Page 266 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

264  IRELAND REGION B Y REGION

4 Portstewart
Road map D1. Co Londonderry.
* 8,000. £ to Coleraine or Portrush.
@ n Coleraine (028 7034 4723).
∑ northcoastni.com
A popular holiday destination
for Victorian middle-class
families, Portstewart is still a
family favourite today. Its long,
crescent-shaped seafront
promenade is sheltered by
rocky headlands. Just west of
town, and accessible by road or
by a cliffside walk, stretches
Portstewart Strand, a magni-
ficent, long, sandy beach,
protected by the National Trust.
Spectacular view of the seashore at Portstewart On Ramore Head, just to the
east, lies Portrush, a brasher
2 Benone Strand Augustus Hervey, the eccentric resort with an abundance of
Earl of Bristol and Protestant souvenir shops and amusement
Road map. D1. Co Londonderry.
n Benone Tourist Complex, 53 Bishop of Derry, as a memorial arcades. The East Strand is
Benone Ave, Limavady (028 7775 to his cousin Mrs Frideswide backed by sand dunes and runs
0555). Open Easter–Sep: daily. Mussenden. The design was parallel with the world-class
based on the Temple of Vesta Royal Portrush Golf Club. You
The wide, golden sands of one at Tivoli outside Rome. can stroll along the beach
of Ireland’s longest beaches, The walls, made of basalt to White Rocks – limestone cliffs
also known as Magilligan faced with sandstone, open carved by the wind and waves
Strand, sweep along the out at the four points of the into caves and arches.
Londonderry coastline for compass to three windows and To the south is Coleraine.
more than 10 km (6 miles). an entrance. Originally designed Every May, the North West 200
The magnificent beach has for use as a library (or, as some (see p32), the world’s fastest
been granted EU Blue Flag stories go, an elaborate boudoir motorcycle road race, is run
status for its cleanli ness. At the for the bishop’s mistress), the between Portstewart, Coleraine
western extremity of the beach struc ture is now maintained by and Portrush, in front of
is Magilligan Point where a the National Trust and remains 100,000 people.
Martello tower, built during the in excellent condition.
Napoleonic wars, stands guard The bishop allowed the local
over the entrance to Lough priest to say Mass for his Roman
Foyle. To get to the point, Catholic tenants in the basement.
renowned for its rare shellfish The bishop’s former residence,
and sea birds, you have to drive the nearby Downhill Castle, was
past a military training ground. gutted by fire and is now little
There are great views across to more than an impressive shell.
Donegal from the Strand. The surrounding area offers
some good glen and cliff walks
3 Mussenden and there are some magnifi cent
views of the Londonderry and
Temple Antrim coastline. Below the
temple is Downhill Strand,
Road map D1. Co Londonderry.
Tel 028 708 48728. Grounds: Open where the bishop
dawn–dusk daily (last adm: 30 mins sponsored horseback
before closing). Temple: Open Mar– races be tween
Oct: 10am–5pm daily. & 7 limited. his clergy.
∑ nationaltrust.org.uk
The oddest sight along the
Londonderry coast is this small,
domed rotunda perched
precariously on a windswept
headland outside the family
re sort of Castlerock. The temple
was built in 1785 by Frederick Mussenden Temple set on a clifftop on the Londonderry coast
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp302–3 and pp323–5

IR_264-265_NI_cat1.indd 264 25/04/16 10:42 am