A County Derry beach was named among the best 50 UK beaches, according to The Times. 

Benone Beach has made the top 50 after a rigorous exploration by Chris Haslam, chief travel writer for The Sunday Times. 

A huge selling point for Mr. Haslam was the ability to park your car on the sand, with the ‘tedious hike back to the car to fetch whatever you left behind’ in the car park a nonexistent problem. 

Mr. Haslam believes this unique quality is incomparable to other beaches in the UK and has sympathy for the population of Derry when they go elsewhere in the country and don’t have the ability to park on the beach. 

And what pleased the travel writer was the respect shown by visitors when they are with their family or driving up and down the beach. Everyone ensures the beach is not spoiled for others. 

But while this advantage is possible at Portstewart Strand and Downhill Beach in Castlerock, Mr. Haslam believes it is incomparable to Benone. 

Benone is a special spot to watch storms, a selling point to Mr. Haslam, with the Time chief travel writer curious as to what brings people to the beach on a Tuesday night to drink a cup of tea and stare out towards the sea. 

The travel writer said: “You get a feeling there is a lot of poetry going on in people’s minds. 

“There is clearly a deep love for that beach.” 

And all beachgoers in Northern Ireland and further afield will be encouraged by the quality of the water, which Mr. Haslam rated as excellent. 

The Co. Derry beach is one of four beaches in Northern Ireland that made the list. 

Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, was the regional winner, while White Park Bay Beach in Antrim and Murlough, Co. Down, also made the list.

But Mr. Haslam concluded: “Benone is quintessentially Derry.”