Snap photos of the Irish Sea flanked by the green Mountains of Mourne on this popular urban beach with a lively walkway.
Newcastle Beach is a picturesque stretch of sand and pebbles backed by a popular promenade. Shops and restaurants line the back of the beach in the Victorian resort town of Newcastle. Bring your kids to the bustling streets surrounding this beach to find amusement centers and other fun attractions.
Sunbathe on the pebbles and sand of this pretty beach on a warm summer day. Go for a brisk swim in the frosty water of the Irish Sea. Enjoy views of the green, hilly cliffs of the Mountains of Mourne, which provide a dramatic backdrop. Let your kids clamber over the piles of stones and rocks that add character to the sandy haven.
Stroll along the wide bay. Do some beachcombing with your family for shells and intriguing pebbles. This section of beach is about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) long. Traverse the elegant, white footbridge over the Shimna River at the southern end of the beach and enjoy the views of the point where the river meets the Irish Sea.
Relax with snacks and refreshments at one of the area’s many cafés and restaurants and enjoy the serenity in this calm resort town on the sea.
Consider the region’s intriguing history, recorded in various signs and plaques spread across the town. In 1910, engineer Harry Ferguson flew a plane across the beach in one of the earliest engine-powered flights in Ireland. The town escaped the worst parts of the long-lasting 20th-century Irish conflict, with Catholic and Protestants living peacefully together.
The beach is free to access and remains open at all times. Note that lifeguards patrol the stretch of sand at busy times and the beach has life-saving equipment.
Newcastle Beach is on the eastern coastline in the central part of the city. Leave your car in a parking lot at the back of the beach. Visit nearby attractions at the southern end of this sandy haven, such as the Joyland Amusement Centres, the Newcastle Visitor Information Center and Coco’s Children’s Adventure Playground.
