- Sea temp 15.5 °C surface, modelled
- Air 13 °C Partly cloudy
- Wind 23 mph from NW · gust 38
- Next tide Low 23:28 today · 0.6 m
Runkerry Strand is a coastal beach on the North 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
15.5°C
surface, modelled
Wind
23mph
from NW · gust 38 mph
Sea state3.5 mperiod 8 s · NW
Swell1.4 m9 s · NW
Rain, 48 h4 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
12 NI Water storm overflows within 1.2 mi — 8 rated Unsatisfactory · 8 monitored. Modelled ~70 spills/year combined.
Nearest 12
| Overflow | Distance | Classification | Spills/yr | Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bushfoot WwPS → Bush River (Bushmills) |
650 yd | Unsatisfactory | — | yes |
| Runkerry Road Bushmills WwPS → Bush |
0.6 mi | Unsatisfactory | ~23 | yes |
| Coastguard Road Lissanduff CSO → Bush |
0.7 mi | Satisfactory | — | yes |
| Doonans Corner WwPS → Bush |
0.7 mi | Unsatisfactory | ~1 | — |
| Portballintrae CSO → North Coast |
0.9 mi | Unsatisfactory | ~5 | yes |
| Portballintrae Seapark WwPS → North Coast |
0.9 mi | Unsatisfactory | ~1 | yes |
| Bushmills FFT CSO | 0.9 mi | Unsatisfactory | ~28 | — |
| Bushmills FA CSO | 0.9 mi | Unsatisfactory | ~12 | — |
| Portballintrae Caravan Park WwPS | 1.0 mi | Satisfactory | — | yes |
| Main Street Bushmills CSO → Bush River (Bushmills) |
1.1 mi | Satisfactory | — | yes |
| Dundarave WwPS → Bush River (Bushmills) |
1.2 mi | Unsatisfactory | — | — |
| Riverdale Lodge WwPS → Bush River (Bushmills) |
1.2 mi | Satisfactory | — | yes |
Nearest wastewater treatment works: Causeway Road 15 ST (0.6 mi → Bush) · Causeway Road 30 ST (0.7 mi → Bush).
Spill figures are modelled annual predictions, not measured events. Classification is NI Water's own.
Amenities nearby & features
Parking
3
Toilets
1
Shops
e.g. Day-Today
1
Picnic tables
6
Benches
12
Information
e.g. Runkerry Beach
3
Bins
4
Boating — nearest harbours & marinas
- Portballintrae 0.7 mi
- Dunseverick 4.1 mi
- Portbradden 4.6 mi
- Portandhu 5.0 mi
- Portrush 5.3 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:
- ASSI Giant's Causeway and Dunseverick
- ASSI Runkerry
- SAC North Antrim Coast
- SAC Skerries and Causeway
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.