Yirrell Beach
Winthrop, MA
Yirrell Beach sits on Shirley Street in Winthrop's Point Shirley neighborhood, a sandy crescent behind a seawall with a walkway and benches. The water near Water Tower Hill stays shallow for a good long way out, which is why small children and their grandparents seem to own the place on warm afternoons.
The long, shallow water makes it a genuine neighborhood favorite for families, though the dead end location and limited street parking keep it from handling a big crowd.
How we score beachesGo on a rising tide when the shallows warm up over the sun heated sand. Early evenings, the light on Deer Island and the harbor is worth the trip alone.
Street parking along Shirley Street, and it can be tight on summer weekends. Watch for any resident restrictions posted on nearby side streets.
A paved walkway and benches sit behind the seawall, with steps and access points down to the sand. Expect soft sand once you are on the beach.
Summer brings the mildest conditions, with a sea breeze off Boston Harbor most afternoons. Motor vessels are kept out of the swimming area between the white buoys and the shore.
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