A free coastal country park on the North Down coast — two sandy beaches, a wooded glen with a waterfall and a towering old railway viaduct, with grand views right out over Belfast Lough.
What you'll see and do — Helen's Bay and Swinley Bay beaches, the glen walk to the waterfall, the towering old railway viaduct above the glen, the North Down Coastal Path running through, a playpark for the kids, and a visitor centre and café. Grand views over the lough the whole way along the coast.
How long — allow a half day for a beach and a wander, an easy full day if you walk the glen and stretch out along the coastal path.
Getting in — free to walk in; if you drive there's pay-and-display parking (confirm the current charge on the day). No booking for a normal visit — you just arrive.
Bring — swim stuff and towels in summer for the beaches; sturdy shoes for the glen, which has steps and a few slopes; a coat whatever the sky's doing.
Food — a café at the visitor centre (seasonal hours — confirm before you rely on it), and lovely grassy spots for a picnic above the beaches.
Dogs — welcome around the park; seasonal restrictions can apply on the beaches in summer, so check the current rules.
The glen has steps and hills. The beaches and much of the coastal path are the buggy-friendlier bits; the glen walk down to the waterfall is steeper going with steps.
Check seasonal dog rules and café hours. Dog access on the beaches can be restricted in summer, and the café keeps seasonal hours — confirm both before you set your heart on them.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — the park is free.
The park is free to walk into, and there's no booking for a normal visit — you just arrive. If you're driving, parking is pay-and-display (confirm the current charge on the day). The park is open daily, roughly dawn to dusk, so the hours stretch long in summer and shorten in winter. The visitor centre and café keep seasonal hours, so check ahead if you're counting on a hot lunch or a coffee.
Café at the visitor centreToilets on siteCoastal path & beachesPlaypark & picnic spotsDogs welcome (check beach rules)
Two to remember:
The beaches and much of the coastal path are the buggy-friendlier bits — the glen walk to the waterfall has steps and slopes, so it's harder going with a pram. And dog access on the beaches can be restricted in summer while the café keeps seasonal hours, so confirm both on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🥾Sturdy shoes for the glenThe glen walk to the waterfall has steps and slopes and can be muddy after rain — grippy shoes for the little ones.
🩱Swim stuff in summerHelen's Bay and Swinley Bay are proper sandy beaches — bring towels, buckets and swim things when the sun's out.
🧺A picnicThere are grassy spots and benches above the beaches; the café keeps seasonal hours, so a picnic means lunch is never in doubt.
🧥A coat, whatever the sky's doingIt's a coastal spot with sea breezes and shelter under the glen's trees — a light coat means the weather is never a reason to stay in.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to walk into. Parking is pay-and-display — confirm the current charge on the day. There's no separate entry fee for the beaches, the glen or the coastal path.
Hours
The park is open daily, roughly dawn to dusk — long summer evenings, earlier in winter. The visitor centre and café keep seasonal hours, so check current times before you go.
What you'll see
Helen's Bay and Swinley Bay sandy beaches, the wooded glen walk to the waterfall, the towering old railway viaduct above the glen, the North Down Coastal Path running through the park, a playpark, and grand views over Belfast Lough.
The beaches
Two sandy beaches — Helen's Bay and Swinley Bay — both within the park and reachable by short walks down from the car parks and grassy slopes above the shore.
The glen & waterfall
A wooded glen runs inland from the coast, with a path down to a waterfall and the old railway viaduct crossing high above. It's the steeper, stepped part of the park.
Coastal path
The North Down Coastal Path passes right through, linking the park along the shore towards Helen's Bay and beyond — level and buggy-friendlier in parts.
Food
A café at the visitor centre, keeping seasonal hours — confirm it's open before you rely on it. Otherwise bring a picnic; there are grassy spots above the beaches.
Toilets
Toilets on site at the park.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome around the park, but seasonal restrictions can apply on the beaches in summer — check the current rules before you bring the dog to the sand.
Accessibility
The beaches and much of the coastal path are the buggy- and wheelchair-friendlier parts, with level surfaced stretches. The glen walk to the waterfall has steps and slopes and is harder going.
How long
Allow a half day for a beach and a wander, or an easy full day if you take in the glen, the waterfall and a stretch of the coastal path.
Questions
Before you go
Is there a charge?
Walking into the park is free. If you drive, parking is pay-and-display — confirm the current charge on the day. There's no separate entry fee for the beaches, glen or coastal path.
Can I take a buggy or wheelchair round?
The beaches and much of the North Down Coastal Path are the buggy- and wheelchair-friendlier parts, with level surfaced stretches. The glen walk down to the waterfall has steps and slopes, so it's harder going with wheels.
Are the beaches good for swimming and paddling?
Yes — Helen's Bay and Swinley Bay are proper sandy beaches within the park, popular for paddling and a dip in summer. Bring swim stuff and towels when the sun's out.
What's the waterfall walk like?
The glen runs inland from the coast with a path down to a waterfall, and the old railway viaduct crosses high above. It's the steeper, stepped part of the park, so wear sturdy shoes — but it's a lovely wooded walk.
Is there food on site?
There's a café at the visitor centre, though it keeps seasonal hours — worth checking before you rely on it. Otherwise bring a picnic; there are grassy spots above the beaches.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes — dogs are welcome around the park. Seasonal restrictions can apply on the beaches in summer, so check the current rules before you head onto the sand.
Getting there
Crawfordsburn Country Park, Bridge Road South, Helen's Bay, County Down, BT19 1JL — on the North Down coast between Helen's Bay and Crawfordsburn. Pay-and-display parking on site.
Crawfordsburn grew out of the wooded glen and shoreline around the old Crawford estate on the North Down coast. The glen runs inland from the sea, and its waterfall and steep sides made it a picture-book spot long before it became a country park — the towering railway viaduct that strides across it, carrying the Belfast to Bangor line high above the trees, is thought to date to the mid-19th century, when the railway first reached this coast.
Today the whole stretch — the two sandy beaches at Helen's Bay and Swinley Bay, the glen, the waterfall and the coastal path — is looked after as one of Northern Ireland's country parks, said to be among the most popular on the North Down coast. The North Down Coastal Path threads straight through it, so the beaches, the woods and the big views over Belfast Lough all belong to anyone who comes to walk them.