Crawfordsburn Beach

Beach/ComboCo. Down🐾 Dogs allowed — with rules

A beach within Crawfordsburn Country Park, managed by NIEA rather than the local council, DAERA 'Good' rated water quality, reached via the Country Park's coastal walk.

📍 View on the map

Beach & safety

Water quality: Good

Lifeguard: unknown

Hazards: No RNLI lifeguard listing or specific hazard advisory found; council sources note this beach falls outside council jurisdiction (NIEA-managed) so check on-site NIEA signage rather than council beach-safety pages.

Amenities: car-park · toilets

Dogs

As part of Crawfordsburn Country Park (managed by NIEA, not Ards & North Down Borough Council), dogs are required to be on a lead on the coastal walk/park generally; this is a standing Country Park rule rather than a seasonal byelaw, though enforcement consistency was questioned in some visitor sources.

Official source: View the rule at source →

Family

Part of a proper Country Park with woodland walks, so it's more of a 'walk to a small beach' experience than a drive-up sandy resort beach — good for a family day combining walking and a paddle.

Fishing

Sheltered lough and estuary margins can support flounder, bass and mullet, with whiting or codling in colder periods.

Species reported: Flounder, Bass, Grey mullet, Whiting, Codling

Access & parking

Crawfordsburn Country Park car park, then a walk down through the glen/coastal path to the beach.

Researched 2026-07-24 — sources & disclaimer

https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/article/1421/Seasonal-Dog-Control-Orders

https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/northern-ireland/county-down/crawfordsburn-bangor.htm

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/2025-bathing-water-profiles

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/about-bathing-water-quality

https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/article/2381/Dogs-on-Lead-Designated-Areas

Rules and conditions change, so always check current signage and tides before you go. We do our best to keep this accurate but can't promise it's error-free.