A full kilometre of clean sand at the foot of Glenariff — the Queen of the Glens — with red-sandstone cliffs, a castle ruin on the headland and a play park right behind the dunes. Free, dog-friendly and open all year.
What you'll do — build a day on the wide east-facing sand, paddle in Red Bay, walk the beach toward the little harbour, then let the kids loose on the play park and ball court in the grass behind. The Glens rise straight up around you, with Glenariff Forest Park just up the road.
How long & who for — allow two to three hours, easily a full day when the sun's out. Great for all ages — proper buckets-and-spades territory.
Cost & parking — free, with free parking beside the beach and more parking in the village.
Bring the lot — buckets and spades, a towel, water, and a coat for the sea breeze. There's a seasonal café behind the beach, but pack your own if you're coming out of season.
No lifeguard. This is an open beach with no lifeguard service on duty, so mind the tide, take care with paddling and keep an eye on the kids in the water.
Facilities are seasonal. The café and some toilets run mainly in the warmer months — there are additional toilets and parking in the village, but come stocked up off-season.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free.
Waterfoot Beach is open and free any day of the year — no booking, no ticket, no charge. There's free parking right beside the beach, with more parking and toilets in the village a short walk away. Behind the sand there's a stretch of coastal parkland with a play park, a ball court and picnic spots, plus a seasonal café for hot drinks, sandwiches and traybakes in the warmer months. It's a clean, well-kept beach that frequently earns a Seaside Award, so it's an easy one to just show up to and enjoy.
Around 1 km of clean sandPlay park & ball court behind the beachFree parking by the beach & in the villageDogs welcome all year
Good to know:
There's no lifeguard on this beach — mind the tide and the kids in the water. The café and some toilets are seasonal, so out of season bring your own water and snacks and use the toilets and parking in the village. Confirm café and toilet opening on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🪣Buckets, spades & a towelA proper wide sandy beach — made for digging, paddling and a day in the sand.
🧥A coat for the breezeIt faces east across Red Bay — a fresh, bracing walk in any weather, glorious when the sun's out.
🧺A picnic & waterThere's a seasonal café behind the beach, but pack your own out of season to be safe.
🥾Comfy shoesHandy for the walk to the harbour and up to the play park in the parkland behind.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free. No entry charge and free parking beside the beach, with more parking in the village.
Opening
Open all year — it's an open beach you can walk any day in daylight. The café and some facilities are seasonal, so confirm opening on the day, especially in winter.
What you'll see
Around a kilometre of clean sand backed by shallow dunes and coastal parkland, red-sandstone cliffs, the ruins of Red Bay Castle on the headland, the little harbour, and the Glens of Antrim rising all around — with Glenariff, the Queen of the Glens, at your back.
Facilities
A play park (balance beams, climbing net, tunnel), a ball court, picnic areas and a seasonal café behind the beach. Toilets and additional parking are in the village.
Lifeguard
There is no beach lifeguard service here — take care paddling and swimming, mind the tide and watch the kids. The nearest RNLI-lifeguarded beach in season is Ballycastle, some miles up the coast.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome all year with no seasonal restrictions reported. As always, keep them under control and clean up after them.
Accessibility
Honest steer: there's parking, toilets and a play park close to the sand, and a level path along the front, but the beach itself is soft sand, which is hard going for wheels. Check the village facilities if you need step-free options.
Food
A seasonal café behind the beach sells hot drinks, sandwiches and traybakes in the warmer months. Otherwise bring a picnic, or head into Waterfoot village or nearby Cushendall for a bite.
How long
Allow two to three hours for a good beach day — easily a full day when the sun's out and the kids get into the sand and the play park.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — the beach is free, with free parking beside it and more parking in the village. No ticket, no booking, just turn up.
Is there a lifeguard?
No — there's no lifeguard service on this beach, so take care with paddling and swimming, mind the tide and keep an eye on the kids in the water.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes — dogs are welcome all year, with no seasonal restrictions reported. Keep them under control and clean up after them.
Is there anything for the kids beyond the beach?
Yes — behind the sand there's a play park with balance beams, a climbing net and a tunnel, plus a ball court and picnic areas in the parkland along the front.
Are there toilets and a café?
There's a seasonal café behind the beach for hot drinks, sandwiches and traybakes, and toilets in the village. Some facilities run mainly in the warmer months, so confirm opening on the day and come stocked up off-season.
What's nearby to make a day of it?
Glenariff Forest Park is a short drive up the glen — waterfalls and forest trails in the Queen of the Glens. Cushendall and Cushendun villages are close along the coast too.
Getting there
Waterfoot Beach, Waterfoot, Glenariff, Co. Antrim — on the Causeway Coastal Route on the east Antrim coast, at the foot of Glenariff between Carnlough and Cushendall, with free parking beside the beach.
Waterfoot sits exactly where its name says — at the mouth of Glenariff, the broadest and grandest of the nine Glens of Antrim, long known as the Queen of the Glens. The glen opens out here into Red Bay, and the beach takes the bay's name from the red sandstone that gives the cliffs and headland their warm colour.
Above the sand, the ruins of Red Bay Castle still stand on their green headland, keeping watch over the harbour as they have for centuries. It all adds up to a beach with a proper sense of place: a kilometre of clean sand for the kids, a play park and café behind, the little harbour to walk to, and the Glens rising all around. Come for the day, then follow the glen up the road to Glenariff Forest Park for the waterfalls.