Seven miles of golden Blue Flag sand under the Binevenagh cliffs near Limavady — and one of the few beaches where you can drive right onto the sand and park up beside your spot for the day. Free, wide open, and made for it.
What you'll do — drive on and claim your patch of firm sand, then swim, paddle, walk for miles, dig in, fly a kite, or watch the watersports crowd. Benone is a hotspot for kitesurfing, windsurfing and land-yachting, and it's popular for horse riding too. The Binevenagh cliffs and Mussenden Temple stand over the whole sweep.
How long & who for — allow two to four hours, easily a full day when the sun's out. Brilliant for all ages — the sand is clean and firm with no rocks or shingle, so it's proper buckets-and-spades territory.
Cost & parking — free, with free car parking at the entrance and out on the sand itself. Northern Ireland's first fully inclusive beach, with specialist beach-access equipment available (pre-book through the Mae Murray Foundation).
Nearby fun — the Benone Tourist Complex sits right by the beach with tennis, crazy golf, a putting green and outdoor heated splash pools open weekends in June and daily in July and August.
Bring the lot — swimsuits and towels, warm layers for the sea breeze, buckets and spades, and a picnic. There's a coffee shop at the entrance, but come stocked for a beach day.
Swim between the flags — lifeguards are summer only. RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August, 10am–6pm daily. Outside those months there's no lifeguard, so take care with the tide and the kids. The beach is zoned — swimming, jet-skis and dogs each have their own areas, so follow the signs.
Drive on the sand with care. It's firm, but keep to the marked routes, watch the tide, and don't get caught out on soft or wet sand. Dog access is restricted in the main season — 1 June to 15 September — so check the on-beach dog zone before you let them off.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free, parking too.
Benone is open and free to enjoy any day of the year — no booking, no ticket. There's free car parking at the entrance, and you can drive out and park right on the sand, which is what makes it such an easy family beach: unload the car a few steps from where you'll sit. The strand is clean, firm and rock-free, so it's great for little ones. In summer it's a proper resort beach — RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August, and the beach is zoned so swimmers, jet-skis and dogs each keep to their own areas. There's a coffee shop in The Ark at the entrance, but bring what you need for the day.
Drive-on & on-beach parkingRNLI lifeguards (Jul–Aug)Accessible toilets & parkingCoffee shop at the entrance
Swim safe:
Lifeguards patrol July and August only — swim between the red-and-yellow flags and check the day's conditions. Mind the tide when driving or parking on the sand, and follow the beach zoning for swimmers, jet-skis and dogs.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🩱Swimsuits & towelsClean firm sand and a Blue Flag beach — grand for a swim or a paddle. Swim between the flags in summer.
🧥Warm layersIt's a big open north-coast beach — bracing and gorgeous. Wind is why the watersports crowd love it, so pack a coat.
🪣Buckets, spades & a kiteMiles of flat sand to dig, build and fly a kite. Room for everyone.
🧺A picnic & waterThere's a coffee shop at the entrance, but pack your own for a full day on the sand.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free. Free car parking at the entrance, and you can drive onto and park on the sand at no charge.
Opening
Open all year in daylight hours — turn up any time. Lifeguard cover and the seasonal Tourist Complex facilities run in the summer months.
What you'll do
Swim, paddle, walk the seven-mile strand, sunbathe, fly kites, and watch or join the watersports — kitesurfing, windsurfing and land-yachting are big here. Horse riding and fishing too. Views to the Binevenagh cliffs, Mussenden Temple and across to Donegal.
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August, 10am–6pm daily. Swim between the red-and-yellow flags. No lifeguard outside those months.
Driving on the beach
You can drive onto and park on the firm sand. Keep to the marked routes, mind the tide, and avoid soft or wet sand.
Toilets
Toilets on site, including accessible toilets, with accessible parking. Confirm seasonal opening on the day.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome but restricted in the main season, 1 June to 15 September, with a dedicated dog zone on the beach — check the signs. Outside that window there's more freedom.
Accessibility
Northern Ireland's first fully inclusive beach. Specialist beach-access equipment is available for visitors with limited mobility — pre-book through the Mae Murray Foundation ([email protected]). Accessible parking and toilets on site.
Nearby facilities
The Benone Tourist Complex sits by the beach with tennis, crazy golf, a putting green, a 9-hole golf course and outdoor heated splash pools (weekends in June, daily July and August). A coffee shop is at the beach entrance.
How long
Allow two to four hours for a good beach session — easily a full day with the kids, a swim and the Tourist Complex next door.
Questions
Before you go
Can you really drive on the beach?
Yes — Benone is one of the beaches where you can drive onto the firm sand and park up beside your spot. Keep to the marked routes, mind the tide, and steer clear of soft or wet sand.
Is it free?
Yes — the beach is free and so is the parking, both at the entrance and out on the sand.
Are there lifeguards?
RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August, 10am–6pm daily. Swim between the red-and-yellow flags. Outside those months there's no lifeguard, so take extra care.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes, but dog access is restricted in the main season, 1 June to 15 September, with a dedicated dog zone on the beach — check the signs. There's more freedom outside that window.
Is it good for wheelchairs and limited mobility?
Benone is Northern Ireland's first fully inclusive beach. Specialist beach-access equipment is available to pre-book through the Mae Murray Foundation, and there's accessible parking and toilets on site.
What's there for the kids besides the beach?
The Benone Tourist Complex right by the beach has tennis, crazy golf, a putting green and outdoor heated splash pools — open weekends in June and daily in July and August.
Getting there
Benone Strand, 53 Benone Avenue, Limavady BT49 0LQ — on the A2 Seacoast Road below Binevenagh, between Downhill and Magilligan Point, with free parking at the entrance and out on the sand.
Benone is the kind of beach that makes you understand why people drive out of their way for the coast. Seven miles of firm, clean sand run below the great green cliffs of Binevenagh, with Mussenden Temple perched on the headland and the Donegal hills sitting across the water. It's part of the sweep that runs on into Downhill and out to Magilligan Point, and it's earned its Blue Flag more than once — clean water, good facilities and a beach that's looked after.
What sets it apart is how easy it is to enjoy. You can drive straight onto the sand and set up beside the car, the ground is flat and rock-free for the kids, and in 2017 it became Northern Ireland's first fully inclusive beach so more people can get right down to the water. Add the summer lifeguards, the watersports crowd chasing the wind, and the Tourist Complex next door, and you've got a proper day-out beach — big enough that there's always room to find your own patch.