Portstewart

Portstewart (Port Stíobhaird in Irish) is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is a seaside resort, often seen as a grander version of neighbouring Portrush. It is known for its sandy beach, popular with surfers.

Related Topics:
Irish - Town - County Londonderry - Northern Ireland - Seaside resort - Portrush - Sand - Beach - Surfer

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Portstewart has a convent with the attached Convent School sitting on the edge of a cliff which dominates the western end of the promenade. The eastern end of the promenade has a small harbour which has recently undergone refurbishment. The town is also home to three golf courses (under one club - Portstewart Golf Club), made lively by the forceful Atlantic Ocean wind, which continually pushes over the whole town. Previously an infamous student town - the students from the University of Ulster in nearby Coleraine - it has increasingly become an upmarket holiday town with new developments of apartment buildings along the seafront.

Related Topics:
Convent - Promenade - Golf courses - Atlantic Ocean - University of Ulster - Coleraine

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Portstewart Strand is the clean two mile long beach, which has been the most popular attraction of Portstewart to holiday-makers for generations. St. Patrick's well is to be found at the head of the strand, which was used in the 1800's and early 1900's for horseracing. The beach finishes at the bar mouth of the river Bann overlooking Castlerock. Now owned by the National Trust, it is one of the most popular Trust properties in the entire United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
St. Patrick - National Trust - United Kingdom

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There is a good walk from Portstewart stretching past the Convent and down Portstewart Strand to the bar mouth, where the River Bann flows out into the Atlantic. Beyond the barmouth lies Castlerock, Mussenden Temple, Benone Strand and the Magilligan Strand. To the east of Portstewart is a popular walking / cycling path along the coast to Portrush, where you can relax on the town's sandy beaches before venturing on to the Giant's Causeway.

Related Topics:
River Bann - Magilligan Strand - Portrush - Giant's Causeway

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With its northwest-facing aspect the town enjoys some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. The songwriter Jimmy Kennedy was inspired by one of these when he wrote Red Sails in the Sunset.

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The town now has an annual Red Sails Festival each July, which in 2004, as with most years, culminated with a dramatic firework display out over the bay with the gathering summer dusk as a backdrop. Over 70,000 people crammed the seafront to watch.

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In the summer of 2005 the Portstewart Community Association launched a website to help promote the festival. This can be found at http://www.redsails.co.uk.. It gives detailed information on the week long festival and all of the fun activities avalible for all the family.

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The North West 200 motorcycle race passes through the town, with the starting grid and pit area located on the costal road between Portrush and Portstewart.

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The main street, the Promenade, along the seafront is a very popular place for a stroll and is renowned as one of those few places in the world where, no matter where you came from, you are bound to meet someone you know. Portstewart Promenade is an attraction during the summer months for young people who will drive from all over Northern Ireland, congregating on the Promenade for coffee and a chat.

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:See also: List of towns in Northern Ireland

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