Can you swim at Carnlough?

Yes. The regulator's most recent reading here was Excellent. Carnlough is a designated bathing water, so the regulator samples it through the bathing season. This answer covers water quality only, not tides, currents or lifeguard cover.

What is the water quality like at Carnlough?

No annual classification is published for Carnlough. The regulator's most recent water-quality reading, taken 15 September 2026, was Excellent.

Has there been sewage at Carnlough recently?

We do not have a live storm-overflow feed for Carnlough, so we cannot say whether one has discharged nearby.

← All bathing waters

Northern Ireland · Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Friday 2 October

Carnlough

Yes. The regulator's most recent reading here was Excellent.

Water quality only This says nothing about tides, rip currents, cold water shock or lifeguard cover. Cold water and currents are dangerous even when the water is clean. Read the local signs before you go in. What we cannot tell you.

Checked 06:07 UK time

Why this verdict

Bathing season: Closed until 1 June (neutral factor)
Latest regulator reading: Excellent, 15 September 2026 (positive factor)

Out of season

Weekly sampling pauses on 15 September and resumes on 1 June. DAERA publishes no annual classification, so out of season this page has only its last weekly reading, shown with the date it was taken.

Water temperature

14.7°C Cold

Cold-water shock risk. Enter slowly and do not swim alone.

Sea surface, modelled by Open-Meteo.

Tide

Tide is falling

Low water about 08:50 Today
High water about 15:20 Today
Low water about 21:20 Today
High water about 03:50 Tomorrow

Modelled by Open-Meteo and approximate. Checked against tide gauges these times ran up to half an hour early, so treat them as a guide to whether the water is coming in or going out, not as a tide table. For exact times see Admiralty EasyTide.

Coverage for this site

DAERA publishes no annual classification for Northern Ireland's bathing waters. It publishes a weekly water-quality indicator instead. The most recent reading here was Excellent, taken 15 September 2026. DAERA runs a daily pollution-risk prediction for six Northern Irish sites. None is showing for this site right now. There is no live storm-overflow feed for Northern Ireland.

Common questions

Can you swim at Carnlough?: Yes. The regulator's most recent reading here was Excellent. Carnlough is a designated bathing water, so the regulator samples it through the bathing season. This answer covers water quality only, not tides, currents or lifeguard cover.
What is the water quality like at Carnlough?: No annual classification is published for Carnlough. The regulator's most recent water-quality reading, taken 15 September 2026, was Excellent.
Has there been sewage at Carnlough recently?: We do not have a live storm-overflow feed for Carnlough, so we cannot say whether one has discharged nearby.

Where this data comes from

View the regulator's full profile

Other beaches nearby

Latest reading Excellent Waterfoot Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Latest reading Excellent Cushendall Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Unclassified Ballygally Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Latest reading Excellent Drain’s Bay Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Cleanest beaches in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council →

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Gareth Clubb