One of the best beaches on the island — two miles of golden National Trust sand where you can drive on and park right on the beach, with wild dunes, clean water and a cracking café behind you. Free to walk, open all year.
What you'll do — drive on and park on the firm sand, swim in clean water, surf the rolling breaks, walk the two-mile strand end to end, and wander the dune trails of the Bann Estuary nature reserve behind the beach.
How long & who for — allow half a day, easily a full one on a sunny day. Brilliant for all ages — buckets, spades, bodyboards and a picnic.
Cost & parking — free to walk on. The charge is to drive on and park on the sand (National Trust members and blue badge holders free, contactless card only). Confirm the current rate on the day.
Food & toilets — there's a beachside café (Harry's Shack) and seasonal toilets, including Changing Places facilities. Still worth bringing water and snacks for a long day.
Bring the lot — swim gear, a windbreak, towels and a coat for the sea breeze. Buckets and spades for the little ones.
Mind the tide — swim between the flags. RNLI lifeguards patrol in summer only; swim in the flagged zone when they're on, and take real care with the tide and currents at other times.
Driving on: stick to the firm sand. Soft sand near the dunes bogs cars down, and dog rules change in summer — dogs are restricted on the main strand in the busy season, so check the signs on the day.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up and drive on? Yes.
The beach is open and free to walk any day of the year in daylight — no booking, no ticket. The one cost is driving on and parking on the sand, which the National Trust charges for; members and blue badge holders park free. Payment is contactless card only, so no cash needed. Space on the sand is limited on a busy summer day, and you'll need to be off the beach before it closes for the evening. Keep to the firm sand — the soft stuff up by the dunes can bog a car down, and there's no towing service. Confirm the current rate and closing time on the day.
Drive on & park on the sandBeachside café (Harry's Shack)Seasonal toilets & Changing PlacesDune trails & nature reserve
Water safety:
RNLI lifeguards patrol in summer only — swim between the red-and-yellow flags when they're on duty, and take real care with the tide and currents outside those times. Parking on the sand is card-only, so no cash needed. Confirm rates, closing time and toilet opening on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🩱Swim gear & a towelThe water's clean and swimmable in summer — bring your togs and a wetsuit if you're braving it for longer.
⛱️A windbreak & waterIt's open coast, so the breeze whips through. A windbreak, hats and water make a long day on the sand easy.
🧺Water, snacks & a picnicThere's a café behind the beach, but a picnic and plenty of water keep the day rolling on the sand.
🪣Buckets, spades & a bodyboardTwo miles of proper golden sand and rolling surf — it's made for it.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to walk on. The National Trust charges to drive on and park on the sand; members and blue badge holders park free. Payment is contactless card only — no cash. Confirm the current rate on the day.
Opening
The beach is open all year in daylight hours. If you're driving on, you must be off the sand before it closes for the evening, and space is limited on busy summer days — confirm the closing time on the day.
What you'll see
Two miles of golden sand, rolling Atlantic surf, and the dunes of the Bann Estuary nature reserve behind — a sand-dune system said to be around 6,000 years old and protected as an Area of Special Scientific Interest, thought to be home to rare orchids and butterflies.
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol in summer only. Swim between the red-and-yellow flags when they're on duty, and take care with the tide and currents at other times.
Water
Portstewart Strand holds a Blue Flag for water quality and management — the water is clean and popular for swimming and surfing.
Toilets & food
Seasonal toilets, including accessible and Changing Places facilities (weekends), plus a beachside café (Harry's Shack). Opening can vary with the weather.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome but restricted on the main strand in the busy summer season, and must be on leads in other areas — watch for the signs and marker posts on the day.
Accessibility
Being able to drive on and park on the sand makes the beach genuinely reachable for many. It's an "inclusive beach" with beach equipment available to borrow, plus accessible parking and Changing Places facilities. The dune trails are soft sand and not suited to wheels.
How long
Allow half a day for the beach and a dune walk — easily a full day when the sun's out and the kids get into the sand and the surf.
Questions
Before you go
Can you really drive on the beach?
Yes — this is one of the few beaches where you drive straight onto the firm sand and park up. The National Trust charges for it (members and blue badge holders free, card only). Keep to the firm sand and be off before closing time, as the soft sand near the dunes can bog a car down.
Is it free?
Walking on is free, any day of the year. The only charge is to drive on and park on the sand — and members and blue badge holders park free.
Are there lifeguards?
RNLI lifeguards patrol in summer only. When they're on, swim between the red-and-yellow flags. Outside the summer season there's no lifeguard, so take real care with the tide and currents.
Can I bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome but restricted on the main strand in the busy summer season, and must be on leads in other areas. Keep an eye on the signs and marker posts on the day.
Is there a café and toilets?
Yes — there's a beachside café (Harry's Shack) and seasonal toilets, including accessible and Changing Places facilities. Opening can vary with the weather, so it's still worth bringing water and snacks.
Is the water clean enough to swim?
Yes — Portstewart Strand holds a Blue Flag for water quality, and it's a popular spot for swimming and surfing. Swim between the flags when the lifeguards are on.
Getting there
Portstewart Strand, 118 Strand Road, Portstewart BT55 7PG — just south-west of Portstewart town on the Causeway Coast, with the entrance and beach access off Strand Road. Drive straight on and park on the firm sand.
Portstewart Strand is a Causeway Coast classic — two miles of golden sand that curves away towards the mouth of the River Bann, cared for by the National Trust. What makes it special is the thing you do the moment you arrive: you drive straight onto the beach and park on the firm sand, boot open, ready for the day. It's a tradition that goes back generations, and it turns a beach into a proper day out.
Behind the sand rise the dunes — a system said to be around 6,000 years old, protected as an Area of Special Scientific Interest and home, it's thought, to rare orchids and butterflies. Keep to the trails and the whole reserve stays wild. Then the beach gives you the reward: clean Blue Flag water for a swim, rolling surf for the boards, lifeguards on through the summer, and a café behind you when it's time for chips. Get out and live — it's one of the best on the island.