Northern Ireland's best beaches unveiled: See this summer's top spots in the sun
A Co Down beach boasting staggering views of both its bay and the Mourne mountains, as well as easy parking and full mobility-inclusive equipment, has been named the best in Northern Ireland.
Locals often consider its sparkling blue waters and one-and-a-quarter miles of golden sand, backed by 25 hectares of dunes, to be the greatest the province has to offer.
And now a UK-wide survey carried out for the Times and Sunday Times ‘50 Best UK Beaches for 2026’ guide has come to the conclusion that nearby residents are right – Tyrella Beach is indeed the top spot for sun-worshippers.
Located in Dundrum Bay around six miles south of Downpatrick, Tyrella has maintained Blue Flag status since 2011 due to its renowned cleanliness.
The beach guide is put together by Chris Haslam, award-winning chief travel writer at The Times and The Sunday Times. He describes Tyrella as “the best family beach on Northern Ireland’s east coast”, adding it “looks much the same as Murlough, a 20-minute drive south, with marram grass dunes lining a flat, sandy beach with Slieve Donard to the south and the wasp-banded spire of the St John’s Point lighthouse to the north”.
He adds: “Unlike Murlough, where it’s a half-mile walk from car park to beach, Tyrella has parking right beside the sand. It’s now a fully-inclusive beach with state of the art equipment, including floating wheelchairs, to allow people of all abilities to enjoy their visit.”
Other shortlisted parts of Northern Ireland were Cranfield Beach, located on the other side of the Mournes from Tyrella on Co Down’s southernmost tip, Whitepark Bay on the Co Antrim north coast near Ballintoy, and Co Londonderry’s seven-mile Benone Strand near Limavady, which offers views to Donegal.
Now in its 18th edition, the annual guide sees beaches around the UK personally inspected within the eight weeks leading up to its publication.
Available online today and in print on Sunday, the guide is described as “the definitive and most comprehensive list of the UK's 50 best beaches, involving a five-week long, 4,307-mile survey of 607 longlisted spots”.
Each beach is assessed against “a rigorous 12-point checklist”, say its publishers, with criteria include cleanliness, accessibility, parking, lifeguard provision, the condition of toilets and showers, dog-friendliness and, above all, water quality.
This year, a new criterion has been added – community engagement. State publishers: “The passion and commitment of local people can make all the difference, turning a beach from a soulless summer money-making machine into a year-round destination with genuine heart.”
Following campaigning from readers, this is also the first year the guide has expanded to include entries from the Outer Hebrides, the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.
Added Chris Haslam: “I’m just back from my 18th annual circuit of the British and Northern Irish coasts and I’ve never seen our seaside look more beautiful.
“We’re now heading into another heatwave of what we might look back upon as a summer to match 1976, so it would be a shame to waste those sunny days sitting in airports, queuing at immigration machines and fighting for sun-loungers. You can do that next year. This year, drop your towel on a UK beach.”