Connemara beaches to drive on (teaching)?

thirtythirty

Anyone know of any decent beaches that the tide goes out on and leaves good solid (preferably non-water permeated ripples) sand that's good for driving on?

Ideally with a bit of space - gonna be teaching my brother how to drive.

I've used the common land out near dunlochan before which is ok, but you're very limited to where the tyres of a low front wheel drive car can go, so I'd rather go beach driving and avoid the risk of him driving through big trenches!

ConTheCat

Wouldja not bring him to a quite car park on a Sunday or when the shops are closed in the evening?

biko

I'd say some big car park too. You don't want to get stuck out there somewhere.

kippy

Car parks or large industrial estates FTW
I learned in a caravan park near home.

Theres tonnes of them empty in the evening/weekend.

johngalway

Omey is the first place that springs to mind. But, you're going to ruin the car with salt IMO.

Up and down the road to the golf course in Ballyconneely would be a safe bet, lots of places to get off the road if you meet cars coming and going.

dec25532

johngalway wrote: »

Omey is the first place that springs to mind. But, you're going to ruin the car with salt IMO.

Up and down the road to the golf course in Ballyconneely would be a safe bet, lots of places to get off the road if you meet cars coming and going.

Yeah, the commonage on the right hand side on the way to Connemara Golf Club would be ideal. I think that used to be a soccer pitch at one stage but not sure. Grand extensive and flat ground so that nothing could possibly go wrong!!!!

lezza

mauinghis beach in carna, massive solid area when tide is out

Starie1975

lezza wrote: »

mauinghis beach in carna, massive solid area when tide is out

I'd agree with Tra Mainis (Mweenish) in Carna. It's used by local GAA teams in the winter months for training. Make sure to check the tides and don’t leave it too late to come back to sore, the tide comes in faster than you think. Saw a few cars getting caught out there.

You’d be better off used an empty car park as suggested.

thirtythirty

Thanks all - loads of suggestions there!

Looking forward to heading down there, havent been in ages

astonaidan

Omey Island when the tides out, Wouldn't recommend Ballyconnelly commonage tbh has alot of hidden holes in it!!

ScumLord

spottyelephant wrote: »

sand that's good for driving on?

No such thing really should be avoided at all costs. Sand is highly abrasive and the salt is highly corrosive.

thirtythirty

ScumLord wrote: »

No such thing really should be avoided at all costs. Sand is highly abrasive and the salt is highly corrosive.

Ah ye, but surely no worse at low speeds than when the roads are gritted & salted??

kippy

spottyelephant wrote: »

Ah ye, but surely no worse at low speeds than when the roads are gritted & salted??

You've obviously never driven on a sandy beach........

thirtythirty

Not since i was tiny, no!

ScumLord

spottyelephant wrote: »

Ah ye, but surely no worse at low speeds than when the roads are gritted & salted??

It's probably not going to do any damage but you run the very real risk of making a mess of your car, it may even take weeks for the damage to become apparent.

Marcia Lustley

lezza wrote: »

mauinghis beach in carna, massive solid area when tide is out

think your mistaking maughinis beach for callowfeenish beach, tho i've never heard it being called maughinis it wouldn't be the first time i didn't know the english placename!

But yeah thats where i learnt to drive! Its way easier to just to find a industrial estate imo, because callowfeenish beach can get pretty busy with irish language students and locals