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