Coppermine Point National Park (Coppermine Rd., no phone, free) is a remote, windswept spot overlooking the rocky, rough north coast and the island’s airport. Legend has it that Spanish settlers first mined silver here in the mid-1500s, and that indigenous people may well have built mines here even earlier than that. The ruins you see today date back to 1838, when Cornish miners established a copper mining operation here. It had a short, unprofitable life and closed four years later. The mines were reopened in 1859 and were worked until 1867.

Today, the spot’s greatest appeal is the dramatic beauty of the stone ruins silhouetted against the blue ocean below. Windy even on calm days, Coppermine Point looks eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, where the view is of nothing except the disappearing horizon. Linger awhile and perhaps an airplane will land at the dirt airstrip below, adding to the drama. Or come before dawn to witness the sun appear as if by magic from the ocean.

At night, the stars glitter overhead. You can also keep your eyes out for the birds that frequent this corner of the island—one called the Black Witch is a large, almost hulking beast that flies around the rocks.

Facilities consist of a parking lot, sign, and trail.