Waterfoot Beach (Red Bay)

Waterfoot sits at the mouth of Glenariff, the 'Queen of the Glens', where a long crescent of sand meets Red Bay beneath the flat-topped bulk of Lurigethan and the wooded amphitheatre of the glen. For a pilot it's a rare Antrim coast spot that isn't National Trust: the beach and the small car park immediately behind it are council-managed public land, so take-off and landing from the sand or the parking area is legitimate rather than a grey area. Launch low over the strand and you get sweeping compositions south along the shoreline toward Garron Point, or turn inland for the classic glen-and-headland shot that defines this stretch of coast. It's quiet midweek and out of season, busier on summer weekends with local families and swimmers, so pick your slot to keep clear of people. There's no FRZ anywhere near - the closest controlled airspace is tens of kilometres away - but the Antrim coast funnels wind and the bay can be gusty, so watch onshore breezes and salt spray. Keep well back from the road and the caravan park to the north, and mind fishing boats using the small harbour. Good light comes at either end of the day.