The Causeway Coastal Route
The Causeway Coastal Route
Rated as one of the Top Five Road Trips and when you drive it, you’ll know why. Start in Belfast and follow the coast road through the nine Glens of Antrim, winding between picturesque villages and unforgettable scenic locations.
Hugging the Atlantic coast from Derry~Londonderry to Belfast – or vice versa – the Causeway Coastal Route is studded with sandy beaches, fishing villages, gorse-covered valleys and fuchsia-edged clifftop paths. Absorbing this epic landscape from the car is wonderful, but the other senses could be missing out! The sounds of the crashing waves, the birds soaring up above, the salty taste from the sea on your lips and the wind whistling past your ears – these are all part of this legendary land’s beauty.
So settle down in a B&B, cosy cottage or hotel in one of a scattering of welcoming towns or villages, and pick a few gems to explore each day. Like a sip of Bushmills Whiskey, every second on the Causeway Coastal Route should be savoured every step of the way.
Nestled right on the edge of the fierce Atlantic Ocean, the Royal Portrush Golf Club really needs no introduction. Its famous courses hosted the Open Championship in 1951, the Irish Open in 2012 and is currently preparing for the return of the Open in 2019.
The club is home to one of the best and most challenging links golf courses in the world, the Dunluce Links, plus the 'hidden gem', the Valley Links
White Rocks Beach and Cliff Walk:
The White Rocks limestone cliffs are an impressive sight not to be missed. They are located at the eastern end of the Portrush East Strand. This stunning, natural section of the Causeway stretches from Curran Strand to Dunluce Castle.
This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century.
It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion, Gracehill House.
Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland.
In fact, the iconic trees have been used as a filming location in HBO's epic series Game of Thrones, representing the King's Road.
Featured Scene:
Season 2, episode 1: On the King' s Road, Arya Stark has escaped from King’s Landing, disguised as a boy. She is with Yoren, Gendry, Hot Pie and others who are to join the Night’s Watch, in a cart, travelling north on the King’s Road.
The iconic ruin of Dunluce Castle bears witness to a long and tumultuous history. First built on the dramatic coastal cliffs of north County Antrim around 1500, the earliest written record of the castle was in 1513.Occupied originally by the MacQuillans and later the Mcdonnells, It is not hard to imagine the battles that took place for control of this very important vantage point along the coastline.
Traditionally fishermen erected the bridge to Carrick-a-Rede island over a 23m-deep and 20m-wide chasm to check their salmon nets. Today visitors are drawn here simply to take the rope bridge challenge! The rope bridge originally consisted of a single rope hand rail which has been replaced by a two hand railed bridge by the National Trust.
The Temple is located in the beautiful surroundings of Downhill Demesne near Castlerock in County Londonderry. It perches dramatically on a 120 ft cliff top, high above the Atlantic Ocean on the north-western coast of Northern Ireland, offering spectacular views westwards over Downhill Strand
Discover the striking 18th-century mansion that now lies in ruin and enjoy the espectacular coastal views.
Experience the wild and dramatic setting of Downhill Demesne which was the romantic vision of Frederick Hervey, an 18th century Earl Bishop of Derry. Beyond the ruined mansion lies one of our most iconic monuments - the circular Mussenden Temple, perched on a cliff edge high above Downhill Beach. It was built as a summer library and inspired by the Temple of Vesta near Rome. Don’t miss a visit to Hezlett House, a picturesque, late 17th century thatched cottage.
The Old Bushmills Distillery is the island’s oldest working distillery. It’s been in operation since 1608, and the company’s distinctive single malt whiskey is still produced here today. Take a guided tour that encompasses all your senses and you'll discover how the whiskey is made using traditional copper potstills and a triple distillation process. Want to know more? Try a tutored whiskey tasting or a meal at the in-house restaurant, which serves Northern Ireland fare with a Bushmills twist.
Whether you believe in myths and legends or not, a visit to this ‘ancient wonder of the world’ is a must and you will surely find the Giants Causeway a ‘mystical’ experience. With its hexagonal basalt columns and outcrops, it bears testament to this area’s turbulent geological history. Immerse yourself in the legend of Finn Mc Cool and enjoy the flora and fauna of this beautiful area
Ballintoy Harbour can be discovered in the picturesque village of Ballintoy. Known as a ‘raised beach’, it is located alongside the B15 coast road, 17 miles north-east of Coleraine and five miles west of Ballycastle.
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