Lighthouse at Portstewart Point
From spaces of music and memory, we turn to the sea where the Portstewart Lighthouse stands as a steadfast guide and symbol of resilience and exploration. Originally serving as a lookout for Coleraine pilots awaiting ships entering Portstewart Bay, it continues to guide vessels as they navigate through treacherous waters. Its light plays a critical role in the relationship between sea and land, seafaring and danger. As a memorial to the crew of the River Bann pilot boat lost in January 1923, it is a reminder of the risks taken by those who navigate these waters. The tension between the promise of adventure and the perils of the journey are key to travel’s transformative power and the resilience it demands. Beyond function and memory, the lighthouse is also a destination on the Causeway Coast. Visitors standing in its shadow are on the very edge of the vast Atlantic Ocean.
Lesley McIntyre
Herring Pond
Just below the lighthouse, Herring Pond embodies a similarly profound connection to the sea, though in a far more dynamic form. Near the promenade where Portstewart’s blend of modern and traditional architecture frames the dramatic seascape, it offers a moment of exhilaration as one plujges into the Atlantic. The cliffs and waters around the dive site act as a natural stage, where the architecture of the town meets the untamed elements of the sea – a powerful interplay between human design and nature’s raw energy.
Lesley McIntyre
48 on site review 46 :: travel
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