NI Beaches

All beaches

Glenarm Bay

Antrim Coast · Coastal

Glenarm is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies on the North Channel coast north of the town of Larne and the village of Ballygalley, and south of the village of Carnlough. It is situated in the civil parish of Tickmacrevan and the historic barony of Glenarm Lower. It is part of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and had a population of 504 people in the 2021 census.

Adapted from Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Conditions now

Air 12°C Drizzle
Sea temp 14.5°C surface, modelled
Wind 11mph from NW · gust 19 mph
Sea state1.4 mperiod 5 s · NW
Swell0.5 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

3 NI Water storm overflows within 1.2 mi · 1 monitored.

Nearest 3
OverflowDistanceClassificationSpills/yrMonitored
Glenarm River Syphon CSO
→ Glens and Rathlin
380 yd To be Determined
Glenarm Two WwPS
→ North Channel
400 yd To be Determined
Straidkilly Bay Road WwPS
→ Glens and Rathlin
1.1 mi To be Determined yes

Nearest wastewater treatment works: Tully Road Headworks WwTW (330 yd → North Channel) · Munie WwTW (2.9 mi → Glenarm River).

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

Amenities nearby & features

Parking 8
Toilets 4
Drinking water 1
Cafes & food 2
Pubs & bars e.g. Bridge End Tavern 2
Shops e.g. Day-Today 1
Picnic tables 3
Benches 1
Bike parking 1
Viewpoints e.g. The Mount 1
Information e.g. Millennium Milepost 2

Boating — nearest harbours & marinas

  • Glenarm Harbour · Council · Causeway Coast & Glens 590 yd
  • Carnlough Harbour · Council · Causeway Coast & Glens 2.0 mi
  • Waterfoot Harbour · Unknown · Causeway Coast & Glens 7.6 mi
  • Waterfoot Slipway · Causeway Coast & Glens 8.1 mi
  • Red Bay Slipway · Causeway Coast & Glens 8.1 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

This beach lies in or within 0.6 mi of:

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.