Kenmare Bay

What is kayaking Kenmare Bay like?

Paddle from the colourful town of Kenmare into the sheltered inner bay where the Roughty and Sheen rivers meet the sea. The Caha and Slieve Miskish Mountains frame the scene, and the bay's many inlets harbour grey seals and occasional visiting dolphins. The warm microclimate supports Mediterranean plants on the sheltered shoreline.

How do I paddle Kenmare Bay? Put-in, take-out and logistics

Kenmare Bay (technically the Kenmare River, though it is a sea inlet rather than a true river) runs roughly 50 km from Kenmare town to the open Atlantic between the Iveragh and Beara peninsulas. The inner bay east of Kenmare town is the sheltered section suitable for intermediate paddlers, and the pier on the south side of town provides a straightforward launch with parking nearby. The Roughty and Sheen rivers enter the bay here, and the mixing of fresh and salt water creates rich feeding grounds — grey seals are virtually guaranteed, and bottlenose dolphins from the Kerry population visit regularly in summer.

When is the best time to paddle Kenmare Bay?

Paddle west from the pier along the southern shore, passing Reen Point and a series of small rocky coves backed by mature oak woodland. The microclimate in Kenmare Bay is famously mild — the combination of Gulf Stream influence and mountain shelter supports strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo), Mediterranean heathers, and even wild fuchsia hedges right down to the waterline. Cappul Island, about 4 km west of the pier, makes a good turnaround point; the island has a small beach on its eastern side and is a haul-out site for seals. The return along the northern shore passes Dunkerron Island and gives views south towards the Caha Pass and Healy Pass on the Beara Peninsula. Tidal range in the inner bay is modest — around 3 metres — but the ebb can produce a noticeable current in the narrows west of town. Plan the outward leg against the ebb and the return with the flood for the most comfortable paddle.