Stränder i Nordirland - vackert vid Atlantkusten

Northern Ireland doesn't just offer dramatic cliffs, charming roads and cute lambs. There are also long, beautiful beaches in Northern Ireland. This is where Northern Irish people go for their summers and holidays, and many holiday in one of the thousands of caravans we've seen on campsites.

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Beaches in Northern Ireland

We have visited two beaches in Northern Ireland: Whiterocks beach and Benone/Downhill beach (two different names for different parts of a very long sandy beach). On the map you can also see how we then drove further in a south-westerly direction, towards Mullaghmore Head in Ireland.

Stränder i Nordirland — Two beaches in Northern Ireland - and our onward journey to Mullaghmore Head

Whiterocks Beach

After all the beautiful coastal roads, dramatic rope bridges and special rock formations we suddenly arrived at ... a sandy beach. The first beach we reached is called Whiterocks Beach and is incredibly beautiful. It's May, so of course the water is cold, but we saw the occasional surfer in a wetsuit.

READ MORE: East Coast of Northern Ireland: Causeway Coastal Route
READ MORE: Things to do in Ireland and Irish attractions

Benone/Downhill Beach

The next beach, Benone /Downhill Beach, is perhaps even more famous. At 11 kilometres, this is one of the longest beaches in Northern Ireland. We visited the beach on a slightly rough morning in May and were almost alone, except for a man with a dog and a surfer. What a stunningly beautiful beach!

Peter vid stranden i Downhill Beach — Peter on the beach in Downhill Beach

What about water temperature?

When we checked in at a nearby campsite, we took the opportunity to ask the man at the reception about the water temperature in the summer. We didn't get an answer in numbers, but since it's the Atlantic Ocean, it never gets really hot. The man told us that people still bathe and swim here in the summers. "Refreshing" was the word he found most appropriate to describe bathing here.

Camping Deighan Caravans

We went camping Deighan CaravansBenone Caravan Park. This campsite felt a bit desolate when we arrived, but the man at the reception told us that this will soon change. During the weekend there is a "bank holiday" and then it will be full. The Northern Irish families love the coast, and holiday here with caravans or mobile homes.

Camping Nordirland — Our rented motorhome on site at the campsite

Caravans in their thousands

We can't say how many caravans we've seen while travelling along the coast of Northern Ireland, but they number in the thousands. We asked the man at the reception of the Deighan Caravans campsite and he told us that many families buy caravans.

It is not cheap, but it is much cheaper than buying a house. Because the caravan is mobile, a different, more lenient set of rules applies. Then they come here with the family on holidays and weekends!

Villavagnar Nordirland — There are plenty of caravans

Udden Mullaghmore Head

After our visit to these beautiful beaches in Northern Ireland, it was time for us to roll in a south-westerly direction, towards Ireland and the west coast. Our first stop on the way was Mullaghmore Head. We went here to see the dramatic cliffs and big waves, but also learnt that the site has a connection to royalty. And that a dramatic and tragic story was played out here.

Mullaghmore head Irland — Raindrops on the lens at Mullaghmore Head

Prince Charles treaties

Right here, at Mullaghmore Head, Prince Charles's uncle had a castle and the Prince sometimes came here in the summers as a child. But it was also here that the Prince's beloved uncle, along with three others, was blown up by the IRA some 40 years ago, while fishing for lobster.

We have now continued along the west coast of Ireland, where we have seen even more fantastic, and different, nature. We publish a new post every morning at 06:00, so if you keep following the blog there will be more soon!

READ MORE: Facts about Ireland - 3o things you (maybe) didn't know

20 Comments

Add yours →

Travel Linda says:

Must be very crowded on the long beaches! Strange how we humans seem to be drawn to the sea despite low bathing temperatures.

05 May 2018 - 8:16

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The sea always attracts I think, maybe not only for swimming but also because it is wonderful to be by the sea in some way! 🙂
  
  05 May 2018 - 9:47
  
Anna / Boihusbil says:

Incredibly beautiful environment! And water environments are always fantastic, I think, especially outside the bathing season. 🙂

05 May 2018 - 9:24

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I agree that both seas and lakes are attractive. We are always drawn to water!
  
  05 May 2018 - 9:47
  
Ditte says:

A fantastically beautiful landscape and nice now to travel here in the low season. It will not be directly any congestion - Great that now has a map in the post because it will then be so clear to follow.
And it's nice that the sea is almost always present. and its beautiful beaches....
Great pictures that make it possible to imagine how beautiful it is.
Keep up the good work.

05 May 2018 - 10:31

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thank you Ditte! And glad to hear that you appreciate the maps! I myself think that maps make it much easier to understand where you are.
  
  05 May 2018 - 12:13
  
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

Interesting that there are so many caravans there. Are they used as homes, or as holiday homes?

05 May 2018 - 11:17

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  They are used as holiday homes!
  
  05 May 2018 - 12:14
  
Matts Torebring says:

Many campsites across Europe are feeling the pinch, with caravans making more money than camping pitches.

05 May 2018 - 11:28

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, probably so. It's probably, as you say, common everywhere, but we've seen more of them here than anywhere else!
  
  05 May 2018 - 12:14
  
Goatfish says:

Northern Ireland used to be a dangerous area. I remember the IRA, 15 years ago my husband and I were in Dublin and travelled around a bit. We learnt a lot of history and I did a whole school project about Ireland and its history. That binder is gone now. Green Ireland and its nature have always fascinated me.
And the sea, the proximity of water, it's human nature to want it. Caravans are smart!

05 May 2018 - 16:00

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, there was a time when there was a lot of violence in Northern Ireland! And even though your binder is gone, the memories seem to be there 🙂.
  
  06 May 2018 - 0:40
  
BP says:

Very nice beaches, but the last two pictures were probably the most dramatic in the post. Natural formations are more powerful than beaches, I think.
By the way, the caravans are called 'chalets'. A typically British phenomenon, much like our summer cottages you can rent. The Brits love them and they are tired of "refreshing" water that is not too clean either, at least not in the north of England where my husband comes from.

05 May 2018 - 21:02

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Interesting that the caravans are called chalets in England! According to the man at the campsite in Northern Ireland they are called "static Caravans" or just "caravans" here. (I tried to call them "cabins" nen he didn't even understand what I was talking about ;))
  
  06 May 2018 - 0:43
  
Lots of other stuff and some concrete says:

Now I have read about your trip from the beginning. Looks like a very beautiful green island with mixed nature. What rocks!
Checking in again tomorrow!
Good night!
Agneta

05 May 2018 - 22:17

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  How nice that you read about our trip Agneta! Have a great time!
  
  06 May 2018 - 0:44
  
Lena - good for the soul says:

Of course I continue to follow 🙂 You always have such exciting and useful posts!

Hug Lena

06 May 2018 - 17:38

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you're following along, and that you like our posts Lena! 🙂
  
  12 May 2018 - 7:48
  
OnTrip.com says:

What beautiful beaches surrounded by rugged but impressive nature. It must be nice to experience.

Have a good trip 🙂

/Annette

07 May 2018 - 18:32

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thank you very much! Yes, the nature here is amazing!
  
  12 May 2018 - 7:48

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North Beach outside Dublin - and Ardgillan Castle | FREEDOMtravel

Beaches in Northern Ireland - beautiful Atlantic coastline

Beaches in Northern Ireland

Whiterocks Beach

Benone/Downhill Beach

What about water temperature?

Camping Deighan Caravans

Caravans in their thousands

Udden Mullaghmore Head

Prince Charles treaties

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20 Comments

Travel Linda says:

Helena says:

Anna / Boihusbil says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

Helena says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

Goatfish says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Lots of other stuff and some concrete says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

OnTrip.com says:

Helena says:

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