- Sea temp 13.2 °C surface, modelled
- Waves 0.5 m period 5 s · N
- Wind 7 mph from N · gust 13
- Next tide High 04:18 today · 1.5 m
Cushendun is a small coastal village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits off the A2 coast road between Cushendall and Ballycastle. It has a sheltered harbour and lies at the mouth of the River Dun and Glendun, one of the nine Glens of Antrim. The Mull of Kintyre in Scotland is only about 15 miles away across the North Channel and can be seen easily on clear days. In the 2021 census it had a population of 115 people.
Adapted from Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Conditions now
Air
8°C
Clear
Swell
0.3m
period 4 s · N
Rain
1mm
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
2 NI Water storm overflows within 1.2 mi.
Measured in 202570 spills85 h · 22 in the bathing season · 1 of 2 monitored
| Overflow | Distance | Classification | Modelled spills/yr | Measured 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cushendun Caves Outlet FA CSO | 500 yd | To be Determined | — | — |
| Knocknacarry WwPS → Glendun River |
0.6 mi | To be Determined | — | 70 spills 22 in season · 85 h |
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: Cushendun Caves WwTW (500 yd → North Channel) · Ballycleagh WwTW (530 yd → North Channel).
Amenities & features
Parking
3
Toilets
1
Cafes & food
e.g. The Corner
2
Shops
e.g. Costcutter
1
Picnic tables
5
Benches
8
Bins
1
Boating — nearest harbours & marinas
- Cushendall 3.7 mi
- Red Bay 3.8 mi
- Waterfoot 3.8 mi
2 more further away
- Waterfoot 4.4 mi
- Ballycastle 9.5 mi
Wildlife & designations
This beach lies in or within 0.6 mi of:
- SAC Red Bay
1 protected feature
- Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time (Maerl beds) Favourable, 2017
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.