Portstewart

Researched as distinct from the existing 'portstewart-harbour' fishing mark (2.3km away at the harbour, 55.1872,-6.7206). The coordinate given here sits south of the town, closer to the famous National Trust-run Portstewart Strand (the 2-mile dune beach) than to the harbour - DAERA's bathing water listing is simply 'Portstewart', and available sources did not give an exact monitoring-point grid reference to confirm which specific beach it refers to, so treat this as most likely the Strand rather than the harbour.

Beach & safety

Water quality: Excellent

Lifeguard: RNLI attend daily Easter holidays and June-August, and weekends April-November per National Trust/RNLI sources (some source conflict on exact car-free-zone hours - verify with National Trust before relying on it)

Hazards: Long open Atlantic strand; standard RNLI rip-current caution, stay within patrolled area in season.

Amenities: toilets · cafe · car-park · blue-flag

Dogs

Official source: View the rule at source →

Family

excellent inclusive lifeguarded family beach with drive on vehicles rip tide dune collapse and estuary caution

Fishing

An exact March 2022 report fished one rod close and one at range with ragworm, sandeel and mackerel. The session produced one rockling, several missed bites and heavy crab bait-stripping. This confirms shore-angling use but also shows modest, variable catches. Do not transfer the richer pollack, codling, whiting, wrasse and flounder profile from Portstewart Harbour to the Strand.

Species reported: Rockling

Access & parking

National Trust beach car park (drive-on beach parking available in season) off the A2 Coast Road. Sat-nav: BT55 7PG. Get directions →