A small, sheltered sandy beach at the pretty National Trust village of Cushendun, where the Glendun river meets the sea in the Glens of Antrim — with the famous Cushendun Caves a short walk along the shore.
What you'll do — potter along a quiet sandy beach, paddle in the shallows on a calm day, walk round to the red sea caves next door, wander the Cornish-style village that architect Clough Williams-Ellis designed, and take in the river mouth and the green Glens hills all around.
How long & who for — an easy one to two hours for the beach and a stroll round the village, longer if you add the caves and a bite to eat. Lovely for all ages — a gentle, scenic family stop rather than a big day-long beach.
Cost & parking — free. There are two free car parks in the village — the Main Street one and the National Trust car park — but spaces are limited, so arrive early on a sunny day.
Food & toilets in the village — public toilets are at the National Trust car park, and the village has a tea room and Mary McBride's pub a couple of minutes' walk away.
Bring the lot — comfy shoes, a coat for the sea breeze, and a bucket and spade. There's a hat, water and shade for a sunny day.
Dogs welcome — well-behaved dogs are welcome on the beach all year; keep them under control near the wildlife and other visitors.
No lifeguard. It's an unpatrolled open beach — safe and shallow for a paddle on a calm day, but mind the tide and any currents, and keep a close eye on the kids.
The caves cut off at high tide. If you're walking round to the Cushendun Caves along the shore, check the tide first — the way in can be covered at high water.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free.
The beach and village are open and free to visit any day of the year — no booking, no ticket. There are two free car parks in the village: one on Main Street and the National Trust car park, with the beach, the village and the caves all within a short, mostly flat walk. Spaces are limited, so on a fine day come early. Public toilets are at the National Trust car park, and the village has a tea room and a pub for a bite before or after.
Sandy beach at the river mouthPublic toilets in the car parkTwo free village car parksTea room & pub in the village
Two safety notes:
There's no lifeguard on the beach, so take care paddling and swimming — mind the tide and the kids. And if you walk round to the Cushendun Caves, check the tide first, as the shore route can be cut off at high water.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Comfy shoesSoft sand on the beach and a short walk to the caves — footwear you don't mind getting sandy.
🧥A coat for the breezeIt's a coast — fresh and bracing in any weather, gorgeous when the sun's out. Layer up and enjoy it.
🪣Buckets, spades & a towelA proper little sandy beach for building and a paddle on a calm, warm day.
👒A hat & water for sunshineOn a bright day bring water and a hat, and grab the shade — then make the most of the sunshine.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free. The beach and village are open to all, and the two village car parks are free to use.
Opening
Open all year in daylight hours — you can visit the beach and village any time. Car park spaces are limited, so arrive early on a busy day.
What you'll see
A quiet sandy beach at the mouth of the Glendun river, the whitewashed Cornish-style village designed by architect Clough Williams-Ellis, the red sea caves along the shore, seabirds, and the green hills of the Glens of Antrim all around.
Toilets
Public toilets, including accessible facilities, are at the National Trust car park in the village.
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the beach all year — keep them under control near wildlife and other visitors.
Lifeguard
No — the beach is not patrolled by lifeguards. It's safe and shallow for paddling on a calm day, but always mind the tide, any currents and the children.
The caves & tide
The Cushendun Caves are a short walk along the shore. Check the tide before you set off, as the way in can be covered at high water.
Food
The village has a tea room and Mary McBride's pub within a couple of minutes' walk. Otherwise bring a picnic for the beach.
How long
Allow one to two hours for the beach and a wander round the village — longer if you add the caves and a stop to eat.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — the beach and village are free to visit any day of the year, and both village car parks are free too. Spaces are limited, so arrive early on a fine day.
Do I need to book?
No — just turn up. There's no ticket or booking for the beach or the village.
Is there a lifeguard?
No, the beach is not patrolled. It's safe and shallow for a paddle on a calm day, but there's no lifeguard, so mind the tide and any currents and keep a close eye on the kids.
Can I walk to the Cushendun Caves?
Yes — the red sea caves are a short walk along the shore from the beach. Check the tide first, though, as the way in can be cut off at high water. See our Cushendun Caves guide for more.
Are there toilets and somewhere to eat?
Public toilets are at the National Trust car park, and the village has a tea room and Mary McBride's pub a couple of minutes' walk away.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes — well-behaved dogs are welcome on the beach all year. Keep them under control near wildlife and other visitors.
Getting there
Cushendun, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT44 0PH — on the Causeway Coastal Route in the Glens of Antrim. Park free in the village (Main Street or the National Trust car park); the beach is a couple of minutes' walk, with the caves a little further along the shore.
Cushendun looks a little unlike anywhere else on the Antrim coast, and that's on purpose. In the 1910s and 1920s the whitewashed, slate-roofed cottages were built to a Cornish design by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis — the same man behind Portmeirion in Wales — for Ronald McNeill, Lord Cushendun. The village that gathered at the mouth of the Glendun river has been cared for by the National Trust ever since, and the whole place is a conservation village.
The beach is the calm, everyday heart of it: a small sweep of sand where the river runs out to the sea, backed by those green Glens hills. Round the headland the shore turns to the red sandstone sea caves that have drawn visitors for years and later turned up on screen. Come for a paddle and a wander, add the caves if the tide's kind, and finish with a cup of tea in the village.