Portstewart Strand
Two miles of drive-on National Trust sand at the mouth of the Bann.
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● Spot · shaded: the wind directions that work here. It is not a riding area or a permitted kite zone. Two fingers to move the map.
Location & launch
Know before you go.
- Launch
- Two miles of National Trust sand at the mouth of the Bann, with vehicle access onto the beach.
- Wind
- W · WNW · NW · NNW · N · NNE winds work here.
The shaded area shows the wind directions recorded as working here. It is not a permitted kite zone or a safe launch boundary. Check local signs.
Local rules, hazards & spot guide
Need to know
The things that catch people out here.
- The Bann mouth at the eastern end runs strong streams over a bar. Stay west.
- Vehicle access onto the sand makes this an easy beach with kit — and means watching for cars.
- The dunes behind are a National Nature Reserve. Stay off them.
Conditions
- Best
- Works
- Offshore
- Works in
- W, WNW, NW, NNW, N, NNE
- Best in
- WNW, NW
- Offshore (careful)
- ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW
- Wind quality
- clean
- Water
- Flat to choppy
- Depth
- standing
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Spring range
- 1.7 m
- Beginner
- Good
- Intermediate
- Ideal
- Advanced
- Good
Hazards
Most serious first. The level is in words as well as colour.
- high
current The River Bann mouth at the eastern end runs strong streams over a bar.
- medium
wildlife The Bann Estuary dunes behind are a National Nature Reserve and protected habitat.
- medium
crowds Popular National Trust beach with cars on the sand.
Access & rules
- Launch
- Two miles of National Trust sand at the mouth of the Bann, with vehicle access onto the beach.
- Permit
- Not required
- Insurance
- Third-party liability expected
- Tuition
- Permitted
- Facilities
- toilets, cafe, changing
Parking
- Portstewart Strand (National Trust, drive-on)
paid
Seasonal restrictions
- Jun–Aug
RNLI bathing zones in peak season.
Safety
Who is around if it goes wrong. None of it makes the water safe.
- Lifeguards
- Seasonal RNLI cover.
- RNLI
- Portrush RNLI
- Nearest A&E
- Causeway Hospital, Coleraine (~15 min)
- Water quality
- Designated bathing water — excellent
The spot
Portstewart Strand is two miles of Atlantic sand owned by the National Trust, with vehicle access straight onto the beach and proper facilities behind. That combination makes it one of the easiest beaches in the UK to arrive at with a full kit bag.
The River Bann mouth at the eastern end runs strong streams over a bar — stay west of it. The dunes behind are a National Nature Reserve and are off limits.
Links & local
Schools & shops nearby
- Long Line Surf School · kite school, surf shop · ~3 km
Nearby alternatives
Other launches around Portrush & Portstewart, with different conditions.
- Portrush East Strand
Westerlies to northerlies with Atlantic swell.
Sources
Where this record came from, and how confident we are in it.
- Kitesurf Warehouse — kitesurfing Northern Ireland
Checked 2026-09-07 · conditions
- The Kitesurf Academy — Portstewart Strand
Checked 2026-09-23 · wind
Verify locally. Coordinates 55.1711, -6.7354. Conditions, access arrangements and beach rules change; check them on the day before you rely on anything on this page.