Accessible Britain

165 Portstewart Strand, County Derry
Address: National Trust Portstewart Strand Visitor Centre, 118 Strand Road, Portstewart BT55 7PG Web:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/portstewart-strand Tel: 028 70836396 Hours: Daily: Apr 10am–5pm; May
& Sep 10am–6pm; Jun–Aug 10am–7pm; 11 Apr–27 Sep barrier to beach closes two hours after rest of
facilities Dates: Beach open all year, visitor centre closed 28 Sep–10 Apr Entry: free for pedestrians, car
£5, minibus £12.50, coach £18; no motorcycles allowed on the beach
Stretching from the seaside town of Portstewart to the mouth of the River Bann,
Portstewart Strand is a glorious two-mile ribbon of golden sands and towering, pristine
dunes. Owned by the National Trust, it’s a Blue Flag beach and an Area of Special
Scientific Interest – and in 2015 was voted one of the UK’s top ten wild swimming spots.
Beaches don’t get more accessible than this: visitors are allowed to drive their cars
right onto the sand – an old tradition that the Trust inherited, and allowed to continue,
when it bought this stretch of coast in 1980. Bring a picnic and take in the spectacular
scenery as you listen to the surf crashing in from the Atlantic. Depending on the time of
year, you may spot butterflies, wild orchids, pansies and thyme flourishing among the
dunes, plus seals in the sea. The western end of the Strand, by the river estuary, is home
to abundant birdlife, which you can view from a wheelchair accessible hide.
From Portstewart, brown signs point the way to the Strand. Two designated disabled
parking spaces are available close to the entrance and there is a small shop/kiosk on
the beach. Beach access is usually simple for wheelchairs, as the sand is hard and
compacted. That said, anyone who plans to go far up the Strand should feel confident
about navigating the beach in all weathers, as conditions can change very quickly. The
paths through the dunes are not suitable for wheelchair users or those with restricted
NORTHERN IRELAND
Portstewart Strand
188