A quiet sandy bay and a little working harbour on the Causeway Coast — with Bushfoot Strand sweeping round to the mouth of the River Bush. A relaxed family beach between the Giant's Causeway and Portrush. Free to visit, open all year.
What you'll do — potter round the small harbour and slipway, spread out on the sheltered village beach, then walk the long open sand of Bushfoot Strand to where the River Bush meets the sea. The Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway runs along the dunes above the strand, and the Causeway itself is just along the coast.
How long & who for — allow two to three hours for a good wander round the harbour and along the sand, easily longer on a warm day. Great for all ages — a calm, uncrowded spot for buckets and spades.
Cost & parking — free to visit, with a free car park in the main village right by the beach, plus disabled parking. There's a separate free car park up at the Runkerry headland with picnic tables too.
Bring the lot — walking shoes, a coat for the sea breeze, and a picnic. There's a shop and public toilets in the village, but pack water and beach kit so you're set for the day.
No lifeguard, and bathing isn't advised. The council notes strong rip currents and shelving on Bushfoot Strand, so bathing is inadvisable — paddle at the edge and keep a close eye on children. The nearest lifeguarded beach is Whiterocks, about 3.5 miles west.
Dog restrictions in summer. Dogs are welcome, but seasonal restrictions apply from 1 June to 15 September — check the beach signs before you let them off.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — and parking's free.
The beach and harbour are open and free to enjoy any day of the year — no booking, no ticket. There's a free car park in the main village right beside the beach, with disabled parking and toilets, and a shop close by. Up at the Runkerry headland there's a second free car park with picnic tables and toilets, and that's the easiest way onto Bushfoot Strand — a footpath leads from the village car park across the footbridge onto the sand. It's a smaller, calmer spot than the big Causeway Coast beaches, which is exactly its charm.
Free car park (village + headland)Public toilets (incl. accessible)Shop in the villageDogs welcome (summer rules)
Good to know:
There's no beach lifeguard, and the council advises against bathing on Bushfoot Strand because of strong rip currents. Enjoy the sand and a paddle at the edge, and keep a close eye on children. Confirm current facilities and dog rules on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🥾Comfy shoes for the strandSoft sand and a footpath onto Bushfoot Strand — shoes you don't mind getting sandy.
🧥A coat for the breezeIt's an open coast — fresh and bracing in any weather, gorgeous when the sun's out. Layer up and enjoy it.
🧺A picnic & waterThere's a shop in the village and picnic tables at the headland — pack a flask and something to eat.
🪣Buckets, spades & a towelA proper sandy beach for building castles and a paddle at the water's edge on a warm day.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to visit. There's a free car park in the main village beside the beach, and a second free car park at the Runkerry headland. Nothing to pay to walk the beach or the harbour.
Opening
Open all year in daylight hours — you can visit any time. No booking or ticket needed.
What you'll see
A small working harbour and slipway, a sheltered sandy village bay, and Bushfoot Strand — a long open beach running east to the mouth of the River Bush. The Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway runs along the dunes above the strand, with the Causeway coast headlands beyond.
Bathing
There's no beach lifeguard. The council advises that bathing is inadvisable on Bushfoot Strand because of strong rip currents and shelving. Paddle at the edge and keep children close; the nearest lifeguarded beach is Whiterocks, about 3.5 miles west.
Toilets
Public toilets, including accessible toilets, in the main village, and toilets at the Runkerry headland car park. Confirm opening on the day, especially out of season.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome, but seasonal restrictions apply from 1 June to 15 September under the council's beach dog control rules — check the signs at the beach before you set off.
Food
There's a shop in the village and picnic tables at the headland. For more choice, Bushmills is a couple of minutes away and Portrush is close by.
How long
Allow two to three hours for a good wander round the harbour and along the strand — easily longer if the sun's out and the kids get into the sand.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — the beach and harbour are free to enjoy any day of the year, and there's a free car park in the main village right by the beach, plus a second free car park at the Runkerry headland.
Do I need to book?
No — just turn up. There's no ticket or booking.
Can we swim?
There's no beach lifeguard here, and the council advises that bathing is inadvisable on Bushfoot Strand because of strong rip currents and shelving. Enjoy the sand and a paddle at the edge, and keep children close. The nearest lifeguarded beach is Whiterocks, about 3.5 miles west.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes, dogs are welcome, but seasonal restrictions apply from 1 June to 15 September under the council's beach dog control rules — check the signs at the beach before you let them off.
Are there toilets and a shop?
Yes — there are public toilets (including accessible toilets) and a shop in the main village, plus toilets at the Runkerry headland car park. Confirm opening on the day, especially out of season.
Is it good for a quiet family day?
It's ideal for it — a smaller, calmer bay than the big Causeway beaches, with a little harbour to explore, sand for the kids, and the long Bushfoot Strand walk. Bushmills and Portrush are both close for food and more to do.
Getting there
Portballintrae is a small harbour village just outside Bushmills on the Causeway Coast, about 4 miles east of Portrush and along the coast from the Giant's Causeway. The free car park is in the main village right beside the beach, with a second free car park at the Runkerry headland.
Portballintrae is a small fishing village tucked between Bushmills and Portrush, with fewer than a thousand people and a working harbour that drops down to the water. It sits right on the Causeway Coast, so most people pass through on their way to the Giant's Causeway — but the ones who stop find a calm, sheltered bay that makes a lovely, uncrowded family beach.
The bigger draw is Bushfoot Strand, the long sweep of sand running east from the village to where the River Bush spills into the sea. Above it, the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway trundles along the dunes, and the strand carries on towards Runkerry and the Causeway itself. Just mind the water — it's a beautiful beach to walk and play on, but the currents mean it's one for the sand and a paddle rather than a swim.