A mile of golden sand on the east side of the Portrush peninsula, curving right below the famous Royal Portrush golf links — one of Northern Ireland's best surf beaches, with the town, the amusements and the ice cream all a step behind you.
What you'll do — surf and bodyboard the rolling Atlantic breaks, swim and paddle when it's warm, build sandcastles, then walk the whole strand east as it runs on into Whiterocks and its white chalk sea stacks, with Dunluce Castle on the clifftop beyond.
How long & who for — allow two to three hours for a good beach day, easily a full one if the surf's up. Brilliant for all ages — a wide, flat, buckets-and-spades beach with the town right alongside for a break.
Cost & parking — free to walk. There's a large pay-and-display car park by the promenade (fee applies, 8:30am–6:30pm, around 637 spaces) with disabled parking — check the board for the current rate.
Facilities & food — toilets, disabled toilets, outdoor cold showers and concrete access ramps at both ends of the promenade. The town of Portrush is right there for coffee shops, chippies, restaurants and Barry's amusements.
Bring the lot — swim or surf gear, a wetsuit for the water, a windproof coat, and a picnic if you like — though the town's cafés are a two-minute walk.
Lifeguards in summer only. RNLI lifeguards patrol July and August, 10am–6pm daily. Outside those months there's no cover — swim between the red-and-yellow flags when they're up, and mind the tide, the currents and the surf at all times.
It's a real surf beach. The waves that make it great for surfing also mean rips and shore dumps — keep a close eye on children in the water, and don't swim out of your depth.
Dog rules in summer. Dogs are welcome but seasonal restrictions apply 1 June to 15 September — check the beach signs before you let them off.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free to walk.
The beach is open and free to enjoy all year in daylight — no booking, no ticket. The only cost is parking: there's a large pay-and-display car park by the promenade, with a fee applying from 8:30am to 6:30pm daily and around 637 spaces, including disabled parking. It's a managed Causeway Coast & Glens beach with toilets, cold outdoor showers and ramps down to the sand — and the whole town of Portrush is right at your back for food and a break. Check the parking rate on the board on the day.
Surfing, swimming & bodyboardingToilets & disabled toiletsPay-and-display car parkRamps, showers & town alongside
In the water?
RNLI lifeguards patrol July and August only, 10am–6pm. Swim between the red-and-yellow flags when they're up, and take real care with the surf, rips and tide at all other times — especially with children.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🏄Surf or swim gear & a wetsuitThe Atlantic is bracing all year — a wetsuit makes the water far more fun for surfing, bodyboarding or a dip.
🧥A windproof coatIt's an open north-coast beach — a fresh, bracing walk in any weather, gorgeous when the sun's out. Layer up and enjoy it.
🪣Buckets, spades & a towelWide flat sand made for castles and a paddle — pack a towel for after the water.
💧Water & a hatBring water and a sun hat for a bright day. The town's cafés are a two-minute walk if you'd rather grab a coffee.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to walk and enjoy. The only charge is the pay-and-display car park by the promenade — a fee applies 8:30am to 6:30pm daily, with around 637 spaces including disabled parking. Confirm the current rate on the board on the day.
Opening
Open all year in daylight hours — you can walk the beach any time. Facilities such as toilets can be seasonal, so plan ahead outside the summer.
Surf & swimming
One of Northern Ireland's favourite surf beaches, with rolling Atlantic breaks — popular for surfing, bodyboarding and swimming. RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August only (10am–6pm daily); take great care with rips, tide and surf outside those times.
Lifeguard
Seasonal RNLI Beach Lifeguards, July and August, 10am–6pm daily. Always swim between the red-and-yellow flags when they are flying.
Blue Flag
East Strand has frequently held the Blue Flag Award — a mark of good water quality and beach management. Blue Flag status is reviewed each year, so check the current year's flags on arrival.
Toilets & showers
Toilets, disabled toilets and outdoor cold showers on the promenade, with concrete access ramps down to the sand at both ends.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome, but seasonal restrictions apply from 1 June to 15 September. Check the beach signs, and keep dogs under control near other beach-goers and wildlife.
Accessibility
Concrete access ramps at both ends of the promenade, disabled parking and disabled toilets. Specialist beach access equipment can be pre-booked through the council — soft sand is still hard going for standard wheels.
Food
The town of Portrush is right alongside — coffee shops, chippies, ice cream and restaurants a short walk from the sand, plus Barry's amusements nearby.
How long
Allow two to three hours for a good beach day, easily a full day if the surf's up or you walk the strand on to Whiterocks and back.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
The beach itself is free to walk and enjoy, any day of the year. The only charge is the pay-and-display car park by the promenade — a fee applies 8:30am to 6:30pm. Check the current rate on the board.
Are there lifeguards?
RNLI lifeguards patrol East Strand in July and August only, 10am–6pm daily. Outside those months there's no cover, so take real care with the surf, rips and tide — and always swim between the red-and-yellow flags when they're up.
Can I surf here?
Yes — East Strand is one of the north coast's best-known surf beaches, with consistent Atlantic waves for surfing and bodyboarding. Come with a wetsuit, know your limits, and check conditions before you paddle out.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes, dogs are welcome, but seasonal restrictions apply from 1 June to 15 September. Check the signs at the beach, and keep dogs under control near other visitors.
Is there parking and toilets?
There's a large pay-and-display car park by the promenade (around 637 spaces, including disabled parking), plus toilets, disabled toilets, outdoor cold showers and access ramps. The town of Portrush is right alongside for food.
What's at the far end of the beach?
Walk east and East Strand runs on into Curran Strand and Whiterocks, with striking white chalk sea stacks and Dunluce Castle on the clifftop beyond — a lovely long beach walk when the tide allows.
Getting there
East Strand, Portrush, Co. Antrim — on the east side of the Portrush peninsula, below the Royal Portrush golf links, with the promenade car park right by the beach and the town alongside.
East Strand is the long sweep of sand on the seaward side of the Portrush peninsula, and it comes with famous neighbours. It runs directly below the Royal Portrush golf links — the course that hosted The Open — so the dunes above the beach have watched some of the biggest days in golf. Down on the sand, though, it's all buckets, boards and breaking waves.
Surfers have long made this one of the north coast's go-to beaches: the Atlantic lines up cleanly here, and on the right day the whole strand is dotted with wetsuits. Keep walking east and the beach hands you its second act — the sand gives way to Whiterocks, a wall of white chalk carved into stacks and arches by the sea, with Dunluce Castle standing on the clifftop beyond. A surf, a swim and a castle walk, all off one strand — with the town, the chips and the ice cream never more than a few steps behind you.