A long, easy sweep of sand backed by a seafront promenade at Bangor — made for a beach walk, a paddle and a proper play, with a friendly yacht club and dinghies out on the bay. Free, and minutes from the town centre.
What you'll do — stroll the promenade end to end, walk the open sand at low tide, paddle at the water's edge, and watch the sailing dinghies and paddleboards out on the bay. Play areas at both ends keep little ones busy, and there's the green and the yacht club to round out the day.
How long & who for — allow two to three hours for a good wander and a play, easily a full afternoon on a sunny day. Great for all ages — buckets-and-spades weather.
Cost & parking — free to visit, no ticket. There's a car park by the seafront (open 5am–11pm) plus on-street parking along Seacliffe Road; it fills fast on a hot day, so come early.
Bring the lot — comfy shoes for the prom, buckets and spades, a windbreak and a picnic. A hat, water and some shade if it's sunny. Swim gear in summer if you fancy the water.
Food & toilets — public toilets (including accessible) at both ends of the beach. No café right on the sand, but Ballyholme village and Bangor seafront are a short stroll for a bite.
No lifeguard. It's an open beach with no lifeguard service — so mind the tide, keep an eye on the kids, and take care paddling and swimming.
Dogs — summer rules. Welcome all year, but from 1 June to 31 August, 11am–8pm dogs must be on a lead on the beach; on the promenade they're on a lead at all times. Outside those hours they can run free on the sand. Scoop the poop.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free.
Ballyholme is an open public beach, so there's no ticket and no booking — turn up any day and walk it. There's a seafront car park (open 5am–11pm) and on-street parking along Seacliffe Road towards Ballyholme; it's a popular local spot, so it fills quickly on a warm day — come early to be safe. Public toilets, including accessible ones, sit at both the eastern and western ends, and there are children's play areas at each end too. Water quality here is rated good, but note there's no lifeguard on duty.
Sandy beach & seafront promenadeToilets both ends (incl. accessible)Seafront car park & on-streetPlay areas · yacht club · watersports
Good to know:
There's no lifeguard, so take care with the tide and with paddling and swimming. In summer (1 June–31 August, 11am–8pm) dogs must be on leads on the beach; on the promenade they're on leads at all times. Confirm parking, tide times and any beach notices on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Comfy shoes for the promThe promenade is flat and easy; add sandals or wellies for the sand and the water's edge.
🧥A layer for the sea breezeIt's a bay, so a fresh coastal wind is part of the charm — grand when the sun's out. Bring a windbreak too.
🧺A picnic & waterNo café right on the sand — pack your own, or nip to Ballyholme village or Bangor seafront for a bite.
🪣Buckets, spades & a towelIt's a proper sandy beach with plenty of room to build and paddle on a warm day.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free — it's an open public beach, no ticket and no booking. You may pay for parking depending on where you leave the car; check the signs on the day.
Opening
Open all year in daylight hours; walk it any time. The seafront car park opens at 5am and closes at 11pm.
What you'll see
A long, sandy bay — roughly 1.3km of beach — backed by a seawall and promenade, with timber groynes on the sand, rocky shores at each end, sailing dinghies and watersports on the bay, and the Ballyholme Yacht Club at the eastern end.
Toilets
Public toilets, including accessible toilets, at both the eastern and western ends of the beach.
Lifeguard
No lifeguard service operates at this beach. Take care with the tide, and supervise children closely near the water. Water quality is rated good.
Dogs
Dogs welcome. A seasonal control order applies 1 June–31 August, 11am–8pm, when dogs must be kept on a lead on the beach; on Ballyholme promenade dogs must be on a lead at all times. Outside those summer hours dogs can be off-lead on the beach. Clean up after your dog.
Accessibility
The seafront promenade is flat, paved and easy to stroll, with accessible parking and accessible toilets. The sand itself is soft going for wheels, but the prom gives an easy level route right along the bay.
Prams
The promenade is pram-friendly and flat. Soft sand is harder work, so keep the buggy up on the prom and carry little ones down to the beach.
Food
No café directly on the sand. Ballyholme village shops and cafés are a short walk back from the beach, and Bangor's seafront and town centre are close for more choice.
How long
Allow two to three hours for a walk, a paddle and a play — easily a full afternoon if the sun's out and the kids get into the sand.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — Ballyholme is a free, open public beach, any day of the year. There's no ticket and no booking; you may just pay for parking depending on where you leave the car.
Do I need to book?
No — just turn up and walk. There's no ticket or booking for the beach.
Is there a lifeguard?
No — there's no lifeguard service at Ballyholme. Take care with the tide, and keep a close eye on children near the water. The water quality is rated good.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes, dogs are welcome. In summer (1 June–31 August, 11am–8pm) they must be on a lead on the beach, and on the promenade they're on a lead at all times. Outside those summer hours dogs can run free on the sand. Please scoop the poop.
Where do I park?
There's a seafront car park (open 5am–11pm) plus on-street parking along Seacliffe Road towards Ballyholme. It's a popular local beach, so it fills up on a warm day — come early.
Are there toilets and somewhere to eat?
There are public toilets, including accessible ones, at both ends of the beach. There's no café right on the sand, but Ballyholme village and Bangor seafront are a short stroll for a bite.
Can we go sailing or paddleboarding?
Ballyholme Bay is a well-loved spot for sailing and watersports, and the Ballyholme Yacht Club sits at the eastern end. Even if you're just watching, the dinghies out on the bay are half the fun.
Getting there
Ballyholme Beach, Bangor, County Down BT20 5EG — on the eastern side of Bangor, a short drive or walk from the town centre, with the seafront car park and on-street parking along Seacliffe Road.
Ballyholme is the beach the town grew up around. Just east of Bangor's centre, this broad, gently curving bay has been the local seaside spot for generations — a place families come to walk the prom, launch a boat, or just sit and watch the water. The seawall and promenade give it that easy, low-key seaside feel: sand on one side, the row of seafront terraces on the other.
The bay's real character is the sailing. Ballyholme Yacht Club sits at the eastern end, and on a bright day the water fills with dinghies and paddleboards catching the wind. Between the sand, the boats, the play areas and the walk out towards Ballymacormick Point, it's the kind of place you come for an hour and end up staying the afternoon. Bring the buckets and make a day of it.