NI Beaches

All beaches

Ferris Bay

Antrim Coast · Coastal

Ferris 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 13°C Partly cloudy
Sea temp 14.7°C surface, modelled
Wind 16mph from NW · gust 26 mph
Sea state1.4 mperiod 5 s · NW
Swell0.4 m8 s · NW
Rain, 48 h2 mm

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

9 NI Water storm overflows within 1.2 mi — 9 rated Unsatisfactory · 2 monitored. Modelled ~101 spills/year combined.

Nearest 9
OverflowDistanceClassificationSpills/yrMonitored
Sandy Bay WwPS
→ Larne Lough North
0.5 mi Unsatisfactory ~21 yes
Curran Road Loughview CSO
→ Larne Lough North
0.5 mi Unsatisfactory ~15 yes
Larne Harbour WwPS
→ Glens and Rathlin
0.6 mi Unsatisfactory ~1
Olderfleet Road WwPS
→ Glens and Rathlin
0.8 mi Unsatisfactory
Coastguard Road WwPS
→ Glens and Rathlin
0.9 mi Unsatisfactory ~1
Larne Harbour Redlands Road WwPS
→ Glens and Rathlin
1.1 mi Unsatisfactory ~31
Larne FFT CSO 1.1 mi Unsatisfactory ~29
Kitsons Yard CSO
→ Glens and Rathlin
1.2 mi Unsatisfactory ~2
Main Street Agnew CSO
→ Glens and Rathlin
1.2 mi Unsatisfactory ~1

Nearest wastewater treatment works: Ferris Bay 50 ST (370 yd → Larne Lough) · Ballylumford Cottages ST (760 yd → Larne Lough).

Spill figures are modelled annual predictions, not measured events. Classification is NI Water's own.

Amenities nearby & features

Parking 3
Picnic tables 2

Boating — nearest harbours & marinas

  • Ballylumford Harbour · Council · Mid and East Antrim 570 yd
  • Larne Port · Council · Mid and East Antrim 0.8 mi
  • Islandmagee Harbour · Unknown · Mid and East Antrim 2.2 mi
  • Whitehead Harbour · Unknown · Mid and East Antrim 7.3 mi
  • Unknown Harbour · Unknown · Mid and East Antrim 8.0 mi

Kind and ownership are DAERA's own classification. The feed carries no per-site facility data — call ahead for berthing, fuel, water or shore power.

Wildlife & designations

No ASSI, SAC, SPA, MCZ or Ramsar boundary within 0.6 mi of this point.

Alerts & advisories

Weever fish

Lesser weever fish bury themselves in wet sand around the low-tide line in summer and have venomous dorsal spines. Wear beach shoes and shuffle your feet in the shallows. A sting is intensely painful but rarely serious: immerse the foot in water as hot as you can tolerate (about 40 C) for 30-90 minutes and seek help if a spine remains or swelling spreads.

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.

Midges and clegs

Biting midges and clegs (horseflies) are worst on warm, still, overcast days and around dawn and dusk from late spring to early autumn, especially near dunes, marram grass and standing water. A breeze off the sea keeps them down. Cover up or use repellent at the back of the beach.

Jellyfish

Lion's mane and compass jellyfish are common off the Northern Ireland coast in summer and are often blown inshore and stranded after onshore winds. Lion's mane stings can be severe. Do not rub a sting; rinse with seawater, remove tentacles with a gloved hand or card, and use hot water or a cold pack for pain.

Seasonal dog restrictions

Many Northern Ireland councils restrict dogs from the main bathing area, or require dogs on leads, between 1 May and 30 September (Blue Flag beaches usually exclude dogs from the bathing zone entirely in season). Rules and dates vary by beach and council: check the signage at the entrance and your council's bathing-beach byelaws.