The popular, 1.2km Ballycastle Beach is a fine spot for a stroll or a swim.
Especially if you’re looking to round off a day spent tackling the many things to do in Ballycastle!
Grab a coffee from Shorebird Coffee Hut (or fish and chips from Morton’s), flick off your shoes, and saunter along the sand while soaking up views of Rathlin and Fair Head – magic!
Visiting Ballycastle Beach
Although a visit to the beach in Ballycastle is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
Ballycastle Beach stretches for 1.2km along the Causeway Coast in front of Ballycastle town in County Antrim. The beach runs from the pier at the Marina to Pans Rock in the east.
2. Parking
There is decent parking right along the beachfront, although you should definitely expect it to be quite busy on a warm day. On weekends, it’s best to arrive at the beach early to get a good spot.
3. Swimming and safety
Ballycastle Beach is a popular spot for a swim. There are no restrictions on swimming here at the time of typing, however, we always recommend checking locally, as conditions can change quickly at any beach.
4. Facilities
Being a popular summer destination there are plenty of facilities to cater for visitors. You’ll find car parking along the beach, a seasonal lifeguard service (Jul – Aug), and a visitor information centre. The beach is also wheelchair accessible and there are disabled toilets and parking available as well.
About Ballycastle Beach
Ballycastle Beach is a popular stop-off point on the Causeway Coastal Route. On a warm day, the 1.2km stretch of sand can be quite busy as people, walk, swim, surf, fish and paddle around.
Geology of the beach
The eastern end of Ballycastle Beach is part of Ballycastle Coalfields, which is the best exposure of coalfield sequence in Ireland.
The coal and iron ores were mined around here between the 16th and 19th centuries and evidence of this remains today.
There have been many fossils found in the area including shellfish, giant clubmosses and arthropod insects.
Fishing at Ballycastle
Fishing is a very popular activity at Ballycastle. Rock fishing is common, as is off the pier or you can head out on fishing charters from the marina too.
You’ve got the chance to catch pollock, bream, cod and whiting, plus more
Things to do at and around Ballycastle Beach
Photos via Shutterstock
There’s plenty of things to do in and around Ballycastle Beach, if you fancy spending a couple of hours here.
1. Grab a coffee from Shorebird Coffee Hut
Before you head down to the beach, you might want to grab yourself a caffeine hit. The Shorebird Coffee Hut on Mary Street on the western end of the beach is the perfect spot to grab a coffee.
The lovely little spot offers beautiful views across the beach and over to Rathlin Island, so you can enjoy breakfast with a view. There’s also plenty of restaurants in Ballycastle if you’re hungry!
2. And then soak up the views
The long stretch of sand at Ballycastle Beach is a beautiful way to soak up the coastal views. The green of the Ballycastle Golf Course backs behind the beach and you can look out across to Rathlin Island in the distance.
At the western end, you can look onto the marina and watch the ferries head off to the island, or to the east you can admire views of the rugged coastal headland. It’s definitely a serene place to be!
3. Head for a paddle or a ramble
The relatively calm waters of Ballycastle Beach offer the perfect opportunity for a range of activities. If you’re a water person, you can head in for a swim or canoe (always use caution when entering the water).
Otherwise, if you prefer to stay on dry land, then you can easily wander along the length of the beach for your morning stroll. Dogs are allowed as well, although there are some restrictions in summer so it’s best to keep them on a leash.
Things to do nearby
One of the beauties of the beach in Ballycastle is that it’s a short spin away from some of the best things to do in Antrim.
Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the beach (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).
- Kinbane Castle: Just outside of Ballycastle town to the north, you’ll find Kinbane Castle on a spectacular narrow limestone promontory
- The cliffs at Fair Head: Northern Ireland’s tallest cliffs at Fair Head rise 600 feet above the sea
- Take a ferry to Rathlin Island: You’ll be able to spot Rathlin Island just across the sea from Ballycastle Beach, so it’s worth taking the ferry over to the only inhabited island in Northern Ireland
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.