- Sea temp 12.7 °C surface, modelled
- Waves 1.1 m period 9 s · NW
- Wind 9 mph from N · gust 15
- Next tide High 01:24 today · 0.9 m
Church Bay is a coastal beach on the Antrim Coast coast. It is not a designated bathing water, so there is no routine water-quality monitoring here.
Conditions now
Air
9°C
Clear
Swell
1.1m
period 7 s · NW
Rain
0mm
last 48 hours
Water quality
Not a designated bathing water — not routinely sampled.
No published samples for this site yet.
Weekly lab samples, not real-time. Avoid bathing for 48 h after heavy rain.
Sewage & storm overflows
3 NI Water storm overflows within 1.2 mi.
MeasuredNo monitornone of these overflows has a spill monitor
| Overflow | Distance | Classification | Modelled spills/yr | Measured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rathlin Church Quarter Waste water Pumping Station (WwPS) | 120 yd | To be Determined | — | — |
| Rathlin Island Flow to Full treatment (FFT) Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) | 400 yd | To be Determined | — | — |
| Rathlin Waste water Pumping Station (WwPS) → Rathlin Island |
560 yd | To be Determined | — | — |
How these are counted
“Modelled” is NI Water's hydraulic-model prediction of spills per year. “Measured” is from NI Water's event duration monitors, counted with the industry 12/24 method (discharges within the same 12- or 24-hour block count as one spill); the bathing-season figure (1 Jun–15 Sep) is our count from NI Water's published discharge log. An overflow with no monitor isn't known to be dry. Classification is NI Water's own.
Nearest wastewater treatment works: Rathlin Island WwTW (560 yd → Rathlin Island) · Ballycastle WwTW (5.6 mi → North Coast).
Amenities & features
Parking
2
Toilets
1
Cafes & food
e.g. Ebb And Flow
4
Pubs & bars
e.g. McCuaig's Bar
1
Shops
e.g. Island Co-op Shop
1
Bike parking
1
Viewpoints
e.g. Knockans Viewpoint
1
Boating — nearest harbours & marinas
- Rathlin 160 yd
- Ballycastle 6.1 mi
- Ballintoy 7.7 mi
2 more further away
- Portbradden 9.6 mi
- Dunseverick 10.0 mi
Wildlife & designations
This beach lies in or within 0.6 mi of:
- ASSI Church Bay
- ASSI Rathlin Island - Ballycarry
- ASSI Rathlin Island - Coast
1 protected feature
- Intertidal rock Favourable, 2008
- SAC Rathlin Island
3 protected features · 2 Unfavourable
- Reefs Unfavourable, 2019
- Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time Unfavourable, 2019
- Submerged or partially submerged sea caves Favourable, 2005
- SPA Rathlin Island
4 protected features
- Common guillemot Favourable, 2021
- Razorbill Favourable, 2021
- Black-legged Kittiwake Favourable, 2021
- Breeding Seabird assemblage Favourable, 2021
- MCZ Rathlin
3 protected features
- Deep-sea bed Favourable, 2019
- Black guillemot Favourable, 2023
- Features indicating past change in relative sea level Favourable, 2014
Protected features and their latest condition assessment, from DAERA's 2023 marine protected area review. Only sites with a marine part are assessed there.
Alerts & advisories
Rip currents on surf beaches
The open Atlantic strands generate strong rip currents, particularly around low tide and after big swell. Swim between the red-and-yellow flags at lifeguarded beaches in season, never alone, and if caught in a rip do not swim against it: raise a hand, float, and let it carry you out until it releases.