Ireland run on a beach.
Laytown Races - Ireland's beach racecourse
Laytown Races is the only horse-racing meeting in Ireland run on a beach under the Rules of Racing. Held for one day each September on the strand, the tradition dates back to 1868. As the tide goes out the course is marked on the open sand, the races are run before crowds on the dunes, and the sea reclaims the track hours later — a spectacle unlike anything else in Irish racing.
Mornington & the Maiden Tower
At its northern end the strand becomes dune-backed as it runs toward the Maiden Tower at the mouth of the River Boyne — the Mornington shore, quieter and wilder than the Bettystown bathing area. Mornington holds its own Green Coast award and has its own page. Note the strong estuary currents near the river mouth, where swimming is not advised.
Nearby beaches
The strand continues north to the Mornington shore and the Boyne estuary.
Get directions to the car park
This opens the verified car-park pin — never the beach itself or a mid-route point.
📍 Get directions to the car park
Pin confirmed at 53.6988, -6.2442. Always verify the car park on arrival — access can change.
Map
Verified car-park pin.
Activity suitability
- Surfing — No surf
- Walking — Long walk (3km+)
- Lifeguard (summer) — Yes
- Not yet confirmed: Swimming
Facilities
- Toilets — Yes
- Car park — Paid
- Lifeguard — Yes
- Not yet confirmed: Disabled access, Shower, Café nearby
Facilities confirmed from Meath County Council and Fáilte Ireland Source.
Water quality
EPA classification: Excellent (latest annual bathing-water assessment). Always check beaches.ie for the current rating.
Where to stay nearby
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