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Cleanest beaches in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has 33 designated bathing waters. The regulator publishes no annual classification for them, only a weekly water-quality reading.

Updated September 2026

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Best recent readings

A selection rated Excellent or Good in the regulator's latest annual classification. Open any beach for today's live verdict.

Latest reading Excellent Ballycastle Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Ballyholme Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Ballyhornan Newry, Mourne and Down District CouncilLatest reading Excellent Ballywalter Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Brompton Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Brown’s Bay Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Every bathing water in Northern Ireland

Latest reading Excellent Ballycastle Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Ballyholme Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Ballyhornan Newry, Mourne and Down District CouncilLatest reading Excellent Ballywalter Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Brompton Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Brown’s Bay Mid and East Antrim Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Carnlough Mid and East Antrim Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Castlerock Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Cloughey Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Cranfield Newry, Mourne and Down District CouncilLatest reading Excellent Crawfordsburn DAERA -NIEALatest reading Excellent Cushendall Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Donaghadee Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Drain’s Bay Mid and East Antrim Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent East Strand, Portrush Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Groomsport Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Helen’s Bay DAERA -NIEALatest reading Excellent Kilclief Newry, Mourne and Down District CouncilLatest reading Excellent Magilligan Benone Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Magilligan Downhill Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Millisle Ards and North Down Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Murlough (Co Down) Newry, Mourne and Down District CouncilLatest reading Excellent Newcastle Newry, Mourne and Down District CouncilLatest reading Excellent Portballintrae Salmon Rock Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Portmuck Mid and East Antrim Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Portrush Whiterocks Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent Portstewart National TrustLatest reading Excellent Tyrella Newry, Mourne and Down District CouncilLatest reading Excellent Waterfoot Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilLatest reading Excellent West Strand, Portrush Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilAdvised against Rea’s Wood (Inland) Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough CouncilUnclassified Ballygally Mid and East Antrim Borough CouncilUnclassified Warrenpoint Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Areas in Northern Ireland

Common questions

Which beach is cleanest in Northern Ireland?
No annual classification is published for bathing waters in Northern Ireland. On the regulator's most recent readings, Ballycastle, Ballyholme and Ballyhornan came back Excellent.
How many bathing waters are in Northern Ireland?
33. The regulator publishes no annual classification for them, only a weekly water-quality reading.