Northern Ireland beaches: your guide to beach hopping

Pack your walking shoes, because Northern Ireland beaches are not the type of place where you park up, put down a towel and stay in one spot all day. There are so many close together along this coast that most people end up jumping from one beach to the next in a single afternoon. The dunes behind Portstewart Strand are thought to be around 5,00 to 6,000 years old, older than the pyramids, and they are still moving a little every year. Some beaches here are wide and golden, others hide below cliffs with a ruined castle watching over them, and one or two even come with cows walking along the sand in summer. Ready to work out which beach deserves your day out first?

Kick Off Your Hop Along the Causeway Coast

County Antrim has several beaches along the Causeway Coast. That makes it a great place to start your beach hop. Give yourself a full morning here before you drive any further.

Whiterocks Beach: Caves, Cliffs, and Surf

Whiterocks Beach runs between Portrush and the ruined Dunluce Castle. You reach the sand along a boardwalk through the dunes. Locals call it the White Rocks. This comes from the pale cliffs behind the beach. Look closely and you will see caves and small arches in the rock. One is even called Elephant Rock, because it really does look like one. The dunes here are tall, so stay on the marked paths. This helps protect the grass that holds the sand in place. Surfers and bodyboarders love this beach when the waves are good. You can hire a board here in summer if you want to try it yourself. Getting there is easy. Just follow the coast road out of Portrush towards Dunluce Castle. Parking is free, in the main car park or the overflow area next to it.

Portrush: East Strand and West Strand

Next comes Portrush. It has two beaches: East Strand and West Strand. East Strand runs right next to the town, so it fills up fast. Head to West Strand instead if you want more space. East Strand has amusements, chip shops, and a promenade behind it. That makes it a fun stop if you have kids with you. No car? No problem. Trains run direct from Belfast Central to Portrush. The trip takes about an hour and a half, so check the Translink timetable first.

Ballycastle Beach and the Rathlin Island Ferry

Ballycastle Beach comes last on this stretch of coast. It has a mix of sand and shingle, plus a harbour. From here you can catch a ferry to Rathlin Island. There is gym equipment right by the beach, an unexpected but handy touch. You can also find public toilets near the bowling green. Park at Marine Corner, right by the harbour. If you fancy the island trip, buy your ferry ticket at the small kiosk there.

Chase the Dunes Around Portstewart and Castlerock

This part of the coast is all about dunes, cliffs, and one very photogenic ruin. It perches right on the edge of a cliff. If a long coastal walk sounds better to you than a deckchair, this stretch is for you.

Portstewart Strand

Portstewart Strand gives you two miles of flat, golden sand. The National Trust owns and looks after it. Behind the beach runs one of the oldest dune systems in Ireland. Now for the strange part: you can drive your car right onto the beach and park on the sand, something that always confuses first-time drivers who spend ten minutes looking for a normal car park that does not exist. Just bring a card, since the machines do not take cash. Horse riders and birdwatchers love this spot too, so bring your binoculars if that is your thing.

Downhill Strand and Mussenden Temple

A little further along, you will find Downhill Strand. It runs for seven miles, all the way from Castlerock to Magilligan Point. Along the way, a small waterfall tumbles down through the cliffs. Above it all, the Mussenden Temple perches right on the cliff edge. To reach the temple, take the Bishop's Road up from Castlerock. Give yourself time to walk both the beach and the temple, since they are worth doing together. One more tip: pack a jumper. This side of the coast catches the wind no matter what season it is.

Benone Strand

Benone Strand rounds off this coastline. It is one of the longest beaches in the country, and kite surfers love it when the wind picks up. Lifeguards patrol through the main summer months, which makes it a solid pick for families. There is a large, free car park on Benone Avenue near Magilligan. Fancy a warm drink halfway through your walk? There is a small coffee and surf hire shop at one end of the beach.

Drop South to the Beaches of County Down

Head south and the coast changes completely. Cliffs give way to forest and dune, and the wildlife takes over from the surfers. If a proper nature walk sounds better than a swim, County Down is where you want to be.

Murlough Beach

Murlough Beach lies behind a dune system that is around 6,000 years old, cared for by the National Trust. More than twenty species of butterfly call it home, along with plenty of birds you will not spot anywhere else on this list. It also holds the title of Ireland's first-ever nature reserve. Keep your eyes open as you cross the dunes, since stoats dart across the boardwalk more than you would think. Park at the National Trust car park on the Dundrum to Newcastle road, then follow the boardwalk for about fifteen minutes to reach the beach.

Building a longer trip? Our blog about the best places to visit in Northern Ireland will help you fill in the days around your beach stops

Tyrella Beach

Tyrella Beach is small and tucked into its own dune conservation area. It stays calmer than most of the north coast, which makes it a favourite with kite surfers and windsurfers who need the open bay. The beach has picked up the Blue Flag and Seaside Award almost every year since 1997, so someone here is clearly doing something right. You will find it just off the coast road between Clough and Dundrum, well signposted after you turn.

Cranfield and Newcastle

Cranfield faces south, right at the entrance to Carlingford Lough, looking out towards Haulbowline Lighthouse. From there, Newcastle rests under the Mourne Mountains, with a golf course running along the back of the beach and a proper seaside town feel to the whole place. The Goldline coach runs directly from Belfast to Newcastle in around an hour, so you do not need a car for this one either.

Squeeze in the Beaches Closer to Belfast

Short on time? These beaches lie close enough to the city that you can still fit two or three into one day without much driving. It is a good reminder that beaches in Northern Ireland are not only found on the far north coast.

Helen's Bay

Helen's Bay backs onto Crawfordsburn Country Park, so you get woodland walks bundled in with your beach time. There is a cafe right by the beach too, handy as a plan B if the weather turns, which it sometimes does without warning. Keep an eye on the water while you are there, since seals and porpoises turn up more than most people expect. Helen's Bay train station runs on the Belfast to Bangor line, just a short walk from the sand, so you do not need a car for this one.

Ballyholme Beach

Ballyholme Beach in Bangor comes with a long promenade, perfect if you want ice cream and a walk in the same trip. The water here stays calmer than most of the north coast, which makes it a good choice for younger swimmers. It is a short walk from Bangor train station, or you can park along Seacliff Road if you are driving.

Groomsport Beach

Groomsport Beach is small and rests beside a harbour that used to be a major fishing port. At low tide, the rock pools are worth a poke around, and you will usually find far fewer people here than at Helen's Bay or Ballyholme, even on a warm weekend. Follow the coast road east out of Bangor for a short drive, then park near the harbour front.

Plan Your Own Beach Hopping Route

You have got the list now, so here is how to turn it into an actual day out rather than a mad dash up and down the coast, plus a few tips that will save you a wasted trip.

Best time of year to go

June to August gives the driest weather and lifeguard cover on the bigger beaches

Spring and autumn are quieter, with just as much sun for a few hours at a time

Check tide times before you set off, particularly at Portstewart and Cranfield, where the water comes in fast

Never walk out to rock pools or sandbanks without checking the tide first, some beaches here cut off quickly

What to pack

A waterproof jacket, no matter what the forecast promises

Wellies or an old pair of trainers for dune walking

A contactless card for beach car parks, most now run on card-only machines, including the National Trust ones at Murlough and Portstewart

Which beaches combine well in one day?

If you only have one day, pick one coast and stay there. The Causeway Coast trio, Whiterocks, Portrush and Ballycastle, run along the same stretch of road, so there is no backtracking involved. Portstewart, Downhill and Benone make a good second option, giving you dunes, a cliff top temple and a long open beach all within easy reach of each other. Down south, Murlough, Tyrella and Newcastle suit a slower day built around walking and wildlife rather than a quick dip. And if you are pressed for time, Helen's Bay, Ballyholme and Groomsport near Belfast give you a real taste of the coast without much driving at all.

Two to three beaches is enough for one good day, if you want real time on each one rather than a rushed photo stop. Combining beaches from two different coasts eats up more time in the car than on the sand, so pick one grouping and stick with it.

Want to see which beaches actually make sense together? Add your favourites to the Guided app and map them out before you go. That way, you can quickly see which stops sit along the same route and spend more of your day on the beach instead of driving back and forth.

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