A quiet, sheltered bay beach on Coney Island Bay, tucked below the pretty sycamore-lined village of Killough on the Lecale coast — sand and shingle, a long curving harbour pier, and easy walks toward St John's Point lighthouse. Free, and blissfully low-key.
What you'll do — potter along the calm bay beach and the old stone pier, walk the pretty tree-lined village street, and follow the shore toward St John's Point lighthouse. It's a birdy corner too — the bay is a protected wildlife site, big with wading birds and, in winter, flocks of Brent geese.
How long & who for — an easy hour or two for a stroll and a paddle, longer if you walk out to the lighthouse. Lovely for all ages and anyone who likes a peaceful beach over a busy one.
Cost & parking — free. There's no ticket and no car park machine; it's roadside and harbourside parking by the village, so arrive early on a sunny weekend.
Bring the lot — comfy shoes for the shingle, a coat for the sea breeze, a picnic, water and a hat for a sunny day. The village has a shop and pub, but nothing right on the sand.
No lifeguard. This is an open, unpatrolled bay beach — mind the tide and keep a close eye on children near the water and the pier edge.
Protected wildlife bay — keep dogs under close control. Coney Island Bay is an important site for wintering and wading birds, so keep dogs to heel (ideally on a lead), especially in winter, and clean up after them.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free.
Killough Beach is open and free to wander any day of the year in daylight — no booking, no ticket. It sits right below the village, so parking is on-street and around the harbour rather than a big car park — grand most of the time, but it can fill on a warm summer weekend, so come early. This is a quiet, natural bay beach with the village on hand, not a resort strip: the shop and pub are a short walk up in Killough, and there's nothing built right on the sand. Come stocked up and you'll have a lovely, unhurried few hours.
Sand & shingle bay beachHarbour pier & shore walksRoadside & harbour parkingBird-rich protected bay
Come prepared:
There's no lifeguard, and no shop or café right on the beach — the village has both a short walk away. Facilities like toilets aren't guaranteed on the shore, so plan ahead. Bring water, snacks and beach kit, and check the tide before you paddle.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Comfy shoes for the shingleThe beach is sand and shingle with the stone pier alongside — trainers or beach shoes save the feet.
🧥A coat for the breezeIt's an open coast — fresh and bracing in any weather, and gorgeous when the sun's out. Layer up and enjoy it.
🧺A picnic, water & a hatNothing right on the sand, so pack your own. Water and a hat make a sunny day a joy.
🔭Binoculars if you have themThe bay is a bird haven — waders on the mud and, in winter, Brent geese out on the water.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free. There's no entry charge and no ticket — just turn up and walk the beach and pier.
Opening
Open all year in daylight hours; you can visit any time. It's a natural beach, so there are no gates or set hours.
Parking
On-street around the village and by the harbour rather than a dedicated car park. Usually fine, but it can be busy on a warm summer weekend, so arrive early and park considerately.
What you'll see
A sheltered sand-and-shingle bay beach on Coney Island Bay, the long curving 19th-century harbour pier, the sycamore-lined village street, views along the Lecale coast toward St John's Point, and lots of birdlife — waders on the shore and wintering Brent geese out on the bay.
Toilets
Not guaranteed on the shore itself — this is a low-key beach, so don't rely on facilities being open. Plan ahead, and use the village or nearby Ardglass if needed.
Dogs
Welcome for a walk, but keep them under close control — ideally on a lead — because Coney Island Bay is a protected site for wading and wintering birds. Take extra care in winter, and clean up after them.
Lifeguard
No lifeguard — this is an open, unpatrolled bay beach. Mind the tide, take care near the pier edge, and keep a close eye on children by the water.
Accessibility
Honest steer: it's sand, shingle and an old stone pier, so it's not ideal for wheels. You can get close by car and enjoy the harbour and views, but the beach itself is uneven underfoot.
Food
Nothing on the sand — the village of Killough has a shop and pub a short walk away, and Ardglass nearby has more options for a bite after.
How long
Allow an hour or two for a stroll, a paddle and the pier — longer if you fancy the shore walk toward St John's Point lighthouse.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — Killough Beach is free to visit, any day of the year. There's no ticket and no car park charge; parking is on-street around the village and harbour.
Do I need to book?
No — just turn up and walk. There's no ticket or booking for the beach.
Is there a lifeguard?
No — this is an open, unpatrolled bay beach, so there's no lifeguard on duty. It's sheltered and quiet, but always mind the tide and keep a close eye on children near the water and the pier.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes, dogs are welcome for a walk, but please keep them under close control — ideally on a lead — because Coney Island Bay is a protected site for wading and wintering birds. Take extra care in winter, and clean up after them.
Is there parking?
There's on-street parking around the village and by the harbour rather than a big car park. It's usually fine, but can fill on a warm summer weekend — arrive early and park considerately.
What's there to do nearby?
Walk the shore toward St John's Point lighthouse, wander the pretty sycamore-lined village street, and pop up to Ardglass — a lovely little fishing harbour — just along the coast. Tyrella Beach is a short drive too.
Getting there
Killough Beach sits right below the village of Killough on Coney Island Bay, on the Lecale coast of County Down — about five miles south-east of Downpatrick and just along the shore from Ardglass. Park around the village or by the harbour and it's a step to the sand.
Killough was once a proper little port. The Ward family of Castle Ward built its harbour in the 18th century, and even ran a dead-straight road across the countryside to reach it. When trade grew, the quays were rebuilt in the 1820s by the engineer Alexander Nimmo — that long curving pier on the Killough side, and a shorter one over on Coney Island, still shape the bay you see today.
The grain ships and fishing yawls are long gone, and what's left is the best of it: a calm, sheltered beach, a sycamore-lined village street planted back in 1850, and a bay so rich in birdlife it's now a protected wildlife site. Walk the shore toward the black-and-yellow tower of St John's Point lighthouse, watch the geese come in over the water, and you've found one of Down's quiet gems — the kind of beach you leave feeling like you got away with something.