Barley Cove

Barley Cove Beach is a south facing sandy beach backing onto extensive sand dunes. It is located in Barley Cove Bay which provides some shelter to the beach and there is an extensive sand dune to the rear of the beach. There is a large tidal lagoon (Lissagriffin Lake) to the rear of the beach. The beach is used to some extent by anglers, walkers, surfers and windsurfers.

Barley Cove Beach is located approximately 5km south west of Goleen village & approximately 25km south west of Ballydehob village, on the Mizen Head Peninsula, in West Cork, The bathing area is approximately 500m wide & is approx. 0.11 km2 in area.

The beach backs onto an extensive sand dune system which extends over 200m to the rear (north) of the beach. There is no significant vegetation growing in the waters off the beach other than on rocky outcrops or small islands in the bay. There is a large tidal lagoon (Lissagriffin Lake) to the rear (north) of the beach which is fed by 3 streams. This lagoon discharges to Barley Cove Bay via a channel to the east of the beach. A pontoon walkway is in place across this channel to allow beach users to safely access the beach from the car park area on the north-eastern side of the beach.