The best beaches in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has some amazing beaches which boast white sands for miles and amazing backdrops of luscious green fields. Beaches so good they give Portugal’s beaches a run for their money (I may be biased).
Unfortunately, though, Northern Ireland doesn’t match the sunny summers and high temperatures of Portugal, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting Northern Ireland and its stunning coastline.
White Park Bay
Quite possibly my favourite beach in Northern Ireland. Not only is it a beautiful stretch of beach to walk, being much quieter than other beaches on the North Coast, but the car park sits atop a hill which descends to the beach itself, providing breathtaking views of the sea, the surrounding fields and dunes. The drive to this bay is along the causeway coastal route, which is an area of outstanding beauty.
One of my favourite things about this beach is that during spring/summer, you may find a small herd of cows roaming the beach. Yes, that’s correct; you may be sharing the beach with some cattle chilling out on the sand - you can’t get much more Irish than that!
Portstewart Strand
A long stretch of beach (2 miles) offering golden sands. You can spot Mussenden temple, a National Trust site, atop the cliffs in the distance, which you will find is a popular site for local artists to paint and locals and tourists to visit.
‘The strand’, as it’s known, is a great beach for body boarding, which you can hire from a pop-up on the beach during the summer months or from Ocean Warriors in Portstewart.
During the warmer months, you can park along the beach when the tide is further out, making it perfect for pitching up and enjoying a picnic whilst listening to the waves crash. During the colder months, you can only park at the start of this beach. You will find this a popular beach whether it’s to sunbathe (weather permitting) or for a nice, long walk.
Portstewart Golf Club is just a short walk away, overlooking this beach and its towering dunes.
Harry’s Shack - A seafood restaurant just as you enter Portstewart strand beach; serving lunch and dinner. Dine in or sit outside on their covered patio to embrace the sea breeze and a cocktail or cuppa whilst looking out onto the Atlantic ocean.
White Rocks
Yes, another beach which is 2 miles long with golden sand. What makes this beach different is all in the name; with ‘White Rocks’ coming from the white limestone cliffs at the end of this beach, it makes for a stunning backdrop.
You can walk on foot from Portrush or start at the other end, where there is a car park just off the Causeway Coastal Route. The drive will give you another gorgeous view of the White Rocks from above.
The high dunes here are perfect for sand sledging, and the large waves this beach is famous for are great for water sports, including surfing, body boarding and more. You can hire much of what you’ll need from Troggs in Portrush.
Benone beach
Benone Beach is a long, sandy beach which stretches for 7 miles along the north coast and is backed by dune grasslands. On one side you will see Mussenden Temple (East) and on the other side (North-West) you can see Donegal.
This beach is wonderful for a peaceful walk and in the summer, it is a hot spot for water sports, sunbathers, horse riding and more. You can park along the beach for free.
Sea Shed is a coffee and surf shop overlooking the beach for those that need their caffeine fix or to hire a board for an hour or more.
There is a lifeguard present during the high season between June and September.
Oh, and we should mention Downhill beach, part of this 7-mile stretch of beach, was used in the filming of Game of Thrones (like several other locations in Northern Ireland).