Mayo’s Keem Bay has been named among the Top 100 beaches in the world by Lonely Planet.

The travel website described the Achill Island beach as “one of Ireland’s most glorious, secluded strands”.

“Sloping green hillsides spill down to a deep-set horseshoe bay, where a Blue-Flag delight of a pale-blonde beach sits framed by the Croaghaun Cliffs - Ireland’s highest sea cliffs - and the thundering moody-blue Atlantic,” it says.

Keem Bay on Achill Island in October 2010. Picture by: David Robertson / Alamy Stock Photo

The book also describes the journey to the beach as a, “vertiginous yet jaw-droppingly beautiful 8km drive from Keel village”.

Keem Bay is the only Irish beach to make the cut, sitting alongside coastal strands from French Polynesia to Mauritius, Indonesia, Greece and the Caribbean.

Closer to home, the list features four beaches in the UK – Rhossili Bay in Wales, Kynance Cove in Cornwall and West Beach, Berneray in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.

Kynance Cove in Cornwall. Image: travellinglight / Alamy

The book brings you the beaches through “an impeccable combination of aerial and ground photography” and includes essential information on how to reach each one.

There are also ‘Top 5’ breakdowns in a range of categories from family-friendly to snorkelling, wildlife sunsets, people watching and more.