From Ramore Head, a rocky headland in the small coastal town of Portrush, County Antrim, you can see three countries on a clear day.
To the west rise the hills of Donegal in the Republic of Ireland; to the northeast are Islay and Jura in Scotland (where George Orwell wrote 1984), and you, of course, are in Northern Ireland.
A particularly nice part. With its steep cliffs, towering dunes and wide beaches, this must be one of the best coastlines in Britain. And Portrush, with a population of 6,150 (most of whom seem to know each other), is the perfect base.
It is a pleasant city (as can be found in the numerous small inns) and at the same time curiously distributed. In the center is the parrot’s beak-shaped harbour, above which Ramore Head juts out into the Atlantic Ocean like a plume of feathers, while on either side are two beaches, West Strands and East Strands.
These form the ‘neck’ and ‘shoulders’ of the town, bordered by a promenade which ends beyond the East Strand in the jagged dunes of the Royal Portrush Golf Club. This venue last hosted the Open in 2019, when Irishman Shane Lowry won, and will do so again next year.
Tom Chesshyre visits the seaside town of Portrush in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. He comments that from the city’s Ramore Head promontory (above), it is possible to see three countries.
Picturesque: Portrush Harbor (above) lies in the center of the city, Tom reveals
Portrush has an excellent golf pedigree being the hometown of Graeme McDowell (US Open champion) and where former Northern Ireland Open winner Darren Clarke settled.
Golf lovers should visit the Harbor Bar, where Darren’s Corner (his favorite spot) and the front room are packed with golf paraphernalia.
An excellent way to get there is by train from Belfast, through rolling countryside (about two hours).
This takes you to a modern station adjoining a wonderful Tudor style station which now houses another pub, The Station.
Shown here is the former Tudor railway station, which now houses a pub, ‘The Station’.
Travelers to Portrush can follow the coast to the medieval remains of Dunluce Castle (pictured)
White Rocks Beach’s Wishing Arch is one of Portrush’s “nearby highlights”
Above is the fascinating coastline of White Rocks Beach
Trains reached Portrush in 1855, bringing an influx of tourists from the south, although tourists had already discovered the charms of the coast thanks to steamers from Scotland and Liverpool.
Nearby highlights include the medieval remains of Dunluce Castle, the Wishing Arch of White Rocks Beach and the impressive basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway. Then there is the town of Bushmills, where the whiskey is distilled.
But Portrush, with its picturesque harbour, cheerful inns, small restaurants and art deco Playhouse comedy/cinema venue, has plenty to offer. And some pretty good views too.