A Blue Flag beach with two kilometres of open golden sand, backed by grassy dunes, and the Mourne Mountains sweeping down to the sea across Dundrum Bay. Free to walk, lifeguards in summer, open all year.
What you'll do — walk the long flat sand, paddle and swim when it's warm, spot birdlife along the dunes, and take in one of the best Mourne views in Down. It's a big open beach for horse riding and kayaking too.
How long & who for — allow two to three hours for a proper wander and a paddle, easily a full day when the sun's out. Great for all ages — buckets-and-spades weather, and a new inclusive-beach set-up with accessible equipment.
Cost & parking — free to walk onto the beach. A parking charge applies at weekends from Easter to September and daily in July and August (10am–6pm) — check the board on the day for the current rate.
Bring the lot — walking shoes or wellies, a coat for the sea breeze, water, a hat and a picnic. Swim gear in summer. Come stocked up — bring your own food and drink for the day.
Lifeguards in summer only — swim between the flags. RNLI lifeguards patrol in the main season; outside that there's no cover, so mind the tide and take care in the water on this open bay.
Seasonal dog & horse rules. Dogs are kept out of the bathing area from 1 June to 15 September (10am–6pm); horses avoid a marked eastern section from 1 May to 30 September (10am–6pm). Check the signs.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — the beach is free to walk.
Tyrella is open and free to enjoy any day of the year — no booking, no ticket. The only cost is parking, and only in season: a charge applies at weekends from Easter to September, and daily in July and August, between 10am and 6pm. Parking is off the sand in the car park (Tyrella is now a car-free beach — you can't drive on or park on the sand), with accessible parking available. A new visitor amenity building in the car park has toilets and an accessible WC, and the beach recently launched as an inclusive beach with a Changing Places toilet and specialist accessible equipment. Facilities are otherwise limited, so bring what you need for the day.
RNLI lifeguards in summerToilets & accessible WCCar park (charge in season)Inclusive beach equipment
Come prepared:
Bring water, a hat, snacks and everything for the beach — facilities are limited. Lifeguards only patrol in the summer season, so mind the tide and swim between the flags. Confirm parking rates and lifeguard cover on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🥾Sturdy shoes or welliesSoft sand and dune paths underfoot — comfy footwear you don't mind getting sandy.
🧥A coat for the breezeIt's an open coast — a fresh, bracing walk in any weather, and gorgeous when the sun's out. Layer up and enjoy it.
🧺A picnic, water & a hatCome stocked up with food, plenty of water and a hat for a sunny day on the open sand.
🪣Buckets, spades & a towelIt's a proper sandy beach with a paddle and a swim on a warm day.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to walk onto the beach. A parking charge applies at weekends from Easter to September, and daily in July and August, from 10am to 6pm. Confirm the current rate on the board on the day.
Opening
The beach is open all year in daylight hours — you can walk it any time. Parking charges and lifeguard cover apply in the summer season only.
Blue Flag
Tyrella is a Blue Flag beach — the international award for water quality, safety, facilities and management. It has held Blue Flag status for many years and remains a current award-winning site.
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol Tyrella during the summer season. Swim between the flags when they're on duty; outside the season there's no lifeguard cover, so take care in the water and mind the tide.
What you'll see
Around two kilometres of open sand backed by roughly 25 hectares of mature dunes — a dune conservation area and an Area of Special Scientific Interest — with sweeping Mourne Mountains views across Dundrum Bay.
Facilities
A visitor amenity building in the car park with male and female toilets and an accessible WC. The beach recently launched as an inclusive beach with a Changing Places toilet, accessible beach equipment and adaptive paddleboarding. Bring your own food and drink — facilities are otherwise limited.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome on the beach, but they're kept out of the designated bathing area between 10am and 6pm from 1 June to 15 September. Keep dogs from disturbing wildlife, and watch for the signs.
Horse riding
Horse riding is allowed on the beach, but horses aren't permitted in a marked restricted area on the eastern side between 10am and 6pm from 1 May to 30 September. Check the signage on the day.
Water sports
The bay is used for swimming, canoeing, kayaking and adaptive paddleboarding. Take care with the tide and conditions, and stay within the lifeguarded area in season.
Parking & access
Tyrella is a car-free beach — you park off the sand in the car park rather than driving on. Accessible parking is available, and dedicated beach access can be arranged.
Food
Bring a picnic — there's no shop or café on the sand. Nearby Dundrum, Newcastle and Downpatrick are handy for a bite after.
How long
Allow two to three hours for a good wander and a paddle — easily a full day if the sun's out and the kids get into the sand.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
The beach is free to walk, any day of the year. The only charge is parking, and only in season — at weekends from Easter to September, and daily in July and August (10am–6pm). Check the current rate on the board.
Can I drive on the sand?
No — Tyrella is now a car-free beach, so you park in the car park off the sand rather than driving on. Accessible parking is available, and dedicated beach access can be arranged.
Are there lifeguards?
Yes — RNLI lifeguards patrol during the summer season. Swim between the flags when they're on duty. Outside the season there's no cover, so take care with the tide and the kids on this open bay.
Can I bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome on the beach, but they're kept out of the designated bathing area between 10am and 6pm from 1 June to 15 September. Keep an eye on the signs and don't let dogs disturb the wildlife.
Can I go horse riding?
Yes — Tyrella is a popular beach for horse riding. From 1 May to 30 September, horses avoid a marked restricted area on the eastern side between 10am and 6pm, so check the signage.
Are there toilets and facilities?
There's a visitor amenity building in the car park with toilets and an accessible WC, plus a Changing Places toilet and accessible beach equipment as part of the inclusive-beach set-up. Bring your own food and water — there's nothing on the sand.
Getting there
Tyrella Beach, Clanmaghery Road, Tyrella, Clough, County Down BT30 8SU — on Dundrum Bay near Downpatrick. Follow the A24 to Clough, then the A2 (Blackstaff Road) signposted for Tyrella Beach, with the car park on site.
Tyrella has long been one of County Down's best-loved beaches — a broad, flat sweep of sand on the northern shore of Dundrum Bay, with the Mourne Mountains rising straight across the water. It's held Blue Flag status for years, the international mark for clean water and well-run beaches, and in summer the RNLI lifeguards keep watch over the swimmers.
Behind the sand sit the dunes — a protected conservation area and an Area of Special Scientific Interest, full of marram grass and wildlife. In recent years the beach has moved car-free and added a new amenity building, then launched as an inclusive beach with a Changing Places toilet and accessible equipment, so more people can get onto the sand and into the water. Pack the picnic, keep an eye on the tide, and go and enjoy it.