Beach at Portstewart
Portstewart Strand has been crowned the best beach in the UK in this year’s Sunday Times guide, with judges noting the sense that it is “loved and cherished by the local community”.
Last year it was named the best place to live in Northern Ireland.
The renowned Sunday Times guide also gives a shout out to beaches in Cushendall, Ballycastle, Ballintoy and Runkerry.
Some 50 top beaches across the UK have been selected for the guide, showcasing the remarkable beauty of our seaside.
Chris Haslam, chief travel writer at The Times and Sunday Times, visited and inspected 756 beaches during a month-long campervan tour of the UK’s coasts in order to compile the list.
The beaches were evaluated through an 11-point inspection checklist, with criteria including water quality, cleanliness, dog-friendliness and accessibility.
In his description of Portstewart Strand, Chris Haslam said: “Yes, you can drive onto the beach, and will you look at the size of it?
“Backed by dunes, it would run all the way to Magilligan Point, were it not for the salmon-rich Bann River cutting it in two miles west.
“Surfers, paddleboarders, kayakers and especially wild swimmers come to play here, while others come simply to stare at the sea: some sitting in their cars, others on the cocktail deck of Harry’s Shack.”
He added: “If beauty was all it took to win Beach of the Year then Ballycastle, Whitepark, Tyrella or almost any other Northern Irish beach could have taken the crown.
“But being the best takes more: excellent water quality, clean sands, lifeguards, a cracking cafe and the sense that the beach is loved and cherished by the local community.
“Being allowed to drive onto the strand is an added bonus that makes all the difference for families and those less mobile. Portstewart has it all.”
The news comes after Portstewart was named the best place to live in Northern Ireland in the Sunday Times guide last year.
Tags: