Portrush East Strand — Attraction in Northern Ireland

Where Sand, Surf and Coffee Collide in Coastal Harmony

A glorious stretch of sand so long and golden it could make the Sahara blush, and yet it’s conveniently located beside a public loo and a decent flat white. What more could you ask for?

First things first: practicality. There’s ample parking — not the usual panic-inducing handful of spaces that demand a sacrificial offering to the parking gods. No, this is proper, stress-free parking with enough room for the whole family, the dog, the dog’s emotional baggage, and several surfboards. Toilets are nearby too, cleanish and functional, which in British beach terms is basically luxury. And then there’s Chosen Coffee — the name says it all. Whether you need to warm up, wake up or just wallow in the comfort of caffeine, it’s a necessary pit stop for beachgoers who appreciate their espresso as much as their sand dunes.

Speaking of which — this place is a walker’s wonderland. You can stroll eastward along the beach towards White Rocks, let your feet sink into the sand as you amble west into Portrush itself, or take the scenic route around the peninsula past Arcadia, where the views are so good they ought to come with a warning for excessive swooning.

Sunsets here? Sublime. The sky doesn’t just change colour — it performs. Golds, pinks, oranges and the occasional moody grey all dance across the sea as surfers catch their last waves and photographers silently weep with joy. Whether you’re here for the perfect shot, the salty air, or to watch your children dig a hole halfway to Australia, there’s something for everyone.

Surfers carve through the waves like seals with swagger. Kids sprint around like they’ve been given a sugar IV. Dog walkers parade their four-legged friends as if auditioning for Crufts-on-Sea. And photographers? Well, they just stand still looking smug — and rightly so.

In short, East Strand is more than just a beach. It’s an all-singing, all-dancing, sand-between-your-toes experience — with great coffee, even better views, and enough space for both peaceful paddling and full-throttle seaside chaos. Go once, and you’ll wonder why you ever wasted time...

Can get great waves for surfing. A bit more fickle than the West strand probably due to it's direction.

Definitely best to stay between the lifeguarded flags if swimming/bathing. Be careful as there's hidden holes/dips in the sand towards the right of the small river/outfall. Can go from ankle depth to waist instantly. Very strong rip current that runs off the Arcadia.

I would say on the whole though, it's probably a safer beach than the West strand. Less rips when it's calm.

If you're intending to surf. It's worth a walk to the Arcadia to assess how big the larger sets are and how strong the rips are. Can be quite deceptive, waves can be a lot bigger than they look from the beach. If you're doubting your ability, do not go out!

For forecasting the East Strand. I would recommend "surf-forecast.com". From what I have seen it seems to offer more accurate predictions for the surf conditions. The "swell energy" in KJ is the value to pay attention to. Surfline I have seen underestimate the Surf height on East Strand a number of times by multiple ft, although the swell data seems to be...

This is a large beach which is a few miles long between Portrush and the White Rocks but is less than a five minute walk to the shops. There is free WI FI and there is a very large free carpark which has a height restriction barrier and there are toilets which also has disabled. There's a surf board hire shop and there's three hot showers but they cost £1 each time. The cold outside shower is free. During the holiday season there are lifeguards but dogs are not aloud on that section of the beach. Dogs must be on a lead while on the prom but there's a short board walk from the carpark to the few miles of beach that dogs are aloud to free range all year. there are plenty of bins, seats but no picnic tables. There are no vehicles aloud on the beach but there is Access for Horses at the White Rocks end of the beach and parking for Horse...