A sheltered sandy strand at Coney Island, a working fishing harbour full of trawlers and yachts, and a huddle of medieval castles all in one small village — Ardglass packs the whole Lecale coast into a single afternoon. Free to explore, open all year.
What you'll do — laze on the sheltered sandy beach at Coney Island just south of the village, watch the trawlers and yachts come and go at the harbour and marina, wander a village with a rare cluster of medieval tower houses, and walk the clifftop links with the sea on one side and the Mournes across the water.
How long & who for — allow two to three hours to do the beach, the harbour and a village wander, easily longer on a sunny day. Great for all ages — a proper little seaside adventure.
Cost & parking — free to visit. There's parking and public toilets in the village; facilities right at Coney Island beach itself are limited, so plan around the village.
Bring the lot — walking shoes or wellies, a coat for the sea breeze, and a picnic. Swim and beach gear in summer. There are shops and food in the village, but pack water and snacks for the beach.
No lifeguard. Coney Island is an open, unpatrolled beach with rock pools and a working harbour close by — mind the tide, and keep a close eye on children near the water and the pier edges.
Check the castles before you go. The tower houses are mostly private or in other use — Jordan's Castle by the harbour is a state-care monument, but interior access can be limited or by arrangement, so don't count on going inside.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free.
Ardglass is a village on the sea, so there's no ticket and no booking — you can walk the harbour, the marina front and Coney Island beach any day of the year. There's parking and public toilets in the village; the beach at Coney Island itself is a small, sheltered strand a short way south of the harbour, with limited facilities of its own, so treat the village as your base. It's an open, unpatrolled beach with a busy working harbour nearby, so keep an eye on the tide and the little ones. If you fancy a bigger managed sandy beach with more facilities, Tyrella and Ballyhornan are both a short drive off.
Sheltered sandy beach at Coney IslandWorking harbour & marinaToilets & parking in the villageMedieval tower houses to spot
Good to know:
Coney Island beach has no lifeguard and limited facilities right on the sand — use the village for toilets, parking and food. Dog rules can be seasonal on beaches near here, so check the council signage on the day. Confirm anything you're relying on before you travel.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🥾Sturdy shoes or welliesSand, rock pools, harbour walls and clifftop paths — comfy footwear you don't mind getting sandy.
🧥A coat for the breezeIt's an open coast — a fresh, bracing walk in any weather, gorgeous when the sun's out. Layer up and enjoy it.
🧺A picnic & waterThere are shops and food in the village, but pack water and snacks for a spell on the beach.
🪣Buckets, spades & a towelConey Island is a sheltered sandy strand with rock pools — made for a paddle on a warm day.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free — the beach, harbour front and village are open to wander with no ticket or booking. There's public parking in the village.
Opening
Open all year in daylight hours; visit any time. The harbour and marina are working sites, so keep clear of any operational or restricted areas.
What you'll see
A sheltered sandy beach and rock pools at Coney Island, a busy fishing harbour and marina full of boats, a village with a rare cluster of medieval tower houses (Jordan's, King's and Ardglass castles among them), and a clifftop links golf course with Mourne Mountains views across the water.
Toilets
Public toilets and shops are in Ardglass village. There are limited facilities right at Coney Island beach itself, so plan to use the village.
Lifeguard
No lifeguard cover. Coney Island is an open, unpatrolled beach with a working harbour close by — mind the tide and supervise children near the water and pier edges. The RNLI's lifeguarded beaches in this area are Tyrella and Murlough.
Dogs
Dogs are a common sight along this coast, but seasonal restrictions can apply on beaches near here — check the current council signage on the day and keep dogs under control near the harbour and wildlife.
Accessibility
Honest steer: the beach is soft sand and rock, and the harbour and clifftop paths are uneven, so it's not ideal for wheels. You can still enjoy the harbour front and marina views from the village.
Food
There are shops and places to eat in the village. Bring a picnic for the beach, or head into nearby Downpatrick for more choice after.
How long
Allow two to three hours for the beach, the harbour and a village wander — easily longer if the sun's out and you add a stretch of the coastal path.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — the beach, the harbour front and the village are all free to explore, any day of the year. There's parking in the village and no booking needed.
Is there a lifeguard on the beach?
No. Coney Island is an open, unpatrolled beach, and there's a working harbour close by, so take care with the tide and keep a close eye on children. If you want a lifeguarded beach, Tyrella and Murlough are the RNLI-patrolled ones in this area.
Can I go inside the castles?
Ardglass is known for a rare cluster of medieval tower houses, but most are private or in other use. Jordan's Castle by the harbour is a state-care historic monument — but interior access can be limited or by arrangement, so check before you rely on going inside. You can still enjoy them from the outside as you wander.
Can I bring the dog?
Dogs are a common sight along this coast, but seasonal restrictions can apply on beaches nearby, so check the council signage on the day and keep them under control around the harbour and wildlife.
Are there toilets and food?
Yes — there are public toilets and shops in Ardglass village, plus places to eat. Facilities right at Coney Island beach itself are limited, so use the village as your base and bring water and snacks for the sand.
What else is there to do?
Plenty for a small village: watch the trawlers and yachts at the harbour and marina, spot the medieval tower houses, walk the clifftop links coast, or pick up the coastal path toward Killough. Downpatrick and Strangford are a short drive for more.
Getting there
Ardglass, Co. Down — a fishing village on the Lecale coast, about 6 miles south-east of Downpatrick. Coney Island beach is a short way south of the village and harbour; use the village car park and toilets as your base.
Ardglass was a busy medieval port, and it wears that history in stone. The tourism board describes it as having more medieval tower houses than any other town in Ireland — a total of four survive — so a wander round the village turns up castle after castle: Jordan's Castle standing tall by the harbour, King's Castle up on the hill, and Ardglass Castle now serving as the golf clubhouse, with the small Cowd Castle beside it. On the hill above sits Isabella's Tower, a 19th-century folly rather than a medieval keep, but part of the skyline all the same.
Down at the water it's a working harbour still. Ardglass is home to one of Northern Ireland's larger fishing fleets, and the marina at Phennick Cove is a stop-off for yachts running the coast between Carlingford and Bangor. That mix is the charm of the place: a sheltered sandy beach at Coney Island for the children, boats and seabirds to watch at the pier, castles to spot as you go, and the links running out along the cliffs with the Mourne Mountains standing across the sea.