A stone-clad viewing platform on the shores of Lough Swilly, marking where John Newton came ashore in 1748 — the experience that led him to write the hymn Amazing Grace. It has a mosaic floor, story panels and steps down to a sandy beach.
Opened on 4 October 2013, the viewing point was made by recladding an old concrete platform in stone and landscaping the surroundings so it blends into the lough shore. It is designed as a place to look out over Lough Swilly and reflect on John Newton's story.
The platform floor holds a mosaic by local artist Andrew Garvey-Williams showing Newton's ship The Greyhound, "Amazing Grace" in Newton's own handwriting and broken chains marking the end of the slave trade. Interpretation signs use extracts from his autobiography plus a timeline of his life.
A new set of steps leads from the platform onto the sandy beach below.
The viewpoint sits on the traffic-free Shore Path, roughly 1 km north of the path's start. The full route to Stragill Strand is about 3 km (1 to 2 hours, easy) over concrete, tarmac, gravel and beach, marked by brown fingerpost signs; dogs are allowed on a lead.
A short walk away, the Amazing Grace Park opened on 31 October 2014 beside the tourist office, with a water feature, flowers, pathways, benches and an anchor-shaped viewing area over the lough and Buncrana pier. A bronze bust of John Newton by Dublin artist Willie Malone stands at its entrance.
Buncrana's annual Amazing Grace Festival runs each April, marking Newton's arrival on 8 April 1748 with history, music, art, walks and family events.
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