rediscovering familiar frontiers reframing the narrative lesley mcintyre
landmarks memory
coasts stories
Travel often evokes images of distant destinations, the thrill of unfamiliarity and the pursuit of new experiences. But what if we redefine travel—not as a journey outward, but as a way of seeing the familiar with fresh eyes? This project re-imagines Northern Ireland’s north coast –the Causeway Coast – by uncovering the architectural and cultural treasures that quietly shape its identity. Growing up here, I often overlooked these places, but after time away I’ve come to see this landscape through a renewed lens, discovering how travel, even within the borders of home , can transform understanding and connection to place . In the spirit of being ‘a tourist in your own city’ this visual essay brings a sense of discovery often reserved for distant places, challenging us to recognise and celebrate beauty and heritage right at home. Travelling the north coast is a discovery of stories hidden in plain sight and layers of history, resilience and creativity. How architecture shapes and is shaped by the people and landscapes it serves, offers valuable insights into the ways the built environment connects us to the past while anchoring us in the present.
Northern Ireland’s architectural heritage is often overshadowed by narratives of conflict – the Troubles, or by the prominence of urban centres such as Belfast and Londonderry/Derry. However, along the north coast, stretching from Limavady to Carrickfergus, lies a rich tapestry of architectural moments interwoven with the myths, histories and lives of its people. Travelling the North Coast from Castlerock to Ballintoy is an act of storytelling, where hidden layers of place and memory unfold through its architecture, from the grandeur of eighteenth-century ambition to Irish mythology. From lighthouses to funfairs, travel here is not merely movement through landscapes; it is an act of engagement, a journey inward. The north coast is a living narrative; away from the noise of social media, advertising and breaking news, another landscape surrounds us.
Castlerock and Mussenden Temple
Castlerock, where Mussenden Temple stands, is a gateway to the north coast. This clifftop folly, originally a library, was inspired by Italy’s Tivoli Temple of Vesta , reflecting the spirit of eighteenth- century travel when global exploration shaped architectural ambition and distant inspirations transformed local landscapes. Perched dramatically on a cliff edge overlooking Downhill Beach, the temple is a delicate interplay of grandeur and fragility, endurance and impermanence. Built in 1785 as part of the Downhill Estate, its classicism implies a timelessness even as the cliffs erode beneath it.
Samuel Steele, Unsplash
left: an intaglio plate made of a painting by Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich, c. 1745-50, Falls of the Aniene which shows the first century Temple de Vesta , in Tivoli, Italy. above: Mussenden Temple, Castlerock, now a National Trust property. Together, these two images highlight the cultural exchange that defined a particular era in Northern Ireland, where classical architecture met the rugged Atlantic coast.
Lesley McIntyre
46 on site review 46 :: travel
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