With Croagh Patrick rising behind you and Clew Bay stretching out in front, Bertra Beach has one of the most impressive settings of any beach in County Mayo. Located near Murrisk, around 12 kilometres from Westport, Bertra is a long, mostly sandy beach extending into the waters of Clew Bay. It's a brilliant place for a walk, popular with swimmers during suitable conditions, and a favourite with birdwatchers and kite surfers when the wind gets up.

But for us, one of the best things about Bertra is the location. You can stand on the sand looking towards the islands of Clew Bay, then turn around and see one of Ireland's most famous mountains towering over the landscape. Add nearby Murrisk Abbey, the National Famine Memorial and Croagh Patrick itself and you've got far more than just a beach day. Bertra is also free to visit, with free parking and toilet facilities available.

Bertra Beach is located near Murrisk in County Mayo, approximately 12 kilometres west of Westport. It sits along the southern side of Clew Bay, close to the foot of Croagh Patrick. If you're travelling from Westport, follow the R335 towards Louisburgh — it's a beautiful drive, with Clew Bay appearing beside you while Croagh Patrick increasingly dominates the landscape ahead. Bertra is easily combined with Murrisk and Croagh Patrick, making it one of our favourite stops along this stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way.

One big advantage Bertra has over some of Ireland's more remote beaches is that there's a dedicated car park — and parking is free. From the parking area, it's only a short walk to the beach. During warm summer days, naturally expect things to become busier. If the weather forecast is particularly good, arriving earlier gives you a better chance of finding a convenient space.

Bertra is a wide, predominantly sandy beach extending into Clew Bay. At spring tides, some rocky sections become more noticeable. The beach's shape and exposed position make it feel very different depending on the tide and weather. On a calm summer day, you might find families playing on the sand and people heading into the water. Come back on a windy autumn afternoon and it becomes a completely different place — waves, wind, huge skies, and Croagh Patrick sitting behind everything. We actually think Bertra is just as enjoyable outside summer. You simply swap the swimming gear for a waterproof jacket.

This is what really sets Bertra apart. Croagh Patrick — known locally as The Reek — rises dramatically behind the beach, reaching approximately 764 metres above sea level. The mountain has been associated with pilgrimage for centuries. According to Christian tradition, St Patrick spent 40 days fasting on its summit in AD 441. Today thousands of people continue to climb the mountain every year. From Bertra, however, you can enjoy Croagh Patrick without taking a single step uphill. The combination of mountain, sea and beach makes this one of the best places around Clew Bay for photography.

Bertra is used for sea swimming during suitable conditions, and official visitor information confirms that lifeguards operate during the summer bathing season. Exact lifeguard times are displayed on the noticeboard at the beach. This is an Atlantic beach and conditions can change quickly — swimmers should always pay attention to flags, signage, weather and advice from lifeguards. If you're visiting with children, choose a lifeguarded period whenever possible and supervise them closely around the water.

Bertra has received Blue Flag recognition — an internationally recognised award connected with bathing-water quality, environmental management, safety and beach services. That's another reason Bertra is popular during the summer months. However, Blue Flag status is assessed seasonally, so if this is particularly important to your visit, we'd always recommend checking the latest annual bathing-season information before travelling.

Even if you've absolutely no intention of swimming, Bertra is worth visiting for the walk. Discover Ireland specifically highlights the beach as popular with walkers and birdwatchers. Walk along the shoreline and you've got views across Clew Bay while Croagh Patrick dominates the landscape behind you. The experience changes dramatically with the tide — at lower tide, considerably more sand is exposed. Just remember that Bertra is a coastal environment, so keep an eye on tides and conditions, particularly if you're exploring further along the strand.

Bertra is also known as a good location for birdwatching. Its coastal habitat attracts a variety of seabirds and waders. The quieter months can be particularly enjoyable if you're interested in wildlife. Bring binoculars, walk slowly, and give birds plenty of space rather than approaching resting or feeding groups. The beach isn't just somewhere for us to explore — it's an important habitat too.

Bertra's exposed position means it's also popular with kite surfers. When the wind is right, watching experienced kite surfers racing across Clew Bay can be almost as entertaining as getting into the water yourself. And there's another interesting way to experience this coastline — local equestrian operators offer beach trekking around Murrisk and Bertra at low tide. Horseback, Clew Bay beside you, Croagh Patrick behind you. If you're interested, book ahead because availability can be limited.

Don't visit Bertra without spending some time exploring Murrisk. The small village sits beneath Croagh Patrick and packs an extraordinary amount into a relatively small area — Croagh Patrick, Murrisk Abbey, the National Famine Memorial, Clew Bay and Bertra Beach all within a very short distance of each other. That makes Murrisk an excellent half-day destination even if you've no plans to climb the mountain.

One of our favourite nearby stops is Murrisk Abbey. The ruins sit close to the shores of Clew Bay beneath Croagh Patrick. The Augustinian friary was established in 1457 on land granted by local chieftain Hugh O'Malley. Several impressive architectural features survive, including arched windows and remnants of battlements. The setting is beautiful — and it's another free historical site you can add to your visit. From Murrisk, a signposted walk of approximately 1 kilometre leads towards the abbey.

Close to Croagh Patrick you'll also find Ireland's National Famine Memorial. Created by sculptor John Behan, the striking bronze sculpture depicts a famine ship with skeleton-like figures woven into the vessel. It's a powerful memorial to those who died and emigrated during the Great Famine, unveiled in 1997. With Croagh Patrick behind it and Clew Bay in front, the setting makes the memorial particularly moving. If you're visiting Bertra, we'd absolutely stop here.

Bertra extends into the extraordinary landscape of Clew Bay. The bay is famous for its countless small islands — from higher ground, particularly Croagh Patrick, the landscape almost looks like somebody scattered hundreds of green stones across the water. From beach level, you get a completely different perspective. The sheltered islands, distant mountains and changing Atlantic light make this one of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in Mayo.

Around 12 kilometres away, Westport is the obvious base for exploring Bertra and Murrisk. Colourful streets, traditional pubs, independent shops, restaurants, the Carrowbeg River, Westport House and easy access to the Great Western Greenway — you could easily stay several nights in Westport and use it as a base for exploring western Mayo.

If you want another outdoor activity, the Great Western Greenway begins around Westport and runs towards Newport, Mulranny and Achill. The route now stretches for roughly 49 kilometres, with an additional extension on Achill. It's one of Ireland's best-known cycling routes. That means you could build a Mayo trip around several completely different outdoor experiences — climb Croagh Patrick, walk Bertra Beach, cycle the Great Western Greenway, then head towards Achill. You won't exactly struggle to fill the days.

Continue west along the R335 and you'll reach Louisburgh — another good base for exploring the coast. Beyond Louisburgh, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic as you travel towards Doolough Valley and Leenane. This is one of our favourite drives in western Ireland. If you're travelling from Westport towards Connemara, Bertra makes an easy first stop before continuing west.