County Derry's Portstewart Strand has been crowned UK’s and Northern Ireland beach of the year, according to The Times and The Sunday Times annual best UK beaches guide, published online today and in print on July 13. The 17th edition of the guide is the definitive and most comprehensive list of the UK's 50 best beaches. The guide showcases the unrivalled beauty of the UK seaside, evaluated through a rigorous 11-point inspection checklist. READ NEXT: County Derry seaside town named in Sunday Times best places to liveWith Portstewart Strand, Co Derry named as 'Beach of the Year', Cushendall, Ballycastle, Ballintoy and Runkerry (all Co Antrim) completed the top five best beaches in Northern Ireland. Chris Haslam said: “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.

Source: The Times July 07, 2025 10:36 UTC