Benone Strand runs for seven miles of golden sand along the north coast, from below Mussenden Temple to the Martello Tower at Magilligan - a broad, sandy beach backed by a mountain range, with views across Lough Foyle to Donegal.
Key Facts
Parking on the beach at Benone Strand. Photo: @candou.g
- Northern Ireland’s first fully inclusive beach, designated in 2017 through work by the local Mae Murray Foundation charity in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. A free equipment loan scheme runs during July and August, including all-terrain wheelchairs and other mobility aids - genuinely useful practical information for anyone planning an accessible visit.
- Multiple European Blue Flag awards, most recently in 2025, recognising water quality and safety alongside the usual seaside amenities: lifeguard cover, picnic spots, and watersports including surfing and kayaking on the open Atlantic.
- The beach and sand dune system fall within the Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and are further protected as part of the Magilligan Special Area of Conservation and Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) - Northern Ireland’s own legal designation for scientifically significant sites.
- The Umbra Dune Grasslands, part of the wider system, is a genuinely significant nature reserve - shifting sand dunes and hazel copses home to skylarks, adderstongue ferns, and rare moonwort.
Nearby
Benone Strand sits between two other well-known landmarks on the coast - Mussenden Temple at one end, Magilligan Point (and its Martello Tower) at the other - making it a natural stop if you’re already visiting either. Downhill Beach is about 12 miles east along the Causeway Coastal Route.
Getting There
Benone Strand is on the coast near Limavady, roughly 15 minutes’ drive from the town, and about an hour from both Belfast and Derry~Londonderry. The nearest railway station is Castlerock, around 20 minutes away by car, on the Belfast to Derry line. There’s free parking at the beach entrance, and on-beach parking is permitted along the firm sand - a genuinely unusual feature, and one of the reasons Benone is popular with campervan visitors.
Benone Tourist Complex
Behind the beach sits the council-run complex, a camping and caravan park with around 80 touring pitches (including “super pitches” with electricity), camping pitches, and a handful of glamping lodges. In July and August it also runs bookable, heated outdoor splash pools - useful for younger children on a day when the Atlantic feels a bit bracing. It’s a practical base if you want more than a day trip out of this stretch of coast.
Practical Information
Is Benone Beach free? Yes - there’s no charge to access the beach itself; parking at the main entrance is also free.
Can you drive here? Yes, driving is permitted on the firm sand, which is unusual for a Northern Ireland beach and part of what makes this stretch popular with campervans and motorhomes.
Are dogs allowed? Dogs are welcome for most of the year, but restrictions apply within the flagged section during the summer season (roughly May to September) - check current signage at the entrance, since exact dates can shift year to year.
Can you camp here? Not on the sand itself, but the adjoining tourist complex offers camping, caravan, and glamping pitches just inland.
How long is Benone Strand? Seven miles, one of the longest continuous stretches of sand on this coast.
