Ballycastle Beach – one of Irelands best?
On the island of Ireland there are many great beaches. Down the west coast you have incredible surf spots and hidden gems. Along the North Coast, Portrush boasts sweeping long sandy beaches, and Cushendun offers fantastic caves to explore, but Ballycastle Beach is our favourite!
What we love about Ballycastle Beach is that it has everything.
Ballycastle Beach is a tourist location on the Causeway Coast and is roughly 2 kilometres in length. It’s mostly sandy, with a little shingle too, and an estuary forms a nice shallow area for kids to paddle in safely. Attaining it’s Seaside Award in 2020, Ballycastle Beach has lifeguards through the popular season provided by RNLI.
Take yourself a walk away from town to the rocky out-crops and past the golf course.
Nip to the promenade for a bite to eat and peruse the artisan markets. There are a number of markets that pop up on the seafront of Ballycastle Beach.
We adore some of the artisan markets that not only sell hand-crafted goods, but also serve and sell fantastic locally produced food. From fresh burgers (almost) straight from the farm, or finely baked cupcakes that (almost!) force you to take a box home, the markets have anything to tickle your fancy. For more information see the Naturally Causeway Coast and Glens website.
We love exploring the markets near the beach, and often see some of the amazing work of Conor Edgell, local landscape photographer who has expertly captured the beauty of the North Coast of Northern Ireland in his fine art prints. Check out his work here.
Or, simply enjoy the waves in your own time!
We’ve written here on a short guide to Ballycastle and the surrounding area.
Facilities at or close to Ballycastle Beach include:
- Disabled toilets;
- Car Parking;
- Disabled parking;
- Dogs can be walked on the beach (excluding June to Sep)
The beach is great, the waves are fantastic, and on a sunny day you can be sure that everyone is in high spirits, with families enjoying the get-together. We put our own children in wet suits for the shoulder season, but in summer the sea is warm enough for them. Ok, ‘warm’ is an over-statement, but on some hot days you can comfortably enjoy a dip in the sea and dry yourself off on the beach in the sun. Don’t forget your sun screen!
Fun Facts
Ballycastle Beach has been partly preserved as a coalfield with evidence of industrial action in the past. It also has igneous rocks which are 50 million years old within the rock faces. A large number of fossils have been excavated from Ballycastle Beach, including artefacts from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Conclusion
With its convenience to shops and cafes, be sure to set yourself up for the day and bring everything you need for family fun (such as toys, activities for kids to play, and wind shields/umbrellas!).
So if you haven’t been yet, grab your bodyboard, load up the kids, and take a day to yourselves at Ballycastle Beach. We promise you’ll be back again.
Check out our video, or take a look at the Causeway Coast and Glens website for more information.
Looking for more things to do in Ballycastle? Check out our Family Days page for more inspiration.
Want to know more about our family self-catering accommodation in Ballycastle? Just contact us for more information, or book now to secure your dates.