- Water quality Excellent sampled 14 Sep 2026
- Sea temp 11.5 °C surface, modelled
- Waves 0.8 m period 7 s · NW
- Wind 5 mph from NE · gust 10
- Next tide High 00:51 today · 1.6 m
National Trust strand and dunes at the western edge of the town.
Conditions now
Air
9°C
Partly cloudy
Swell
0.7m
period 8 s · NW
Rain
1mm
last 48 hours
Water quality
A designated bathing water: DAERA samples it weekly through the bathing season (1 June–15 September).
Latest sample 14 Sep 2026: Excellent — E. coli 10, intestinal enterococci 10 CFU/100 ml
Sample history (40 shown)
| Date | E. coli | Ent. | Rating | Algae |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 9 Sep 2026 | 26 | 14 | Excellent | — |
| 4 Sep 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 1 Sep 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 28 Aug 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 24 Aug 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 20 Aug 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 12 Aug 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 6 Aug 2026 | 24 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 30 Jul 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 29 Jul 2026 | 12 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 21 Jul 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 16 Jul 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 7 Jul 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 1 Jul 2026 | 270 | 20 | Good | — |
| 23 Jun 2026 | 13 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 19 Jun 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 15 Jun 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 3 Jun 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 3 Jun 2026 | 10 | 0 | Excellent | — |
| 3 Jun 2026 | 0 | 0 | Advice against bathing | — |
| 27 May 2026 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 3 Nov 2025 | 0 | 0 | Excellent | — |
| 27 Oct 2025 | 0 | 0 | Advice against bathing | yes |
| 28 Sep 2025 | 0 | 0 | Excellent | — |
| 21 Sep 2025 | 0 | 0 | Advice against bathing | yes |
| 15 Sep 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 9 Sep 2025 | 15 | 11 | Excellent | — |
| 1 Sep 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 29 Aug 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 21 Aug 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 12 Aug 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 6 Aug 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 1 Aug 2025 | 12 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 28 Jul 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 25 Jul 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 17 Jul 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 9 Jul 2025 | 11 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 1 Jul 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
| 26 Jun 2025 | 10 | 10 | Excellent | — |
Weekly lab samples, not real-time. Avoid bathing for 48 h after heavy rain. Bathing Water Profile (PDF).
Sewage & storm overflows
4 NI Water storm overflows within 1.2 mi — 2 rated Unsatisfactory.
Modelled~28 spills/yrNI Water's prediction, all 4 combined
Measured in 202534 spills43 h · 11 in the bathing season · 3 of 4 monitored
| Overflow | Distance | Classification | Modelled spills/yr | Measured 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston Drive Regent CSO → Bush |
830 yd | Satisfactory | — | 0 spills 0 in season · 0 h |
| Berrins WwPS → Bush |
0.5 mi | Unsatisfactory | ~18 | 32 spills 10 in season · 42 h |
| Crescent Portstewart WwPS → Portstewart Bay |
0.9 mi | Unsatisfactory | ~10 | 2 spills 1 in season · 1 h |
| The Crescent CSO → Portstewart Bay |
0.9 mi | Satisfactory | — | — |
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: Dartress WwTW (2.1 mi → Bann Brook) · Bellany WwTW (2.2 mi → Bann Brook).
Amenities & features
Parking
3
Toilets
1
Cafes & food
e.g. Harry's Shack
3
Dogs, access & rules
Seasonal dog restrictions
Cars allowed on the sand
- Dogs: National Trust strand: dogs must be on a lead near the bathing area and away from the tern-nesting fenced zone; a seasonal dog exclusion applies to the central beach. Council byelaw
- Vehicles on the sand: National Trust — drive onto and park on the strand (fee); closed when the tide or conditions require. (Editorial)
Rules and dates vary by council and season — check the signage at the entrance.
Boating — nearest harbours & marinas
- Portstewart 1.2 mi
- Portrush 3.7 mi
- Portandhu 4.1 mi
2 more further away
- Portballintrae 8.0 mi
- Dunseverick 12.8 mi
Wildlife & designations
This beach lies in or within 0.6 mi of:
- ASSI Bann Estuary
- SAC Bann Estuary
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.