A Blue Flag sandy beach on the Causeway Coast, tucked beneath dramatic white limestone cliffs carved into caves, arches and sea stacks — one of the north coast's best surf spots, with a clifftop walk that runs east toward Dunluce Castle. Free to visit, free to park.
What you'll do — surf or bodyboard the rolling waves, swim and paddle on the wide sand, explore the white cliffs, caves and arches and the rock pools at low tide, then take the clifftop coastal path east toward Dunluce Castle for big sea views.
How long & who for — allow two to four hours for a proper visit, easily a full day when the sun's out. Great for all ages — buckets-and-spades on the sand, surf for the older ones.
Cost & parking — free to visit, with a free car park right above the beach (main lot plus overflow).
Surf hire & food — a seasonal surf outlet on site hires out boards and wetsuits in season; there's no big café at the beach, so bring a picnic or head into nearby Portrush for a bite.
Toilets & dogs — an amenity block has toilets, accessible toilets and cold showers. Dogs are welcome, with seasonal restrictions on part of the beach in the summer months — watch for the signs.
Mind the tide & the currents. The sea here can be powerful — a top surf beach for a reason. Take real care swimming, and in summer swim between the RNLI lifeguard flags. Lifeguards are on duty in July and August only.
The caves & rocks cut off at high tide. The base of the cliffs, caves and arches can be surrounded by the incoming sea — check the tide times before you explore and don't get caught out.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free.
Whiterocks is open and free to visit any day of the year — no booking, no ticket, and free parking in the main car park and overflow right above the beach. It holds Blue Flag status, an international award for clean, well-managed beaches with good water quality and facilities. RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August (typically daytime) — outside those months there's no lifeguard cover, so take extra care. A seasonal surf outlet on site hires boards and wetsuits when it's open.
Surf & bodyboard wavesToilets & cold showersFree car park on siteDogs welcome (seasonal rules)
Tide & safety first:
Lifeguards are only on duty in July and August — swim between the flags when they're there and take care with the currents. The caves and cliff base flood at high tide, so check tide times before you explore. Confirm surf-hire and toilet opening on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🏄Wetsuit & boardBring your own or hire on site in season — the water's cold year-round, so a wetsuit makes all the difference.
🧥A coat for the breezeIt's an exposed Atlantic coast — bracing in any weather, glorious when the sun's out. Layer up.
🧺A picnic & waterNo big café at the beach, so pack your own — Portrush is close for food after.
🪣Buckets, spades & a towelA proper wide sandy beach with rock pools to explore at low tide.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to visit, and there's a free car park above the beach (main lot plus overflow). Surf and wetsuit hire from the seasonal on-site outlet is paid — check prices with them on the day.
Opening
The beach is open all year in daylight hours; you can visit any time. RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August only.
What you'll see
A Blue Flag sandy beach beneath white limestone cliffs carved over time into caves, arches and sea stacks, with rock pools at low tide, surfers in the waves, and a clifftop coastal path running east toward Dunluce Castle and west toward Portrush and Curran Strand.
Toilets
An amenity block with toilets, accessible toilets and cold showers. Confirm opening on the day, especially off-season.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome, but there are seasonal restrictions on part of the beach during the summer months — keep an eye on the signs and keep them under control around other beach users and wildlife.
Safety
This is a genuine surf beach with real currents. Swim between the RNLI flags in July and August; outside those months there's no lifeguard, so take extra care. The caves and cliff base are cut off by the incoming tide — check tide times before you explore.
Accessibility
Honest steer: there's a boardwalk beach access and disabled parking and toilets, but soft sand is hard going for wheels once you're on the beach. The clifftop path is uneven in places.
Food
No big café at the beach itself — bring a picnic, or head into nearby Portrush, a couple of minutes away, for cafés, chippies and ice cream.
How long
Allow two to four hours for the beach, a surf and the cliffs — easily a full day if the sun's out or you walk the clifftop path.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — the beach is free to visit, and there's a free car park right above it with an overflow. The only paid extra is board and wetsuit hire from the seasonal surf outlet on site.
Are there lifeguards?
RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August only. When they're on, swim between the flags. Outside those months there's no lifeguard cover, so take real care with the tide and currents.
Can I surf here?
Absolutely — Whiterocks is one of the north coast's favourite surf beaches, popular for surfing, bodyboarding and surf kayaking. A seasonal outlet on site hires boards and wetsuits.
Can I explore the caves and cliffs?
Yes, the white limestone cliffs, caves and arches are the big draw — but the base of them is cut off by the incoming tide. Check tide times before you go exploring so you don't get caught out.
Can I bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome, but there are seasonal restrictions on part of the beach over the summer. Keep an eye on the signage and keep them under control.
Are there toilets?
Yes — an amenity block with toilets, accessible toilets and cold showers. There's no big café at the beach, so bring a picnic; Portrush is close for food.
Getting there
Whiterocks, Dunluce Road, Portrush BT56 8NA — on the Causeway Coastal Route just east of Portrush, between the town and Dunluce Castle in County Antrim, with a free car park above the beach.
Whiterocks gets its name from the pale limestone that gives this stretch of coast its unmistakable look. The soft white rock is thought to have been laid down deep in geological time, then slowly carved by the Atlantic into a labyrinth of caves, arches and sea stacks — landmarks with names like the Wishing Arch and Elephant Rock. The sea keeps shaping it: the cliffs you walk beneath today are a work in progress, still being sculpted wave by wave.
That drama is exactly why people come. The white cliffs frame a wide Blue Flag beach that draws surfers to its waves and families to its sand, while the clifftop path carries walkers east along the Causeway Coast Way — past the Magheracross viewpoint and on toward the ruins of Dunluce Castle standing over the water. Beach, surf and cliffs in one spot: it's the Causeway Coast at its most generous.