British Beaches

Visitor information for every beach in the UK

"I'm in love with a creature from the sea, she brings out the crustacean in me"

Portstewart Strand Beach

Londonderry, Northern Ireland


Rate this beach!
Approximate Location Map

Use two fingers to pan or zoom the map

Portstewart Strand Beach is a popular destination in Northern Ireland, known for its two-mile sandy beach, sand dunes, and diverse wildlife. .

Port Stewart Strand is a sandy two-mile beach backed by sand dunes and the River Bann. The beach is designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest, making it an important nature conservation area with a variety of plant and wildlife.

The beach is widely regarded as one of the best in Northern Ireland, perfect for sand castles, beach games, and picnicking. It is popular with walkers, surfers, horse-riders, and bird watchers. The views from the beach are stunning, including the Mussenden Temple, high on one of the nearby cliffs. This beach is the start – or end – of the Causeway Coast Way. Items dating back to the Neolithic age have been found in the area, as well as Roman and Bronze Age artefacts.

The beach is a haven for bees, butterflies, and wildflowers, including the rare bee orchid. The impressive sand dunes, some of which are owned by Portstewart Golf Club, are some of the oldest and tallest in Ireland, with some reaching as high as 100 feet.

Facilities are quite basic, although there is a food outlet right on the beach and public toilets are available. There is no lifeguard at this location. Dogs must be kept on leads between zones 1 to 10 to avoid spooking the cattle which graze within the dunes; dogs are allowed off lead past zone 10. Cars are allowed on the sand, with a charge of around £7 as of 2021 (free for National Trust members). A pedestrian-only path leads from the town.

The beach has regularly been awarded Blue Flag Status, making it a firm favourite with holidaymakers. There is plenty to do, from picnics and exploring the dunes to swimming and water sports. Nature lovers can take in the abundant wildlife as the area is home to rare birds, insects, and butterflies.

The beach is owned and managed by the National Trust, and features a children's play area.

Sand

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 100%
Max temperature 14°C
feels like 14°C
Wind 22mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 100%
Min temperature 9°C
feels like 10°C
Wind 24mph

The tide at Portstewart Strand Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 10:22 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 4:59 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near Portstewart Strand Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Portstewart Strand - National Trust (0.5 miles)
Portstewart Golf Club (0.7 miles)
Portstewart Promenade (1.3 miles)
Aquaholics Dive Centre (1.5 miles)
Red Duck Diving (2 miles)
Downhill Demesne & Hezlett House (2.2 miles)
Mussenden Temple (2.8 miles)
Alive Surf School (3.8 miles)
Portrush Sea Tours (4 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Coordinates: 55°10'13"N 6°44'20"W

Mapcode: IRL Q3.FYRZ

What 3 Words: regulator.chair.usual

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

County: Londonderry

Country: Northern Ireland

Local Authority: Coleraine

Nearest postcode: BT55 7PG

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

(Or après-beach. Or pre-beach. Or, just because you might want stuff)

Visitor information for Portstewart Strand Beach, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

British Beaches is a Good Stuff website.

216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:15:10 +0100