Portrush – Northern Ireland’s Original Resort Town
A somewhat sedate town for much of the year, the warmer months see Portrush come alive to the sights and sounds of eager visitors looking to explore the region’s historical monuments, sporting facilities and especially its sandy beaches. These stretch along the coast in both directions from the town centre and suit both types of beach goer. Those who like the facilities and hubbub of a crowded resort beach and those who don’t mind walking a few minutes along gorgeous white sands to find a relatively quite patch of sand to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet.
A Compact Peninsula between Endless Sandy Beaches
Portrush is, essentially, a compact rocky peninsula embraced on both sides by gorgeous sandy beaches. The town itself is on the peninsula and visitors will find most of the hotels, pubs, restaurants and other amenities they need among its narrow village streets. There is also a path around the peninsula itself. This is especially beautiful when the weather is stormy and unsettled, making for dramatic seascapes. Most visitors, however, will be hoping for fine weather, so they can enjoy the areas lovely beaches. The West Strand is close to town and has the most in terms of traditional seaside facilities such as amusement rides. The East Strand stretches for more than a mile eastwards from the town and would suit those looking for a wilder and untamed stretch of coast. Beachgoers really looking to get away from it all should head to Benone Beach, about 17 miles from Portrush by road. Miles long, and with very little coastal development in the area, it offers some wild stretches that are also popular with surfing schools based in the surrounding towns.
Host to Giants – Mythical and Real
The number one attraction along this stretch of coast in terms of visitor numbers is undoubtedly the Giants Causeway. It is situated approximately eight miles by road from Portrush, and many visitors to the town make a trip to the Causeway one of their first orders of business. While a purely natural phenomena, it is easy to see why legends developed ascribing it’s origin to giants. Some of its features, such as the large hexagonal paving stones, make it appear as if it was man-made. Nature has even seen fit to include a suitably gigantic boot, presumably left behind by the giant builder, to bamboozle mere mortals. Its size and dramatic coastal location has resulted in the Causeway becoming one of Northern Ireland’s most visited attractions. But the giants descending onto this stretch of coast are not all mythical. The Royal Portrush Golf Club lies between the town and the Causeway and is the only course in Northern Ireland to periodically host the prestigious Open Golf Championship, attracting the giants of the game from all four corners of the world. Should you be fortunate enough to be able to travel to the region when this tournament is being held here, be sure to book ahead of time. Hotels in the region get booked up far in advance.
Surprisingly Good Nightlife for a Small Town
In the academic year, Portrush serves as something of a dormitory town for the nearby University of Ulster. As a result, the town has more than its fair share of pubs and nightclubs, most of which remain open outside of term time to serve the many visitors that stream into the town. Causeway and Main Streets are the best places to find a great pub, whether you’re looking for a traditional Irish watering hole or something a bit more modern. Pub crawls along these streets are also very popular. It’s generally not a long taxi ride or walk to the town’s hotels and guest houses. When talking about Portrush nightlife, one can’t fail to mention Kellys. This complex features not only one of Northern Ireland’s most popular clubs, with regular top international acts performing, but also its own hotel. It is situated approximately a mile from the town centre.
Opportunities for Family Fun Abound
Portrush isn’t only popular among those looking for nightlife. It also has a number of attractions suitable for families with younger children. First among these is Barry’s Amusements. Conveniently situated along the West Strand, it is the largest theme park in Northern Ireland. It features a variety of rides and attractions ranging from roller coasters to carrousels. Kids, and adults for that matter, will likely enjoy a visit to nearby Dunluce Castle. Situated in a spectacular location, with commanding views over the ocean, the castle is in ruins. But rather than taking away from the experience, this fact tends to fire the imagination of young and old alike, who are forced to exercise their creativity and conjure up knights and ladies to populate the reconstructed castle. The castle can be reached by means of a long walk along the coast from the hotels in Portrush or by means of an eight-minute drive.