Bathing water quality in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has 33 designated bathing waters. The regulator's latest classifications are 31 Excellent and 1 Good.

Updated July 2026

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The cleanest beaches in Northern Ireland

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

Rated Excellent Ballycastle Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Rated Excellent Ballygally Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Rated Excellent Ballyholme Ards and North Down Borough Council Rated Excellent Ballyhornan Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Rated Excellent Ballywalter Ards and North Down Borough Council Rated Excellent Brompton Ards and North Down Borough Council

Every bathing water in Northern Ireland

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

Areas in Northern Ireland

Ards and North Down Borough Council 7 bathing waters
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council 10 bathing waters
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council 5 bathing waters
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council 7 bathing waters

Common questions

Which beach is cleanest in Northern Ireland?: Ballycastle holds an Excellent classification, the regulator's top tier. 32 of the 33 bathing waters in Northern Ireland are rated Excellent or Good.
How many bathing waters are in Northern Ireland?: 33. The regulator's latest classifications are 31 Excellent and 1 Good.