Best beaches in County Antrim
Below are a list of the top 12 beaches in County Antrim as selected by the users of the Beach Guide website.
The current most popular beach in County Antrim is Whiterocks Beach. If you would like to have your say on which are the best beaches in County Antrim just follow the link to the beach and vote by clicking the star ratings at the top right of the page.
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1. Whiterocks Beach
Whiterocks is a two mile stretch of sandy beach starting (or ends) in Portrush at the East Strand beach. The height of the waves makes Whiterocks popular with water sports enthusiasts, including anglers, bodyboarders, surfers, and surf kayakers. Equipment can be hired in season. There is an RNLI Lifeguard Service from 11am to 7pm from…
2. Ballygally Beach
Ballygally is a fairly small, sandy beach that is popular with both locals and tourists who come here to enjoy a paddle during the summer months and for fishing during the rest of the year. This is also 'Game of Thrones' country with some scenes being filmed around this area of the County Antrim coast.…
3. Whitepark Bay
Magnificent arc of white sand between two headlands on a relatively secluded stretch of the North Antrim Coast. The headlands provide some shelter from prevailing winds and on the right conditions this is a popular spot with surfers.
The beach and locale are a haven for wildlife with the dunes behind the beach teeming with wild…
4. Brown's Bay
Brown's Bay is a sandy, crescent-shaped beach sitting at the northern end of County Antrim's Islandmagee Peninsula.
The beach is slightly over 300 metres in length with a crossable stream running down the middle and into the bay. Thanks to its sheltered location, the water is calm and a good place to go swimming during the…
5. Cushendun Beach
This sandy, rural beach is set on a gently curving bay and is backed by the charming village of Cushendun. Many of the picturesque buildings in the village, some of which are managed by the National Trust, have a distinctly Cornish feel to them, having been designed this way to please the wife of a…
6. Ballycastle Beach
The traditional seaside town of Ballycastle is located on the Causeway Coast Route of Antrim, not far from the Giant's Causeway, Glens of Antrim and Rathlin. It is also home to a particularly fine stretch of sandy beach. The beach runs from Ballycastle's marina all the way to the popular fishing spot of Pans Rocks…
7. Carnlough Beach
The quiet fishing village of Carnlough is set at the foot of the Antrim Glens. As well as a pretty harbour Carnlough has a pleasant sandy beach that stretches around the bay.
Towards the village end the beach tends to disappear under the high tide whereas there is still some sandy beach further down.
8. Giant's Causeway Beach
Whilst it is a bit of a stretch to describe the Giant's Causeway itself as a beach it just about qualifies and given its significance we didn't want to leave it out. The Causeway is named after the naturally formed interlocking hexagonal basalt columns that act as stepping stones down from the cliff to the…
9. Waterfoot Beach
This long strip of sand at the foot of the Antrim Glens is one of the most popular on this stretch of the Co Antrim coast. Despite its relative popularity Waterfoot beach still manages to retain a fairly tranquil laid-back feel. Backed by extensive dunes to the southern end of the beach and the village…
10. Cushendall Beach
Cushendall is a smallish, sandy beach, about 250 meters long, slightly to the north of the town of Cushendall, part of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is backed by a grassy area, excellent for picnics, and offering superb views over the surrounding mountainous coastline. Behind the grassy area is…
11. Curran (East) Strand Beach (Portrush)
Curran Strand forms part of a 4 kilometre strip of sandy beach, to the east of the town of Portrush. The stretch of sand includes East Strand and White Rocks beaches at the far eastern end. To the rear of the beach an impressive dune system that is home to a rich variety of wildlife.…
12. Glenarm Beach
Glenarm is a thin, mostly pebble beach, stretching for about 300 meters from a small river mouth and the village harbour at the eastern end towards the end of the village to the west. Sitting at the foot of the Glens of Antrim the beach enjoys excellent views of the surrounding hills and headlands along…
