A pebble beach curving out from a pretty limestone harbour, sailing boats bobbing in the marina, and the green Glens rising behind — Glenarm sits at the foot of the first of the nine Glens of Antrim. Free to visit, open all year.
What you'll do — stroll the beach and the harbour front, watch the yachts come and go from the Blue Flag marina, wander the old conservation village, and follow the coast and Glens walks. Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden is right on the doorstep.
How long & who for — allow two to three hours to enjoy the beach, harbour and a bite in the village, easily a half-day with the castle. Lovely for all ages — an easy, gentle spot.
Cost & parking — the beach and village are free, with parking beside the beach. Nearby, Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden charges admission — see our Glenarm Castle guide for prices and opening.
Bring for the day — comfy shoes, a coat for the sea breeze, a hat and water for a sunny day, and swim gear if you fancy a paddle. There are cafés and pubs in the village and public toilets, so you don't need to pack everything.
Food & facilities — cafés, pubs and shops in the village, public toilets, and the marina has toilets, showers and laundry for berth holders. A slipway too for boats and paddlers.
Mostly a pebble beach. This is a shingle and pebble beach, not a big sandy one — gorgeous for a stroll, a paddle and a picnic, but bring the right footwear.
No lifeguard. There's no lifeguard service here, so take care in the water — mind the tide and keep an eye on the kids, and don't swim in rough or unfamiliar conditions.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — the beach and village are free.
The beach, the harbour front and the village are open and free to enjoy any day of the year — no booking, no ticket. There's parking beside the beach, and the village has cafés, pubs, shops and public toilets, so it's an easy one to just show up to. The marina is a working, Blue Flag harbour run by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council; if you're arriving by boat you'll need to book a berth ahead. If you want to make a proper day of it, Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden is a short walk away and charges admission — check our Glenarm Castle guide for details.
Pebble beach & harbour frontPublic toilets in the villageParking beside the beachBlue Flag marina & slipwayCafés & pubs in the village
Good to know:
It's mostly a pebble and shingle beach rather than a big sandy one, and there's no lifeguard, so take care in the water and mind the tide. The marina toilets, showers and laundry are for berth holders — for everyone else there are public toilets in the village. Confirm marina and castle details on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Comfy, sturdy shoesIt's pebbles and shingle underfoot with village pavements and coast paths — footwear you can walk in easily.
🧥A coat for the breezeIt's a coast at the foot of the Glens — fresh and bracing, and glorious when the sun's out. Layer up and enjoy it.
🧴Water & a hatOn a warm day pack water and a sun hat, and use the shade — then it's pure joy by the harbour.
🩴Swim gear for a paddleBring a towel and swim things if you fancy a dip — just remember there's no lifeguard, so take care.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to enjoy the beach, harbour front and village. Parking is beside the beach. Boat berths at the marina are booked and charged separately. Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden nearby charges admission.
Opening
The beach and village are open all year in daylight hours — visit any time. The marina is a working harbour; the castle and walled garden have their own seasonal opening, so check ahead.
What you'll see
A pebble and shingle beach curving roughly 300m from the harbour, a Blue Flag limestone marina with 50 pontoon berths, sailing boats, the historic conservation village, and the green Glens of Antrim hills and headlands all around.
Toilets
Public toilets in the village. The marina's toilets, showers and laundry are for berth holders.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome on Glenarm Beach. As ever, keep them under control, clean up after them, and be considerate of other visitors and wildlife.
Accessibility
Honest steer: the harbour front and village pavements are level and easy, but the beach itself is pebble and shingle, which is hard going for wheels. Parking is beside the beach.
Swimming
There's no lifeguard service here, so take extra care before entering the water — mind the tide, and don't swim in rough or unfamiliar conditions.
Food
Cafés, pubs and shops in Glenarm village, a short stroll from the beach.
How long
Allow two to three hours for the beach, harbour and a bite in the village — easily a half-day if you add Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — the beach, the harbour front and the village are free to enjoy any day of the year, with parking beside the beach. Only the marina berths and the nearby castle and walled garden are charged.
Is it sandy or pebbly?
It's mostly a pebble and shingle beach, stretching about 300m from the harbour — lovely for a stroll, a paddle and a picnic, with great views of the Glens and headlands, but bring footwear you can walk on stones in.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes, dogs are welcome on Glenarm Beach. Keep them under control, clean up after them, and be considerate of other visitors and wildlife.
Is there a lifeguard?
No — there's no lifeguard service at Glenarm Beach, so take extra care in the water. Mind the tide, keep an eye on children, and don't swim in rough or unfamiliar conditions.
Are there toilets and somewhere to eat?
There are public toilets in the village, and cafés, pubs and shops a short walk from the beach. The marina's toilets and showers are for berth holders.
What else is nearby?
Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden is right on the doorstep — see our Glenarm Castle guide. The village is the gateway to the first of the nine Glens of Antrim, so it's a great base for coast and Glens walks.
Getting there
Glenarm Beach, Glenarm, County Antrim — on the A2 Antrim Coast Road, about 10 miles north of Larne, with parking beside the beach and the marina in the village harbour.
Glenarm takes its name from the glen it sits in — the southernmost, and the first, of the famous nine Glens of Antrim. It's one of the oldest villages in the area, a designated conservation village of neat streets and old limestone, with the sea on one side and the wooded slopes of the Glens rising on the other. The whole coast here is part of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The harbour has always been the heart of it. That old limestone quay now cradles a modern Blue Flag marina, where sailing boats slip in and out and their masts reflect in still water on a calm day. Above the village stands Glenarm Castle, home of the McDonnell family, with its celebrated walled garden a short stroll away. Come for the beach and the boats, stay for the village and the Glens — Glenarm rewards a wander.