Distance 4 miles (6.4km)
Classification Easy
Duration 2 hours
Begins Portstewart Strand visitor centre
OS grid reference C813368
Walk in a nutshell
A meandering, looping route along a stretch of County Derry's fabled northern coastline. Walk first through age-old dunes, generously dusted with tufts of pale green grasses, then down to the soft terrain of the Bann estuary, where the path follows the river's edge and returns to the wide, golden beach. Sand dunes, being sand dunes, can be quite heavy going while you're on them. Good boots and strong legs will help, but buggies and wheelchairs are impossible.
Why it's special
The 6,000-year-old dune ecosystem is teeming with wildlife, certain to delight any child with a keen eye and a gentle step. There are rabbits to be spotted nibbling at the marram grass, and a multicoloured carpet of bird's-foot trefoil, wild pansy and thyme to explore, aflutter with butterflies and bees. In the estuary there are wintering waders and wildfowl feeding on the mudflats, as well as a host of migratory species passing through in the spring and autumn.
Keep your eyes peeled for
Rare wild orchids can be spotted here during the summer months. Look out for pyramidal orchids with their slender, unbranched stems crowned with a tall stack of petals like mini Marge Simpsons dressed in pink, and bee orchids that sport large, pale pink or white sepals on either side of the velvety labellum in the centre, brownish red with yellow markings – hence the name.
Recover afterwards
The Portstewart Strand visitor centre offers ice-cream and soft drinks, hot drinks and sweets aplenty, while Morelli's , slightly further afield on the promenade in Portstewart, offers a taste of old-fashioned seaside fun. This gelato parlour has been serving sundaes since 1927.
If it's tipping down
The many galleries and cultural venues in Portstewart will provide for beauty of a different kind – head to Flowerfields Art Centre for exhibitions by local artists, gigs and art classes.
How to get there
The Ulsterbus 140 runs between Coleraine and the Portstewart promenade. From here it's a 20-minute walk to Portstewart Strand visitor centre.
Step by step
1 Start your walk at the visitor centre and make your way to lifebuoy station 10; approximately one mile from the visitor centre.
2 Climb the sand ladder at lifebuoy 10 to leave the beach behind. Soon you will enjoy the tranquillity of the dunes.
3 The path here splits into two. Choose the one on the right. This leads you through the kissing gate inside a fenced area, where cattle can be found grazing from September to March. White waymarker posts will guide you across the river Bann estuary.
4 Turn right when you come to the river Bann. You are now walking through an area of salt marsh. Be aware that cattle can graze on the salt marsh also.
5 Follow the path through the salt marsh and you will come to a kissing gate leading to Crab Bay. Walk along the shore, keeping the river on your left and dunes on your right.
6 The path brings you back to the beach at lifebuoy 14. From here it's about two miles back to the visitor centre.
