The Causeway Coast Coastal Attractions

The Giant's Causeway Carrick a Rede Dunluce Castle Mussenden Temple Downhill Demense Mountsandel Fort Coastal Attractions Map

Towns & Villages

Coleraine Castlerock Portrush Portstewart Portballintrae Bushmills Ballintoy Ballycastle Towns & Villages Map

Beaches of the Coast

All Beaches Benone Strand Downhill Beach Castlerock Beach Portstewart Strand Portrush West Strand Portrush East Strand Whiterocks Portrush Runkerry / Bushfoot Strand Portballintrae Salmon Rock Beach Ballycastle Strand Surfing Beaches Swimming Beaches Beaches Map

Golfing on the Coast Maps of the Coast

Beaches Map Dog Beaches Map Surfing Beaches Map Swimming Beaches Map Towns & Villages Map Walks and Trails Map Golf Clubs Map Coastal Attractions Map

Have you visited?

Old Bushmills Distillery

Portstewart Golf Club

Dunluce Castle

Downhill Beach

Whiterocks Portrush

Mussenden Temple

Portstewart

Ballycastle

Castlerock

Royal Portrush

Magilligan

Magilligan is an area of both historic and conservational significance. The Martello Tower at Magilligan Point is an example of the small defensive forts which were built as a defence against a possible attack from the forces of Napoleon during the 19th Century. Magilligan Beach is one of the most studied coastal landforms in the region.

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Magilligan Map

Magilligan Point and Beach

Magilligan is a Peninsula at the Western Tip of the Causeway Coast. There are great views overlooking the River Foyle at the Point towards Donegal.

Magilligan Beach is at the end of Point road and is the beginning of a 7 mile unbroken stretch of sand passing through Benone Strand and Downhill Beach. Parking and Toilets are available and dogs on leads are allowed.

Ferry to Donegal

Magilligan - Greencastle: The Lough Foyle Ferry Company, founded in 2002, operates a ferry from Magilligan Point, County Limavady to the Inishowen Peninsula of County Donegal at Greencastle. The tickets are very reasonably priced, the ferry leaves every hour and is fun for all the family with Donegal a splendid destination!

The ferry post sailing times on the Lough Foyle Ferry website. A peaceful, scenic 15 minute ferry ride across the mouth of the Foyle.

Blue above and below, green to all sides, one of the nicest short ferry rides.

Protection from Napoleon

Magilligan is an area of both historic and conservational significance at the Western side of Benone Strand. The Martello tower at Magilligan Point, was built in 1812 during the Napoleonic wars. It is one of about 50 built around the Irish coast to deter an attack.

Special Area of Conservation

Magilligan is a recognised as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) plus as a Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI). Magilligan Foreland is 20 miles long and 'Ireland's Largest Coastal Accummulation'.

Sand dunes are perfect examples of planetary 'Air Bending' and should always be treated with respect. No other Northern Ireland site has "as great a number of dune grassland and dune slack plant communities" according to The Department of the Environment.

'Sand dunes are dynamic elements of the landscape. They grow when sand is deposited on the beach by longshore drift or shoreward movement of sediment. As the sand dries between periods of high tide, it can be blown landwards and trapped by plants to become the beginnings of a sand dune system.'

(www.geographyinaction.co.uk)

Lough Foyle

Lough Foyle is an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and also a Ramsar Site in 3 criterion:

A 'wetland complex which plays a substantial hydrological, biological and ecological system role in the natural functioning of a major river basin located in a trans-border position'
'It supports an appreciable number of rare, vulnerable or endangered species of plant and animal. A range of notable fish species have been recorded for the Lough Foyle estuary and the lower reaches of some of its tributary rivers. These include Allis shad, Twait shad, smelt and sea lamprey, all of which are Irish Red Data Book species. Important populations of Atlantic salmon migrate through the system to and from their spawning grounds.'
'It supports a large number of wintering waterfowl including internationally important populations of Whooper swan, Light-bellied Brent goose and bar-tailed godwit, as well as wildfowl species which are nationally important in an all-Ireland context, including red-throated diver, great crested grebe, mute Swan, Bewick's Swan, greylag goose, shelduck, common teal, mallard, Eurasian wigeon, common eider, and red-breasted merganser. Nationally important wader species include Eurasian oystercatcher, Eurasian golden plover, grey plover, lapwing, red knot, dunlin, Eurasian curlew, common redshank and greenshank.'

~ The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has a Reserve at Lough Foyle, Wikipedia

Ramsar for the conservation and wise use of wetlands

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

http://www.ramsar.org/