Velvet Strand

Ireland, Ireland

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Velvet Strand, also known as Portmarnock Beach, is a long, wide sandy beach in Portmarnock, north County Dublin, Ireland, stretching about 5–8 km along the northern edge of Dublin Bay toward Baldoyle and adjoining Malahide Beach.

The soft, white sand and gentle dunes earned it the nickname “Velvet Strand,” and it is popular for long walks, jogging, cycling, and dog walking, as well as for water sports such as windsurfing and kite‑surfing when the tide and wind are suitable.

The beach faces Dublin Bay with views toward Howth, Lambay Island, and the Dublin Mountains, and it is protected by a large dune system that supports fragrant dune plants and nesting birds rather than heavy sunbathing.

Facilities include toilets, pedestrian access points, and seasonal lifeguards, and it is best known as a clean, open‑space coastal strip for exercise and scenery rather than as a typical swimming resort.