8 Best Places to Paddle Board in Northern Ireland

Discover the beauty of the Emerald Isle as you glide over the water.

Have you ever considered exploring the best places to paddleboard in Northern Ireland?

From serene lakes to stunning coastlines, this region offers some truly unforgettable adventures.

Let’s dive into the crystal-clear waters of Northern Ireland and see what awaits. Are you ready to embark on this journey?

Map

Planning Your Paddle in Northern Ireland

Season figures are averages of the daily maximum temperature in the ERA5 climate archive for 2019 to 2024. Every spot below can carry its own rules on top of these.

Season: average daily highs clear 15 °C from May through September. August is the warmest month, averaging 19 °C, and outside that window a wetsuit is what separates a short session from a comfortable one.

Where to Paddle Board in Northern Ireland

Please note: While we strive for accuracy, always verify details before paddling. If you spot an error or if you're a local official wanting to make a correction, please comment below. Thanks!

#1 Strangford Lough

🏖️ Location Type: Oceanfront
📍 Access Point: Delamont Country Park (Google Maps)
🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Generally calm, sheltered from strong winds
☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Autumn
🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Seals, ducks, migratory birds
️🏞️️️ Landmarks & Views: Lush coastline, picturesque islands
⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Respect wildlife, maintain a safe distance from seals

Strangford Lough, a marine nature reserve, provides paddleboarders with calm, sheltered waters, perfect for exploring the area’s many islands.

Keep an eye out for seals and migratory birds as you navigate this breathtaking coastline.

#2 Lough Erne

🏖️ Location Type: Lake
📍 Access Point: Castle Archdale Country Park (Google Maps)
🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Calm, occasional winds
☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Autumn
🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Fallow deer, otters, kingfishers
️🏞️️️ Landmarks & Views: Historic castles, wooded islands
⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Stay vigilant in windy conditions, respect local rules

Lough Erne, composed of Upper and Lower Lough Erne, offers miles of shoreline and countless islands to explore.

From historic castles to picturesque wooded islands, it’s a haven for history and nature lovers alike.

#3 Carrick-a-Rede

🏖️ Location Type: Oceanfront
📍 Access Point: National Trust – Carrick-a-Rede (Google Maps)
🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Variable conditions, be aware of ocean currents
☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Autumn
🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Seals, seabirds
️🏞️️️ Landmarks & Views: Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, rocky coastline
⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Take extra caution in strong currents and winds

Carrick-a-Rede, known for its famous rope bridge, provides a more challenging paddleboarding experience along the rocky coastline.

Venture out from Ballintoy Harbour and enjoy the dramatic views of the bridge and cliffs.

#4 Lough Neagh

🏖️ Location Type: Lake
📍 Access Point: Oxford Island National Nature Reserve (Google Maps)
🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Generally calm, occasional winds
☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Autumn
🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Waterfowl, wading birds
️🏞️️️ Landmarks & Views: Woodlands, wetlands
⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Be cautious in strong winds, respect nature reserve rules

Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles, offers a vast expanse of water to explore.

Paddle among the woodlands and wetlands of Oxford Island National Nature Reserve and observe diverse waterfowl and wading bird species.

#5 Ballycastle Bay

🏖️ Location Type: Oceanfront
📍 Access Point: Ballycastle Beach (Google Maps)
🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Moderate waves, ocean currents
☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Autumn
🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Seabirds, seals
️🏞️️️ Landmarks & Views: Fair Head cliffs, picturesque coastline
⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Use caution in ocean currents, respect wildlife

Ballycastle Bay offers a scenic paddleboarding experience, with an abundance of seabirds and the towering Fair Head cliffs as a backdrop.

Set out from the sandy Ballycastle Beach and embrace the beauty of the North Antrim coast.

#6 Portrush Harbour

🏖️ Location Type: Oceanfront
📍 Access Point: The Watersports Centre, East Strand (Google Maps)
🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Generally calm in the harbor, ocean swells in the open sea
☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Autumn
🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Seabirds, seals
️🏞️️️ Landmarks & Views: Portrush coastline, skerries
⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Keep clear of boat traffic, stay within the harbor for calmer conditions

Portrush Harbour, situated along the Causeway Coast, offers a sheltered environment for paddleboarding within the harbor, while those seeking adventure can head out into the open sea to explore the coastline.

Be mindful of boat traffic and changing wind conditions as you navigate this popular seaside destination.

#7 Crawfordsburn Beach

Stubacca, Crawfordsburn Country Park, Scaling by stand-up-paddling.org, CC BY-SA 3.0

🏖️ Location Type: Oceanfront
📍 Access Point: Crawfordsburn Country Park (Google Maps)
🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Protected bay, mild ocean swell
☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Autumn
🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Seabirds, seals
️🏞️️️ Landmarks & Views: Picturesque coastline, wooded park
⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Respect wildlife, stay cautious in windy conditions

Crawfordsburn Beach, located within Crawfordsburn Country Park, offers a protected bay for paddleboarding enthusiasts.

Surrounded by beautiful wooded parkland and a picturesque coastline, it’s an ideal spot for a leisurely paddleboard session.

#8 Mill Bay

🏖️ Location Type: Oceanfront
📍 Access Point: Mill Bay Beach (Google Maps)
🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Generally calm, occasional ocean currents
☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Autumn
🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Seabirds, seals
️🏞️️️ Landmarks & Views: Kilkeel coastline, nearby harbour
⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Stay alert for changing currents, respect wildlife

Mill Bay, located near Kilkeel Harbour, boasts a peaceful and scenic paddleboarding experience. The calm waters and stunning views of the coastline are perfect for a relaxing day out on the water.

Northern Ireland has Strangford Lough and a coastline that rewards patience with the forecast. Ireland is the natural pairing, while Salisbury and Sheffield are the calm English river options.

What to Take With You

Whatever the water here looks like, the same short list comes along. Each box below shows the model that currently sits at number one in our own test of that category.

Onyx MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Vest

Life jacket

Check price

Typefoam, paddle cut
ApprovalUSCG and Transport Canada

Rules differ from state to state and from country to country, but on open water this is the piece that gets checked, and the one that counts when the wind turns while you are still a long way out.

Every model we tested: 10 Best Life Vests for Paddle Boarding

NRS Quick-Release SUP Leash

Waist leash

Check price

Cordcoiled, stretches to 9 ft
Swivelstwo in-line

A leash keeps the board within reach after a fall, and a board that drifts off is the start of most rescues. On moving water use a quick release belt rather than an ankle cuff.

Every model we tested: The 9 Best SUP Waist Leashes

Pelican Marine Waterproof Phone Pouch

Phone case