Newcastle (2.63 km) Best Direction: No Information Type: Shallow Flat Chop Small Wave (< 1m) Tyrella (4.31 km) Best Direction: SW Type: Chop Small Wave (< 1m)
The it is a slow shelving beach so even when the tide is in you are only in about max 1 meter of water for about 30 meters out to sea. The tide retreats back about 60 meters when it is at the lowest. The waves are not usually that big unless there is some seriously wind beating onshore. Otherwise it's usually a bit choppy but nothing to worry about.
The beach itself is about 2 miles long. There is a town at one end of the beach and an estuary up at the other end and the kiters tend to kite in between these two points. There are not rocks at all. There are a few shells but we have not have any kites ripped on them and we have been flying near every weekend there for the last year. There is pile of space to launch safely when the tide is going out or out, but when it's in, it would be tricky enough to launch a kite safely. Hard compact sand. There is not many general public about for most of the year.
During the summer the air temperature is usually 20°C but look out for the rain. During the winter it is usually a lot colder than that. I would definably recommend a full 5mm steamer with gloves and booties if you were planning to stay out for any amount of time. There is good kiting there whenever the wind is good. It is surf able anytime in or out of season just depends on the wind direction.
Belfast, Antrim. Follow signs Newcastle A24. Junction with Ravenhill Road. At roundabout take 2nd exit (edge of) Carryduff. Follow signs Newcastle A24, Temple, Ballynahinch. Follow signs Newcastle A24, Seaforde, Junction with A25. At roundabout take 2nd exit, Clough, bear right A2, Dundrum. Follow the road out to the lazy BJ car park park and walk across dunes to the beach.
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