Hotels in Kilkee

Kilkee grew into one of Ireland's great Victorian seaside resorts, built around a near-perfect horseshoe bay whose reef, the Duggerna Rocks, keeps the swimming calm even with the Atlantic outside. The mile-long Blue Flag beach remains one of the safest bathing spots on the west coast, and the cliff walk west of town passes a memorial to Kilkee-loving actor Richard Harris.

Diving and surfing schools use the sheltered bay and nearby reefs, and the Victorian promenade is still the social centre, lined with cafes and ice-cream shops rather than chain hotels. It is remote, reached by County Clare's back roads rather than a motorway, so plan on a slow arrival. Stay along the promenade for sea views and easy walks to the cliffs.