Spanish Point

The name records what happened here in September 1588, when ships of the Spanish Armada, driven north and west around Ireland after the failed invasion of England, were wrecked on this coast. Survivors who reached the shore at this point were taken and hanged on the orders of the local authorities, who were under instruction to give no quarter, and a mass grave is associated with the site. The beach itself is a west-facing strand backed by low dunes and rock, with a reef break offshore that has made it one of Clare's established surf spots, with schools and hire operating through the season. Lifeguards cover the main section in July and August. It faces the open Atlantic, so the swell can be large and the rips are real; the reef sections are for experienced surfers rather than learners, who use the beach break.

What you actually see

• The strand - west-facing sand backed by low dunes and rock.
• The surf - a beach break for learners and a reef break offshore.
• The Armada association - the 1588 wrecks and what followed ashore.
• The Atlantic aspect - open ocean, and the swell that comes with it.

When to go

May to September; lifeguards in July and August. Autumn brings the biggest swell and the fewest people. Winter storms strip and rebuild the beach.

Honest expectations

Strong rips outside the guarded section. The reef break is not for beginners. Facilities are seasonal and the village is quiet out of summer.

Nearby

Miltown Malbay and the Willie Clancy school are inland; Lahinch is north.