Portstewart Strand
Portstewart Strand is one of the finest beaches in Northern Ireland, a two-mile arc of golden sand at the mouth of the River Bann on the north Antrim coast backed by an extensive dune system and the Atlantic Ocean that provides excellent bathing, surfing and walking in a setting of considerable coastal quality. The National Trust manages the strand and the dunes, and the combination of the beach itself, the dune grassland flora and the views along the Antrim coast and toward Donegal make it one of the most rewarding coastal sites in Ulster. The beach is one of the most popular on the north coast and the National Trust car park allows vehicles to drive onto the sand itself in a tradition that has been part of the strand's character since the motorcar made such access possible. The combination of beach driving and swimming creates a distinctive atmosphere at Portstewart that is unusual on the National Trust-managed coast and reflects the importance of the beach to the local community as a recreational resource. The dune system behind the strand is one of the most important coastal dune habitats in Northern Ireland, supporting a range of rare dune plants and the insects and birds that depend on this increasingly rare habitat. The dune grassland is managed by the National Trust to maintain the plant diversity, and the combination of the beach and the ecological interest of the dunes provides a rewarding educational dimension to the visit. The small town of Portstewart, with its promenade and the characteristic residential and hotel buildings that developed in the Victorian seaside era, provides visitor facilities and the character of a traditional seaside resort that complements the natural quality of the strand.